The World Forum on Democracy & Peace 2025

“United in Advancing Development, Democracy and Peace”

(Berlin; October 1-3rd, 2025)
October 1st, 2025
13:00-13:05 Welcome Address: Mark Donfried (Director & Founder, Institute for Cultural Diplomacy)
13:05-14:00 “Efforts to achieve the new European security structure - experience and contribution from Croatia”
Keynote Speech:Amb. Gordan Bakota (Ambassador of Croatia to Germany)
14:00-14:30 "The Sacred Drum Ingoma – Beyond the Symbol of Power and the Cultural Identity of Burundi"
Keynote Speech:Amb. Annonciata Sendarizasa (Ambassador of Burundi to Germany)
14:30-15:00 Coffee Break
15:00-15:30 “The European Perspective of the Republic of Moldova, as it is intrinsically related to a peaceful andstable future of the country”
Keynote Speech: Amb. Aureliu Ciocoi (Ambassador of Moldova to Germany)
15:30-16:00 "Armenia: A Crossroads of Peace"
Keynote Speech: Amb. Viktor Yengibaryan (Ambassador of Armenia to Germany)
16:00-16:30 "The Nexus between Culture, Politics and Peace: A Vision from History"
Keynote Speech: Amb. Mohammed Abdelsattar Mohamed Elbadri (Amb. of Egypt to Germany)
16:30-16:45 Short Break
16:45- 17:45 “July 2024 Uprising in Bangladesh: Renewed pledge for Democracy & Inclusivity”
Keynote Speech & Documentary Screening: Amb. Muhammad Zulqar Nain (Ambassador of Bangladesh to Germany)

Followed by Reception
October 2nd, 2025
12:00-12:20

Coffee, Tea and Refreshments

12:20- 12:30 Welcome Address: Mark Donfried (Director & Founder, Institute for Cultural Diplomacy)
12:30 -13:15 “The Use of Cultural Diplomacy to promote Peace, Reconciliation and Bonds between Countries, the Case Study of Greece.”
Keynote Speech:Alexandros Papaioannou (Ambassador of Greece to Germany)
13:15 -13:45 “Prespectives from Moprocco on Peace and Democracy” 
Keynote Speech:Khaoula El Kasmi (Embassy Councilor, Embassy of Morocco to Germany)
13:45 -14:30 “Building Bridges Through Culture: Yunus Emre Institute’s Global Role and Activities in Berlin”
Speech: Tuyça Obruk Canpolat (Head of Culture and Arts, Yunus Emre Insitute Berlin)
14:30 -15:00 Lunch time Reception
15:00 -15:30 "Peace through Strength: Is Donald Trump’s Peace Equal to World Peace?"
Speech:Dr. Prapee Apichatsakol (Assistant Professor at the Law Program, Department ofSociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand)
15:30-16:00 “Sudan & South Sudan: Decades of Internal Wars—The Roots of the Conflict, the ongoing Challenges, and the Path ahead”
Speech:Mr. Barnaba Okony Gilo Oriat (Former Member of Parliament, South Sudan)
16:00-17:00 "Cultural Democracy: A Lever for Resilience and Stability in Post-Transition Chad"
Keynote Speech: Amb.Youssouf Abassalah(Ambassador of Chad to Germany)
17:00-17:30

"The Fight for Freedom of Mind: Resisting thought Reform and Mind Control in the Face of RisingAuthoritarianism and the Erosion of Democracy"
Speech:Lisa Spears (PhD Researcher in Political Science with the University of Bucharest,in cooperation with the ICD Academy for Cultural Diplomacy)
17:30 - 18:00

Final Keynote Address
Keynote Speech: Katihabwa Artemon (Minister of Justice, Human Rights, and Gender of the Republic of Burundi)