JEDDAH, 10 February 2006 — The King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue launched the English-language version of its website last week. The website provides a background of the center, set up in 2003, with an aim to promote internal dialogue among Saudis about current issues.
“The complete English version is still under development, but we hope that non-Arabic speakers get a full picture of the center’s various activities,” said Saeed Abu Melha, the center’s spokesman. The center has held five forums in the past two years; the most recent was held in Abha in December. Political analyst and novelist Turki Al-Hamad told Arab News that the previous forums involved a discussion among a certain class of society, away from the regular Saudi citizens’ concerns. He said that future dialogues must engage the average Saudi.
The center is currently preparing for the sixth forum. The details about the theme, location and participants are to be announced in the coming two weeks. The English-language version of the website can be accessed at: www.kacnd.org/eng/
