I.P.O. ANNUAL REPORT 1972 Innsbruck,  December 1972 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRESS ORGANIZATION (I.P.O.) On 15 June 1972, three proponents, represented by Dr. Hans Köchler (Austria), sent a notification to the Federal Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Austria, requesting the nihil obstat for the foundation of the International Progress Organization as public corporation with headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria. On 11 July 1972, Austria's Ministry of Interior - General Directorate of Public Security notified the proponents of its consent. CULTURAL DIALOGUE AS BASIS OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE On 19 October 1972, Dr. Hans Köchler, representative of the proponents of the International Progress Organization, gave a lecture before the Working Group for Sciences and Politics at the University of Innsbruck on Cultural Self-perception and Coexistence: Preconditions of a Fundamental Dialogue ("Kulturelles Selbstverständnis und Koexistenz: Voraussetzungen für einen fundamentalen Dialog"), outlining the concept of intercultural dialogue as foundation of international peace. VISIT TO UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS From 4 to 8 September 1972, Dr. Hans Köchler visited United Nations headquarters in New York to discuss the idea of cultural dialogue and to hold consultations on the organization of an international conference on cultural co-operation. He met, among others, with the head of the UNESCO Liaison Office, Ms. Shawna Tropp, and with the Permanent Representative of Austria, Ambassador Dr. Peter Jankowitsch. HANS KÖCHLER RAISES ISSUE OF "DIALOGUE OF CIVILIZATIONS" On 26 September 1972 Dr. Hans Köchler sent a letter to the Director of the Division of Philosophy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Ms. Marie-Pierre Herzog, suggesting  the holding of an international conference "au sujet des problèmes résultant du dialogue entre les différentes civilisations." VISIT TO UNESCO HEADQUARTERS From 5 to 6 October 1972 Dr. Hans Köchler visited the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris. He met, among others, with the Director of the Division of Philosophy, Ms. Marie-Pierre Herzog, and with the Deputy Director, Dr. Wolfgang Schwendler, to discuss the proposed international conference on intercultural dialogue. FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY / DEFINITION OF PROGRESS On 30 October 1972 the First General Assembly of the I.P.O. was held at the Library of the Institute of Philosophy of Innsbruck University. Under item 3 of the agenda, the founding members from Austria, Germany, Italy, France, India and Egypt adopted a program of action and a definition of the term "progress" in a broad and comprehensive sense. They understood "progress" as strive towards universal knowledge which will form the basis of tolerance in the realms of culture and politics, with the survival of mankind as the ultimate goal. Declaration of the First General Assembly I.P.O. RAISES ISSUE OF CULTURAL AND POLITICAL DIALOGUE  WITH UNITED NATIONS In a letter dated 13 December 1972, addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Kurt Waldheim, the President of the I.P.O. emphasized that genuine progress is only possible on the basis of dialogue and mutual understanding. He further asked for the support of the United Nations Organization for the international conference on intercultural co-operation planned by the International Progress Organization.