Nobel laureates and key world figures wrapped up their meeting here on Thursday by agreeing to reconvene in this ancient seat of civilization on a regular basis to follow up on recommendations to provide hope to the world's poor and oppressed.



His Majesty King Abdullah, the meeting's host, urged delegates to reach out to the youth of the Middle East, where half of the population are below the age of 18.


The King called on the Nobel laureates to guide the youth to a future of opportunity, peace and security.


He stressed that the youth in this part of the world would not “accept empty words and promises. They want to make a difference; to share in the fruits of modern knowledge... And we must make a beginning now.”


The meeting underscored the role of the private sector in promoting peace through economic investment and the need to strengthen democratic institutions and civil society organizations “to address inequity and injustice, which are the root causes of terrorism.”


Individuals, according to the prize winners, should be encouraged “to become agents for peace by cultivating a sense of individual responsibility based on universal values.”


Conference participants included peace prize winners the Dalai Lama, Northern Ireland's David Trimble, Israel's Shimon Peres and Elie Wiesel from the US, among others. Prime Minister Adnan Badran and Prince Ghazi also attended the conference.


Former US President Bill Clinton outlined the main challenges facing the world including security, social justice and the environment.


He said a key factor in the world today was the issue of global inter-dependency, which has had both positive and negative consequences.


Clinton called for a commitment to global peace to “create a world of more friends and fewer enemies.” He also said that world countries should work “hand-in-hand” to protect the environment.


Participants agreed to enhance the prospects of peace by linking conflict mitigation strategies to economic development and education, especially efforts to promote literacy.


In his concluding remarks, Wiesel, co-host of the conference, pinpointed education as the key to solving the many of the world's problems. “We owe our hope and commitment to our children,” said Wiesel, whose US-based Eli Wiesel Foundation for Humanity launched the Nobel Laureates' meetings in Paris seven years ago.


According to a statement issued after the meetings, educational progress will involve promoting access to information and also envisions connecting “every classroom worldwide to the Internet.”



The education, media and culture panel highlighted the need to enhance press freedoms and diversification of media ownership.



Delegates cited good governance, consultation, capital access through microfinance initiatives and women's economic empowerment as key elements of progress and economic prosperity.


They also called for more scientific research in the developing world and bilateral and regional agreements on scientific exchange in the Middle East.


Participants rounded off the meeting by saying they would consider establishing a Nobel laureates group as part of their follow-up activities to “assist communication, cooperation and collaborative endeavors.”