“The Alliance Forum is not only about dialogue. It is about dialogue that delivers. It is about concrete, practical projects that make a real difference to the lives of people on the ground”
-President Jorge Sampaio

The Second Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations mobilized the energy, imagination and ideas of a wide range of committed partners, from international organizations to media, from governments to civil society, and from religious leaders to youth.  From 6-7 April 2009, over 1,000 participants – among them several Heads of Government, over 50 Ministers, as well as policy-makers, foundation, media and grassroots leaders from around the world – convened at the Ciragan Palace Hotel in Istanbul  Turkey, to forge new partnerships and generate ideas aimed at building trust and cooperation among diverse communities. The Forum also served as an opportunity to take stock of initiatives developed by the Alliance of Civilizations and to launch practical projects in collaboration with civil society and corporate partners.