Culture Minister Farouk Hosni received an invitation from the Mediterranean Peace Forum to attend its meetings in November in the northern Italian city of Lecce and to deliver a statement on the situation in the Middle East.

Hosni said Friday 4/7/2008 his speech will focus on the forum's role and efforts to build trust between nations especially in the occupied Palestinian territories, to enhance inter-faith dialogue and to call for the respect of each other's culture.

The Mediterranean Peace Forum is chaired by Palestinian politician Ahmed Qorei and former UNESCO chairman Frederico Mayor.

The meetings will be held on November 27-29. The forum groups prominent international figures, including politicians, academicians, economists, clergymen, journalists and media members.

The forum has three headquarters in Africa, Asia and Europe.