The auditorium of the Palace of Charles V in the Alhambra provided an excellent framework for holding on November 30, the celebration of the First day celebration of Taifa of Granada Millennium, on the subject of multiculturalism and coexistence between cultures.
The Conference was organized by the Aliatar Foundation in collaboration with the Foundation for Social Promotion of Culture (FPSC) through its Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CEMOFPSC) in order to facilitate a meeting between the three cultures and promote coexistence and peace.
The world of culture has an essential role in this process and therefore the Alhambra once again opened its doors to a meeting between experts from Palestinian territories and Spain.
The conference began with the introduction and presentation of the event by Ms. Mª Antonia Bel Bravo, Professor of Modern History at the University of Jaén, followed by welcoming remarks made by the Trade Councillor of the City of Granada, Ms. Mary French.
Then, the first conference was held by Mr. Camilo Álvarez de Morales from the Department of Semitic Studies at the School of Arabic Studies in the University of Granada.
The conference entitled “Granada in the year 1013 and subsequent Andalusia cultural heritage, as a result of coexistence” stressed the richness of the Andalusia heritage in different fields such as philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and gastronomy, among others.
Later a roundtable took place: “Education in conflict zone” where the speakers, Ms. Macarena Cotelo, Director of Projects and Cooperation from the FPSC, Mr. George Al-Naber, Director of Freres Bethlehem school, and Ms. Sophia S., Chief of Mission of the FPSC in Palestinian Territories, in their speeches highlighted different aspects of the Convention on International Development Cooperation Improving the quality of primary and secondary education in the Palestinian Territories, conducted by the FPSC in collaboration with the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation (AECID).
The agreement on education in the Palestinian Territories, which promotes quality education, includes among its objectives the training of teachers and students, especially with regard to the special educational needs motivated by the mark left in these children’s plight and conflict in which they live.
The school whose director is Mr. George Al-Naber has pioneered the Convention to develop this activity and in the training of teachers and students in the field of new technologies.
The Freres School, in which 60% of students are Muslims and the rest Christians, is an example of coexistence among people from cultural diversity and families with different socioeconomic level.
The third lecture was given by Mr. José Ramón Martínez Ayuso, from the Department of Semitic Studies at the University of Granada, by the conference “A minority in al-Andalus: the Jews in Granada Zirí” highlighted the important role played by Jews in this period of history.
Ms. María José Valenzuela, General Secretary of Foundation Aliatar closed the conference.
The Grenadian public who completed the full capacity of the place was invited at the end of Conference to visit the Alhambra Museum which has the best existing collection of Moorish art.