Malta will host the first regional conference for the Mediterranean of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations on November 8 and 9.

The meeting will witness the participation of 49 countries, including Malta, and another 17 organisations.

The ministers of foreign affairs of Spain, Turkey and Egypt - Miguel Moratinos, Ahmet Davutoglu and Ahmed Abul Gheit, respectively, are expected to participate.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is an initiative of the UN secretary-general which aims to improve understanding and cooperative relations among nations and peoples across cultures and religions, and to help counter the forces that fuel polarisation and extremism.

It was established in 2005, on the initiative of the Spanish and Turkish governments, under the auspices of the United Nations.

In April 2007, the United Nations secretary-general appointed former Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio as high representative for the alliance.

The AoC is supported by a group of friends – a community of over 85 member countries and international organisations and bodies.

Other meetings held in Malta include the Mediterranean conference of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe which addressed, from a Mediterranean perspective.

In the first half of next year, Malta intends to host the second summit of the Western Mediterranean Forum known as the 5+5.

Head of States of the member countries will be present.

These include France’s Sarkozy, Libya’s Gheddafi and Italy’s Berlusconi.

The convening of this summit, the second of its sort in seven years, should among others serve to reaffirm the relevance of the 5+5 dialogue in the present-day context. Malta continues to attach great value to this informal mechanism, as a platform for open and frank discussion between north and south .