The Ismaili Centre, London is hosting a conversation between UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova and Serge Schmemann, Member of the Editorial Board of the New York Times as part of the Forum for New Diplomacy. They are discussing the topic of Protecting Cultural Patrimony in Times of Conflict: Challenges & Threats.

The Forum for New Diplomacy is a joint initiative of the Académie Diplomatique Internationale and International New York Times. Senior journalists from International New York Times and The New York Times engage leading figures in politics, business and civil society in discussion on emerging dynamics and challenges in global affairs.

The Académie Diplomatique Internationale was founded in 1926 as one of the world’s first institutions dedicated to the study of international affairs. Under the presidency of Mawlana Hazar Imam, it has been revitalised as a centre for modern diplomacy. The ADI convenes conferences and public debates, conducts diplomatic training courses, and undertakes research relevant to the diplomatic, business and foreign policy communities.

The International New York Times is a leading international news source for opinion leaders and decision-makers around the globe. International New York Times includes the journalism of The New York Times, tailored for a global audience, and launched in print and online on October 15, 2013, with dedicated newsrooms in Paris, London, Hong Kong and New York. The International New York Times succeeds the International Herald Tribune, a publication based in Paris since 1887.