Palestinians in Europe Conference will kick off next week

The tenth Conference of Palestinians in Europe in Copenhagen will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012 under the title “Our Spring blossoms our Return”. It is organized by the General Secretariat of the Palestinians in Europe Conference, The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) and the Palestinian Forum in Denmark.

This year’s conference is expected to gain great importance as it will discuss the Arab Spring’s impact on Palestinian causes in the presence of Arab and international figures.

Majed Alzeer, PRC General Director in London and Conference President expected a significant participation in the conference thanks to the important Palestinian presence in Denmark and to the conference’s reputation. He said that Tunisia Presidential Bureau Director, Emad Al Daimi, will participate on behalf of the Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki noting that the event will be held under the auspices of president Marzouki.

The conference, in which former British Minster and member of the Council on European-Palestinian Relations MP Clare Short will participate, attempts to internationalize several Palestinian key issues.

Other speakers include Head of Popular Committee against the Siege on Gaza and Palestinian Parliamentarian Jamal Al Kohdary, Palestinian historian and Chair of the land foundation Salman Abu Sitta, Secretary General of Egypt’s Revolution Youth Sheikh Safwat Hijazi, Chair of Academy of Palestinian Refugee Studies Dr. Muhammad Yasir Amro and chair of Palestinian Scholars league in Lebanon Basim Kayed.

Ziad Shuhair, the Chair of the Palestinian Forum in Denmark, said that the Conference will include several workshops and discussion sessions such as a workshop on the Arab revolutions and the Palestinian cause and Key Palestinian issues as Jerusalem, Prisoners, settlements, Refugees, the internal situation and the PLO.

Other workshops will highlight on Western ways of dealing with the Palestinian issue, in addition to discussing Nahr al Bard Refugee camp crisis, the Palestinian Refugees in Iraq, Gaza Refugee camp in Jordan and Gaza Siege.

The prisoners’ issue will get special attention in light of their suffering from the violations of the basic human rights. Thus, a European Campaign to Release Palestinian prisoners will be launched in an attempt to defend them.

Belal al Fout, Head of Preparatory Committees confirmed that during the conference many cultural activities are going to take place.

During the previous years, the conference was held in various European cities like London 2003, Berlin 2004, Vienna 2005, Malmo 2006, Rotterdam 2007, Copenhagen 2008, Milan 2009, Berlin 2010 and Wuppertal 2011.