The ERC project "Past and Present Musical encounters accross the Strait of Gibraltar"  is proud to present a distinguished lecture by André Azoulay, counsellor to H.M. Mohammed VI, King of Morocco and President of the foundation of Three cultures.

This event is co-sponsored by the Andrew W Mellon funded project Religious Diversity and the Secular University at CRASSH, University of Cambridge.

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The event is free to attend and all are welcome

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Biography:

Born in Essaouira-Mogador (Morocco) in 1941, André Azoulay was educated in Paris where he studied economics, journalism and international relations.

 

As Counsellor of His Majesty the late King Hassan II from (1991to1999), and since then of His Majesty Mohammed VI, André Azoulay has largely contributed to the implementation of economic reforms which have been applied throughout the Kingdom since their inception in the early 90s. He also played a significant role in the privatisation and deregulation programs which began in 1993. He emphasized the need for sustaining the role of the private sector and encouraging the international investment to sustain the economic growth in Morocco. A. Azoulay has also largely contributed to promote Morocco throughout the world.

A. Azoulay is also known for his historical input in the follow-up of the peace process in the Middle East and the many initiatives he has been involved in the perspective of deepening the logic of reconciliation between Jews and Muslims. In addition to his professional responsibilities André Azoulay has always fought for peace and dialogue between the Arab Muslim World and that of the Jewish communities in Europe, the United States, Morocco as well as the Arab and Jewish diasporas worldwide. 

For over 40 years A. Azoulay has taken an active part in supporting the activities of different movements and associations whose vocation is the two states solution (Palestine-Israel) and to help the process of better understanding and mutual respect between Islam and the Western World.

Co-President of the Executive Committee of the Foundation of the Three Cultures and the Three Religions based in Seville (Spain) he is one of the founders of the Aladin Group (Paris) created to promote mutual knowledge and intercultural relations among Islam and the Others

In August 2005 A. Azoulay was also nominated member of the “High Level Group” for the “Alliance of Civilizations, set up by the United Nations. In this context, he was elected the 5th of March 2008 and reelected the 9th of September 2011 as President of the Euro-Mediterranean Anna Lindh Foundation, as well as Board member of the Institut de Prospective et d’Etudes pour le Monde Méditerranéen (Paris).

André Azoulay is fervent in the promotion and the revival of Essaouira his home town, a town which has an important place in the historical, cultural and spiritual heritage of the Kingdom. He is President of the Association Essaouira-Mogador which has established an original approach to the durable development of the town based on its cultural and artistic heritage. The town is justly proud to host 7 music festivals a year, ranging from jazz classical and lyrical. They include the renowned Gnawa and World Music Festival and the rich judeo-muslim repertory of the Andalusian-Atlantic Festival, the only world music festival where the stages are exclusively dedicated to the musicians, singers and dancers, muslim and jewish. His wife Katia, also born in Essaouira, has published two books “Essaouira-Mogador, Fragrances of Childhood” and “Essaouira-Mogador, Passions partagées”.

Member of the Board of Al Akhawayne University (Ifrane), the Mediterranean University (Fès) and the High Council of the Alliance Israelite Universelle (Paris), A. Azoulay is the President of the board of the Institute Pierre Mendès-France (Paris) and President of the Universities Research Center for the Engineering Sciences (Casablanca).

Belonging to the Board of several economic and financial institutions, André Azoulay is a member of the Royal Academy of Morocco (Rabat), the Royal Academy of Spain for Economic and Financial Sciences (Barcelona) and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (Vienna).  He has been honoured with the titles of “Commandeur dans l’Ordre du Trône” (Morocco) and he has received many awards and titles of honour in France, Spain, Italie, Germany, U.K., Portugal, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina.