Over 1,000 scholars, researchers and experts on the Middle East will gather in Amman on June 11, 2006, at the Second World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies (WOCMES-2), held under the patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah.

Jordan will be the first Arab country to host the event, testifying to its unique position as a meeting place for intellectuals and academics. WOCMES-2 will also be the largest gathering of thinkers and area specialists from around the world to take place in the Middle East, thus providing an excellent forum for ideas and knowledge exchange among key public opinion shapers.

A keynote speech by King Abdullah, to be delivered at the event's official opening ceremony on Monday, June 12, 2006, is expected to address the role of academia and critical inquiry in raising global awareness, challenging stereotypes and demystifying the Middle East, essentially building the groundwork for peace and stability in the region.

HRH Prince El Hassan Bin Talal, who is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS), the Amman-based organizer of the WOCMES-2, will also address the participants.

The conference underscores the importance of expert knowledge in successful and informed decision-making and highlights the powerful role of scholarship in helping societies overcome the challenges they face.

Several Jordanian students will participate in the conference, which will allow them the opportunity to interact with their counterparts from over 50 countries, in line with His Majesty's vision of youth as change agents in the Middle East and throughout the world.