Obama to attend interfaith forum in Istanbul

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama will visit Turkey on April 6-7, following an invitation from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend a forum aimed at fostering dialogue between the West and the Muslim world, according to diplomatic sources.
Erdogan had invited Obama to attend a meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations initiative in Istanbul on April 7. Predominantly Muslim, secular Turkey is a NATO member and a close ally of the United States in a troubled region.
The UN-backed Alliance of Civilizations initiative was launched in 2005 in a bid to help overcome prejudices and misunderstandings between different cultures and religions. It is co-chaired by Turkey and Spain.
Obama has voiced determination to improve ties with the Islamic world and said he would give a major speech from a Muslim country during his first year in office.
Spanish President Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and several Heads of State and over 50 Ministers will participate in the event.
A powerful network of opinion leaders, heads of international organizations, corporations, media, foundations, civil society, religious groups and youth will convene at the Istanbul Forum. The event will also provide new opportunities for policy-makers, funders and grassroots organizations to work together to develop practical projects.
The Istanbul Forum follows the success of the inaugural Alliance Forum which was held in Madrid, Spain, in January 2008. Like Madrid, the Istanbul Forum will be firmly action-oriented, with an emphasis on delivering concrete projects and practical outcomes.