Dr. Abdulla Al-Sadiq, Secretary-General of the BCSR, welcomed Professor Jean-Paul Carteron, Chairman and Founder of the Crans Montana Forum, and Mr. Osama Al Khajah, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of the Crans-Montana Forum Middle East, to the BCSR on Monday 16th June 2008. 

A Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation between the two organisations was signed on behalf of the BCSR by the BCSR Secretary-General, Dr. Abdulla Al-Sadiq and by Professor Jean-Paul Carteron on behalf of the Crans Montana Graduate Institute of International Studies of Monte-Carlo. Also in attendance at the signing from the BCSR were: Dr. Mohamed Noman Galal, Advisor for Strategic International Studies and the Dialogue of Civilisations; Dr. Mohamed Al-Rumaidh, Acting Director of Political and Strategic Studies and Public Opinion Polls; and Mr. Yaser Al Shirawi, Director of Finance and Administration Affairs.

Under the terms of the MoU the two institutes agreed to facilitate the exchange of information and publications, to consult on the organisation of seminars and workshops, and to facilitate the exchange of workshop and seminar speakers, experts and researchers.

Dr. Al-Sadiq stated that he was "honoured to receive Professor Carteron and to sign this important Memorandum of Understanding", and that he "looked forward to furthering mutually beneficial cooperation between the two institutes".

Professor Carteron described the signing of the Memorandum as "a milestone" and he spoke of the need to "develop and create synergy and goodwill for the development of joint programmes".