Rhodes Forum was warned against migration crises two years ago: DOC chairman

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Dialogue of Civilizations (DOC) Research Institute Dr Vladimir Yakunin has highlighted Rhodes Forum's ability to resolve and predict crises by citing the instance of European refugee crisis.

Dr. Yakunin said, "Two years before the European refugee crisis began, the Rhodes Forum had warned that faulty inter-societal policies would inevitably lead to a migration crisis. And we all have witnessed how our forecasts came true."

Stressing on Rhodes Forum's ability in the economic affairs, Dr. Yakunin said, "In 2006, the Rhodes Forum had warned of the pending global financial crisis. After 2008, when the economic crises hit the world, the ideas of the Forum began to be heard."

"We were discussing the need for a new fair and humane system of interaction between nations, capable of taking into account the interests of the majority, and not to ignore the hopes for the future of those who - due to wars, revolutions, and coup d'etats - were excluded from world development," he added.

Emphasising the transformations that the Rhodes Forum has undergone in the years since its inaugural edition, Dr. Yakunin added how the vocabulary and methodology of dialogue of civilizations, developed by the expert community, have firmly entered the language of international relations.

Dr Yakunin gave a welcome address at this year's 15th Anniversary Rhodes Forum, a two-day event themed "Multipolarity and Dialogue in Regional and Global Developments: Imagining Possible Futures" which opened on 6 October in Greece.

This year's 15th Anniversary Rhodes Forum also organized two focal events: a Summit on Globalisation, Dialogue, and the Future of Democracy; and a Summit on Global Infrastructure Development Scenarios.

Panel discussions on the first day included the 'Impact of New Technologies and Digitalisation on Society', 'Social Mobility and Migration: Through the Prism of Values and Cultures', and 'Never Again: Demands for a New Global Security Architecture'.

On the second day, discussions included a session on 'Alternative Economic Models - Curbing Inequality', and the focus on migration will continue in the form of a practice-based discussion 'Europe's Refugee Crisis: Crisis Response from Rhetoric to Reality'.

High-profile guests included Goodluck Jonathan, President of Nigeria 2010-2015, Dioncounda Traore, President of Mali 2012-2013, Dominique de Villepin, Prime Minister of France 2005-2007, and Dr Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development, Oxford University.

First convened in 2003, the Rhodes Forum brings together concerned members of the international political, business, civil society and academic communities in a spirit of dialogue and inclusivity.

Every year, hundreds of participants from more than 70 countries explore the major challenges facing the world and seek concrete, applicable solutions rooted in shared values of equality, mutual respect and compassion.