The visionary Jean Monnet, father of the European Union, often celebrated the importance of human exchange. He recognized that mutual trust is built on familiarity and understanding. Knowing that institutional exchanges are often burdened by protocol and sovereign allegiances, Monnet championed a novel idea: that constructive dialogue is most likely to flourish in an environment which frees people from formal titles, official positions, and daily routine. Moreover, in a world beset at this new millennium's start by conflicting notions of global responsibility, national-power relationships, and human rights, he might well have found the need for just such a dialogue all the more propitious.

Forum 21, an experimental initiative faithful to Monnet's spirit, now invites 250 accomplished men and women from varied countries, backgrounds, and disciplines for a three-day conference:

Forum 21 participants will gather in a series of English language discussion groups, led by other participants, to consider a range of social and cultural issues. Given the intellectual and creative resources of those coming to Deauville, we are confident that these discussions will encompass a diverse menu of topics emerging from the challenge of the new century, among them the Arts, Science, Education, Law, New Technologies, Theology, Geopolitics, International Business, and Ethics. Participants are accomplished people from many walks of life: writers, journalists, artists, scientists, politicians, government leaders, business leaders, entrepreneurs, architects, attorneys, M.D.'s and academics. The names and short biographies of confirmed participants are available on the Forum 21 website: http://www.forum-21.com

Forum 21 is sponsored by the newly created Forum 21 - An Institute for International Civil Dialogue, in association with the Centre Pour les Etudes des Communications Internationales**.