The conference with the theme of “Local and regional authorities: strategies to strengthen Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the context of the current epochal changes” of Standing Committee Euro Mediterranean Partnership of the Local and Regional Authorities (COPPEM) was held in Italy. The fruitful presentations contained many political and social issues such as cultural changes, refugee and migration problems in the world, racism problems, Ukraine and Syria crisis, climate change, gender equality, human and woman rights, peace processes in the world at the conference which held in Palermo, Regional Assembly of Sicily.
Many participants such as IAU President and COPPEM Board Member Assoc. Prof. Mustafa Aydın, President of Antimafia Commission, President of the Regional Assembly of Sicily, COPPEM President Adly Hussein, COPPEM General Secretary Francesco Sammarito, Regional Affairs of the Region Sicily and Archbishop took part in the conference.
COPPEM Board Member Assoc. Prof. Mustafa Aydın made a speech titled “Mediterranean Region: Issues and Solution Offers through Education Diplomacy”. In his speech, mentioning the purpose of education diplomacy, environmental and social problems in the Mediterranean Region Aydın; uttered the need for economic and political stability in the region in his speech. In addition, Aydın, recording that gender equality, human rights and placing democracy, making an inclusive education and dialog culture is also essential, offered that through a developed “educational diplomacy” to be established in the fields of education and research, about the problems encountered by the Mediterranean region, reliable scientific evidence should be presented to the decision-makers, alternative projects and programs should be designed.
Assoc. Prof. Mustafa Aydın, at the end of his speech, drew attention “education diplomacy” notion and he said “Education diplomacy is a dynamic and strong tool that will positively impact our world. In this respect, we should stand behind activities that improve education and research territorially and all kinds of initiatives that will invigorate the international dimension of these activities.”
