The Emirate of Sharjah has been named as the World Book Capital for 2019….reports Asian Lite News
H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, said that the emirate had faced several obstacles in its cultural project, which had posed a major challenge in reaching the aspired cultural level and had become a motivation for constructive cultural effort.
During his meeting last morning with the editors-in-chief of national newspapers and media at the Sharjah Book Authority’s pavilion, which is participating in the international Frankfurt Book Fair, he noted, “There are many obstacles and difficulties which the emirate of Sharjah faced in its leading cultural project, since its inception until now, but it has many achievements and cultural titles to its name, as these obstacles formed an important catalyst to reaching the aspired cultural level.”
Sharjah has received the title of World Book Capital for 2019, which is an appreciation for its efforts to spread knowledge through books and create a foundation for knowledge, scientific and cultural process. “We are hopeful that this becomes a messenger for everyone, not only for the UAE but the Arab and Islamic nations.”
Sheikh Sultan also mentioned the attention he gave to his cultural project to spread correct knowledge and education among the new generations, adding that the best way to face the extremist ideology was to ensure the right foundation and upbringing from childhood, through containment and correct educational methods.
He emphasised the importance of cultural participation in various international exhibitions, which would be a tool to communicate with foreign cultures and initiate dialogue with them while transferring the leading cultural, literary and scientific knowledge of the Arab and Islamic nations to the different civilizations and countries, and benefitting from international experiences.
The Sharjah Ruler stressed the necessity of supporting and developing the authors, writers, painters and others specialising in the cultural fields to help them attain a high level, in terms of quantity and quality.
He highlighted that the cultural initiatives started by Sharjah in the Arab countries had acquired the confidence and support of cultured individuals.
The meeting was attended by Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Director-General of National Media Council; Ali Al Ahmed, UAE’s Ambassador to Federal Republic of Germany; Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Culture and Information; Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority; Mohammed Jalal Al Raisi, Executive Director of Emirates News Agency; Abdul Aziz Taryam, CEO Advisor and General Manager of Etisalat Northern Regions, and Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director-General of Sharjah Media Corporation, and several editors-in-chief of the UAE newspapers and media.
While touring the Sharjah pavilion, Sheikh Sultan went through the participants’ books showcased under the umbrella of the SBA and was briefed on the main exhibits, including the latest versions of the Al Qasimi Publications.
Brigadier Saif Al Ziri Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, briefed H.H. Sheikh Sultan on the most significant publications of the Sharjah Police being exhibited at the pavilion.
He was also briefed on the participation of the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information.
Participating in the pavilion is a large number of institutions, including Sharjah Publishing City and Kalimat Publishing Group.
In the presence of several German intellectuals and readers, Sharjah Ruler inked his signature on the first copies of the German book “The Conflict between Power and Trade in the Gulf”.
H.H. Sheikh Sultan was accompanied by Ali Abdullah Al-Ahmad, UAE Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany; Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Information in Sharjah; Abdul Aziz Taryam, CEO Advisor and General Manager of Etisalat Northern Region; Ahmed Rakkad Al Ameri, Chairman of SBA; Mohammed Hassan Khalaf, Director-General of the Sharjah Media Foundation; Rashid Mohammed Al Kous, Executive Director of EPA; and a number of Arab and foreign exhibitions’ directors, as well as several intellectual figures from around the world.
