CNN to air key debate on Iraq from Dubai ABU DHABI, June 14, 2004 (WAM) -- CNN International will host a panel discussion from Dubai on June 30 during which key Arab opinion formers will air their views about the handover of sovereignty to Iraq. The special programme titled 'Countdown to Handover: The Arab Pulse', offers a global platform for the Arab perspective on events in Iraq and CNN's international audience will see and hear the passionate views from across the political and journalistic spectrum of the Arab world. Dubai is the starting point for a three-part series of debates, which will also be hosted from Europe and North America. All three forums will be broadcast on CNN International in the week prior to the handover of sovereignty to Iraq, according to a report in +Khaleej Times.+ The Dubai panel discussion will be broadcast on June 21, 2004 at 22:00 local time. "The future of Iraq is the main talking point for millions of people across the Middle East, Europe and America and with this series of special programmes we are taking our international audience to the centre of that debate," said Rena Golden, senior vice-president of CNN International. "This series, and in particular the Arab forum in Dubai, is pivotal to our coverage in the lead up to the handover and marks a clear shift in CNN's aim to focus increasingly on bringing the debate of key issues into the public arena." In Dubai the discussion will focus on delivering the views of those who live in the region, as well as those with a particular interest in the process and outcome of events in Iraq. This is the first time that CNN International has hosted a candid debate of this kind recorded in front of an invited audience in Dubai. Hosted by veteran CNN anchor and correspondent Jim Clancy, this special forum will see some of the Arab world's leading political and journalistic commentators reflect on the Arab perspective of Iraq's future. Contributors to this programme include outspoken analysts and commentators such as Dr Adnan Pachachi of the Iraqi Governing Council, the former Iraqi ambassador to the UN, Mohammad Al Dourie, representative of the Iraqi opposition, Dr Nawad Nasmi, and media commentators such as Al Arabiya's Muhammad Khateeb, Imad Edin Adeeb from Orbit, Jamil Azar from Al Jazeera, Shada Amr from LBC, Rami Khouri of the Daily Star in Lebanon and Samia Nakhoul from Reuters. Each forum will be moderated by different CNN International anchors, while Jim Clancy will host the debate in Dubai, Richard Quest will moderate the European event in London, and Jonathan Mann will host the final part of the series in Atlanta. In Europe, CNN's Richard Quest will play host to leading European cultural and philosophical commentators. Guests include British novelist Frederick Forsyth, Swiss-based Islamic philosopher/professor/author, Tariq Ramadan, Lili Gruber, the Italian broadcaster who recently resigned from RAI in protest against the influence of Silvio Berlusconi, and is now running for the European Parliament, British historian, Niall Fergusson, media commentator, AA Gill editor of leading German daily, Die Zeit, Josef Joffe and the former Spanish Foreign Minister in Jose Maria Aznar's government who was instrumental in the Iraq coalition planning, Ana Palacio. The trilogy of round-table discussions comes to a conclusion at CNN's headquarters in Atlanta where Jonathan Mann will chair the forum offering the American perspective on this critical subject. The panel of guests gathering in Atlanta are known for their outspoken opinion about the US role in Iraq and the Middle East, and include Arianna Huffington, Ben Stein, Neil Boortz and James Zogby. A large studio audience will include representatives from military families as well as social and political pressure groups for and against the US administration's role in Iraq. These three debates form part of CNN's extensive coverage of the hand over of Iraq's Sovereignty, all through June, some of CNN's most senior and experienced correspondents including Christiane Amanpour, Brent Sadler and Jane Arraf will report from Iraq to the build-up to the handover and will also look at the previous 18 months as Iraq and the US collation strived to re-build the country's infrastructure. WAM-VV 11 00 CCCCQQE
