Conference on Iran 's future in Cyprus
NICOSIA, June 15 (AFP) - Iranian intellectuals from inside and outside
the Islamic Republic are to meet in Cyprus this week to discuss the prospects
for their country in the 21st century.
The subjects to be discussed include modernity and culture, the media,
politics, the economy, and Iran 's international relations.
About 50 of the 100 participants will be coming from Iran , many of
them intellectuals close to reformist President Mohammad Khatami, and others
from opposition circles tolerated by the regime.
Conservative intellectuals and journalists have refused to take part
in the conference, which has already been fiercely criticised in some of
the radical Iranian press.
Iranian academics from the diaspora are also due to attend, along with
other intellectuals, economists and former officials. The non- Iranian
speakers include former assistant US secretary of state Richard Murphy,
and a number of researchers from US institutes.
The conference has been organised by the Nicosia-based Centre for World
Dialogue, whose president, Hossein Ali Khani is a Cypriot businessman of
Iranian origin.
The CWD's past activities include organising a meeting between one of
the US diplomats held hostage in Tehran in 1979, and a number of the hostage
takers.
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