PARIS, France: France is launching a "cultural workshop" to promote understanding between the West and the Islamic world.

Ambassador-at-large in charge of the project Jacques Huntzinger said the workshop, which is the brainchild of French President Jacques Chirac, will hold its first session in Paris on September 13-15.

The workshop aims at "countering the risk of the development of misunderstandings, prejudices and fear among peoples and civil societies" on the two banks of the Mediterranean.

According to a presentation of the project, the second session will be held in the Spanish city of Seville February 7-9, 2007 and the third in the Egyptian port of Alexandria in June next year.

Participants in the "dialogue of peoples and cultures" will come from non-governmental organizations although organizers will seek the support of the governments concerned.