Media Advisory Directorate of Communication Ref: MA052a10 Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60 Fax +33 (0)3 88 41 39 11 Internet: www.coe.int e-mail: [email protected]

47 member States Strasbourg, 17.05.2010

Albania Andorra Three major events to mark 20 years of the Council of Armenia Europe’s North-South Centre in Austria Azerbaijan Round Table “The 21st Century, a Century of Global Interdependence Bosnia and Herzegovina and Solidarity” and launch of the North-South Centre Think-Tank Bulgaria Croatia Dates and place: 18 May, 9.00 am, 17.00 pm, Paços de Conselho, Lisbon City Hall Cyprus Czech Republic Description: 20 years after it was set-up and at a time when the world is facing an Denmark unprecedented financial and economic crisis, the North-South Centre (NSC) proposes to take stock of the main challenges of global interdependence and solidarity and the Finland responses offered by the international community: the Round Table will start with the inaugural session and keynote speech of Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, . Georgia Participants in the Round Table include, among others, Manuel Brito, representing the Mayor of Lisbon, Manuel Costa, José Vera Jardim, Vice-President of the Portuguese Parliament and President of the Portuguese Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly Hungary of the (PACE), Lluis Maria de Puig, former President of PACE, Maud Iceland de Boer-Buquicchio, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Deborah Ireland Bergamini, Chair of the Executive Council of the NSC, , UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations, former President of , Mário Latvia Soares, Former President of Portugal and former North-South Prize winner, Nyamko Liechtenstein Sabuni, Minister of integration and gender equality of Sweden, Abderrahman Youssoufi, Lithuania former Prime Minister of , and Ambassador Stéphane Hessel from France. Luxembourg Malta Moldova Award Ceremony of the North-South Prize to Monaco Mikhail Gorbachev and Rula Dashti Montenegro Netherlands Dates and place: 18 May, 6.00 pm, 7.00 pm, Portuguese Parliament, “Palacio Sao Bento” Portugal Description: The 2009 North-South Prize is awarded to Mikhail Gorbachev, historic Romania figure in the winds of change that put an end to the Cold War, and Rula Dashti, a Russia Kuwaiti Parliamentarian who defends the rights of women, a very important theme to the San Marino NSC. Serbia Slovakia The ceremony will be opened by Jaime Gama, President of the Portuguese Parliament. Slovenia Numerous personalities, including some ten former North-South Prize winners will be present. The Prize will be handed over to the winners by President of the Portuguese Sweden Republic. Switzerland “The former Yugoslav The NCS Prize is awarded every year to two persons, one from the North, one from the Republic of South, for their efforts to protect human rights and strengthen North-South relations. Macedonia” Turkey Ukraine ./. United Kingdom

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A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 47 member states. Media Advisory

Exhibition “20 Bridge Builders in the History of Humanity”

Dates and place: 18 - 31 May, Portuguese Parliament, “Palacio Sao Bento”

Description: The exhibition retraces the life of 20 personalities who have distinguished themselves, in the world and through time, for their action in favour of intercultural dialogue. The public will be asked to propose a 21st “Bridge Builder”. The exhibition should be presented later in Strasbourg and other cities.

Practical information

The three events are open to the press. Possible press point will be announced at a later stage. For individual interview requests with participants, please contact persons below.

Professional quality video footage and photos will be made available shortly after the events. For requests please contact Can Fişek (see below).

For press accreditation, please contact Emília Soares. The number of seats available being limited, it is recommended that requests are presented promptly.

Additional information

Press Contacts:

Emília Soares, North-South Centre, Lisbon, Tel. +351 21 358 40 30; [email protected] Can Fişek, Press officer, Council of Europe Tél. +33 (0)6 75 65 03 41; [email protected]

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