Jordan Times
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Nobel laureates
conference opens in Petra
By Mahmoud Habboush
PETRA — The second Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates opens today in the
ancient city of Petra.
The conference, which brings together winners of the Nobel prize and other
international figures, is expected to produce “practical” initiatives involving
the promotion of peace and cooperation in the region, creation of economic
opportunities and the support for research and innovation, Bassem Awadallah,
director of His Majesty King Abdullah’s Office, said yesterday.
“The intellect, knowledge and talent of the world’s Nobel laureates have brought
better lives to millions of people in our world, and this week, we have a unique
opportunity to have them apply their highly innovative minds to some of the most
pressing contemporary global problems,” said the King in a Royal Court statement
distributed to reporters yesterday.
The conference, which convenes under the theme “A World in Danger,” will discuss
challenges to global security and development, particularly in the fields of
nuclear non-proliferation, education, health and poverty and economic
empowerment.
The participants will also give special attention to the Israeli-Palestinian
peace process and other regional issues.
Participants include Nobel laureates in peace, economics, literature, physics,
chemistry, physiology and medicine, along with world-renowned leaders from the
public and private sectors, as well as from civil society.
Some 40 Jordanians from the public and private sectors will also join the
conference.
A sampling of those in attendance include former U.S. ambassador to the UN
Richard C. Holbrooke, founder of Medicines Sans Frontiers Bernard Kouchner,
Library of Alexandria representative Ismail Serageldin, in addition to Nobel
laureates in chemistry, physics, economics, literature and peace.
Swedish chemist Alfred Bernhart Nobel left the bulk of his fortune to the Nobel
Foundation to bestow awards to those who have made “the greatest benefit to
humankind.”