The Conference Committee for Globalisation for the Common Good 2008 gives notice that His Excellency Seyyed Mohammad Khatami has reluctantly advised that the current situation in Iran has made his personal attendance impossible.

However, the Committee is making every endeavour to secure an address from His Excellency by way of satellite linkup or video.

Leader of the reform movement in Iran, he is credited with having placed the dialogue of cultures and civilizations on the international map. He was instrumental in getting the idea of dialogue unanimously accepted by the Organisation of Islamic Conference in 1997 and by the UN General Assembly in 1998.

Since then, in a number of landmark speeches delivered to large audiences around the world, he has brought to the idea intellectual depth, political insight and practical focus. His advice is widely sought by religious and political leaders around the world.

He will give the keynote address at the GCG 2008 Conference on Monday evening 30th June. Given the importance of the occasion, the meeting will be open to the public.

In 1961 after graduation from high school in his hometown, President Khatami went to the holy city of Qom to study theology and then in 1965 he continued his studies in Isfahan. He also studied philosophy at the University of Isfahan where he obtained his BA in 1969. In 1970 he entered the University of Tehran to study education and graduated with an MA. After graduation he went back to Qom to follow up his philosophical studies.

Before the Revolution H. E. Mohammad Khatami participated in Islamic Movement in Hozeh (Seminary) in Qom. After the revolution in 1979 he replaced Ayatollah Dr. Beheshti as Head of Hamburg Islamic Center. The Center turned into an Islamic campaign center when the late Imam Khomeini went to France. He represented Ardakan and Meibod constituencies in the first term of the Majlis [Parliament] in 1980. He was also appointed as the Leader's (Late Imam Khomeini) representative in Kayhan newspaper Institute in 1981.

From 1982 to 1992 he was the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance. During the 1980 - 1988 Iraqi imposed war, he served at different responsibilities including deputy and head of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and chairman of the War Propaganda Headquarters.

In 1992 he was appointed as Advisor to former President Rafsanjani. In 1996 He was appointed as a member of High Council for Cultural Revolution by the Leader of Iran. As President he was the head of the council. President Khatami was elected as the fifth President of the Islamic Republic on May 23, 1997 elections by gaining 20,078,178 votes, almost 70 percent of the votes cast. He was re-elected on June 8, 2001 for a second term. His second term ended on August 2, 2005.