(December 15, 2016) Youth, dialogue and cultural intermediation between the two shores of the Mediterranean were discussed at the Foreign Ministry in the conference “Youth and Intercultural Dialogue: Italian and GCC Voices”, organized by the Institute of International Affairs and the Secretariat of the Cooperation Council Gulf, with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Maeci). At the center of the debate, the possibility of building a solid channel of communication between Europe and the Arab world, starting with providing the new generations of all countries stimuli and tools to know each other directly and to discuss. Elisabetta Belloni, General Secretary of the Maeci, introduced the event: “Italy has always been interested in developing relations with the Gulf countries. We have a lot in common with them, especially from the point of view of the interests and objectives. We must join forces and work together to create a dialogue. Here they meet young representatives of the GCC and students from the most prestigious Italian institutions to share ideas and discuss in full respect of different cultural identities. We hope this is just the beginning of a path of mutual enrichment. It is vital to promote intercultural dialogue; young people want not only improve the future for their country, but also help to give meaning to reality in every part of the world. Debate, action and integration should go hand in hand”. “I would like to touch on an interesting detail – continued Nathalie Tocci, deputy director of the Institute of International Affairs – whether you talk about European or Arab kids, problems and needs are the same . Job insecurity, lack of opportunity, loss of cultural identity. Youth must instead be a resource for the labor market, to develop new technologies – in particular in communication – and for the improvement of transport. On both sides of the Mediterranean, the youth is a category in the making. It stops being ‘young’ when it became independent primarily on the economic front. But if this condition lasts too long, it becomes obviously a problem. It must aim to transform obstacles into opportunities. We tried organizing initiatives to identify the most deserving young people, able to make a contribution that makes a difference”.
