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Welcome to the Next Century Foundation
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The Next Century Foundation 2012 is a time of turmoil and change in the Middle East. The ‘Arab Awakening' is encouraging the peoples of the Arab World to clamour for change and freedom, even at the cost of life and liberty. Whilst the consequences for the region and for the international community's policies in the region are still being worked out, what is certain is that an inexorable movement for freedom and fundamental political change is underway. The Next Century Foundation is dedicated to the furtherance of peace, the avoidance of war and the minimisation of suffering resulting from conflict. From its original geographic focus on the Middle East, the NCF in recent years has expanded its area of interest and involvement to include parts of Africa and South Asia where peace, security and human dignity are under continuing and, in some instances, increasing threat. We regard peace as more than the absence of conflict. Peace is the fostering of concord through conciliation and the patient building of trust and reconciliation through dialogue and mutual understanding.
We regard security as freedom from fear of imminent threat to life, livelihood or liberty. We regard human dignity as a basic human right. By human dignity we mean that innate sense of self-worth, character and aspiration which informs our understanding of what it is to be a flourishing human being who has the potential of living a life where dreams and aspirations have a chance of fulfilment. To further its work NCF:
• Facilitates regular working groups and conferences to promote off-the-record discussion, without prejudice, between factions of all backgrounds and political persuasion. Often this requires enabling discussions with individuals or groups who are unwilling to meet openly. • Mounts fact-finding visits and electoral observation missions to prepare, through first-hand investigation and insights, confidential assessments for parties which share its goals for peaceful transition and reconciliation. • Provides informed analysis, in-depth reports and papers on key aspects of areas of open or incipient conflict. Reports may sometimes be commissioned by organisations seeking knowledge of a country or region. NCF's Media Programme The NCF responds to and works closely with the media recognising the key role of press and broadcasting in the NCF's current areas of work. The NCF has extensive media links through its International Press Council which is promoting ethical journalism in areas of tension and conflict by fostering non-biased reporting. The NCF hosts the annual International Media Awards and compiles the Media Credibility Index. The members of the Next Century Foundation believe it is vital to build a climate of order and security in our world to enable the pursuit of peace and reconciliation. We are not a "friendship group". We do care for people and their different views. As a "forum" we talk through situations, tackling controversial issues in a spirit of reconciliation and bridge-building. We bring together in a quiet, friendly atmosphere many "opposites" who might otherwise never meet. It is said that "one of the side of good is a majority". This is also our belief. |
مؤسسة القرن المقبل هذه المؤسسة هي مؤسسة خيرية مختصة بحل الصراعات، كما أهنا تلعب دورآخر (أو تسلك مسار آخر) من أجل دعم مبادرات السلام في منطقة الشرق الأوسط. تعمل هذه المؤسسة من أجل: تشجيع الحوار بين صانعي القرار في المناطق التي يعمها مناخ من الصراع والعداء المفتوح والتي أحرزت تقدمًا باتجاه حل الخلافات المعقدة، وأن تفعل ذلك بنظرة محايدة غير متحيزة لأي طرف. التشجيع والبحث عن حلول في حالات حدوث الصراعات. دعم الصلات بين هؤلاء الذين لهم دور في علاج أصل وأسباب العنف والذين يرون ضرورة تحريك وتفعيل قوى المسببات. تحتفل مؤسسة القرن المقبل هذا العام بالذكرى العشرين من تأسيسها. تعمل هذه المؤسسة بحكم وجود مكاتبها في كل من لندن وتل أبيب وبغداد والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية على حل عدة صراعات إقليمية. ولكن تركز بالدرجة الأولى على مشاريع الشرف الأوسط المرتبطة بدولة إسرائيل وبالسلطة الفلسطينية وعملية السلام الشامل في هذه المنطقة. كما تدير هذه المنظمة مشاريع في سورية والعراق وإيران والسودان ويوغسلافيا السابقة وكشمير أفغانستان بناءًا على مبدأ تحقيق السلام من خلال الإعلام.
آن أوانُ التغيير يؤمن كل أعضاء مؤسسة القرن المقبل أنه من الضروري والأساسي العمل من أجل بناء مناخ من النظام والأمن لتحقيق السلام والتراضي.نحن لا ننتقد، كما أننا لسنا مجموعة صداقة ولا نسعى لندين. لكننا نهتم بالناس وآرائهم المختلفة من خلال هذا المنتدى نناقش الأوضاع المختلفة ونحاول إيجاد الحلول للأمور المثيرة للجدل بطريقة تسعى إلى التراضي وبناء جسور الوصل. نحن نجمع في جو من الهدوء والصداقة الكثير من الخصوم الذين يصعب تلاقيهم في الأحوال العادية.
وحسب القول أو المقولة "يمكن لشخص واحد داعم للخير أن يُمثل الأغلبية العُظمى" وهذه هي عقيدتنا ومبدؤنا، حيث يلتزم أعضاؤنا بالمبدأ التالي: هذا هو وقت السلام والتراضي فقد آن أوانُ التغيير. |
Our maxim is a “fair hearing for every people and every nation”. We believe passionately in the right to be heard and that all minority nations on the world stage today have an inalienable right to put their case. That there is only one weapon WE can use in the presentation of any case: Truth. We recognise that in all human relationships, and all the more so in the shadowy world that is created when you drink the heady mix of politics and diplomacy, the world of the children’s song holds true: “When you point your finger at your neighbour, there are three more pointing back at you”.
It was in this spirit that the Next Century Foundation was started to promote peace and rapproachment between the nations of the Middle East. At the very first meeting Claud Morris emphasised that the aim was not only peace but understanding. “That’s what we’re after. We want to break a deadlock,” he announced. We recognise the value of the late Jon Kimche’s insight when he said that, “the stumbling block is defining what people mean by peace. Often they mean a way to achieve without fighting what they couldn’t achieve by fighting.” For us the aim is understanding. We believe that by holding to this aim, the lives of many could be touched producing changes in situations of which even we are not yet aware.
We are impressed by the distinction Thomas Aquinas drew between peace and concord, pointing out that concord is possible between murderers and thieves but real peace is based on genuine love - an understanding of differences and an appreciation of difficulties.
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