Given the basic role of culture as a universal dialogue and communication language, H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, Minister of Culture, has participated at the Thirteenth Session of the Foundation entitled: "Euro Arab dialogue in the 21st century: towards a common vision).
The prestigious Kuwait-based Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain's Prize for Poetic Creativity was launched Monday a Euro-Arab dialogue conference aimed at finding common ground to promote cooperation among people of different cultures and faiths. The President of the Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity, the poet Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain, held a press conference during which he gave some details about the Thirteenth Session of the Foundation entitled: "Euro Arab dialogue in the 21st century: towards a common vision" which was held under the patronage and in the presence of the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schulz in Brussels, capital of Belgium, and in the presence of more than 300 dignitaries, political figures, intellectuals and media tycoons from around the world.
Commenting on her participation, H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa, Minister of Culture, pointed out that “ Even in these turbulent times, we are still capable of reaching to the world and to the others through culture; culture is the beautiful face of the world, smiley, emotional, sensational and borderless”. The Minister of Culture added that “ Culture is our meeting point; it embodies hope and truth. Democracy cannot thrive unless we can communicate with our inners selves, our humanity and our ability to live together in a tolerant environment shared by all humans”.
The two-day conference, co-organized by the Euro-Arab Institute for Dialogue between Cultures, is being held at the European Parliament HQs in Brussels with the participation of a galaxy of Arab and European politicians, intellectuals and public figures.
The President of the Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity has declared that the aim of the Session is to find a common ground and points of understanding among the peoples of the world where the Foundation, in such hard times of disagreement among people and willing to contribute to the international intellectual efforts to alleviate this human suffering, is seeking to find common ground and points of intersection and understanding among the peoples of the world in order to complete the Foundation’s role in consolidating international efforts to boost dialogue among civilizations which it has started many years ago and which it is still accomplishing. “The goal is to provide a platform for intellectual, political and religious elites to better understand each other and to overcome negative stereotypes as a first step towards bigger understanding and cooperation in the interests of all." He underlined that the world faces huge problems such as illiteracy, poverty and disease and needs to prevent hatred, exclusion and extremism in order to overcome them. Al-Babtian considered the EP as a role model for regional unity and constructive cooperation, when taking into account the welfare of its people.
Meanwhile, EP Deputy Speaker Tokia Saifi highlighted the historic and deeply-rooted cultural ties between Europe and the Arab World. For his part, the Speaker of the Kuwaiti parliament, known as the National Assembly, Marzouq Al-Ghanim underlined that the relationship between freedom and Kuwaitis was one of existence and was a way of life. For his part, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and Portugal's ex-president Jorge Sampaio said that the Arab and European sides taking part in the talks should form a deeper understanding of the changes occurring their own societies and the world as a whole. They should also reach common ground on dialogue and cooperation in spite of ethnic, cultural and religious differences, and this he regarded was the goal of the congregation. Shifts currently being witnessed in the Arab world do not have a seldom focus on democracy, but are also root changes to the social, economic and cultural fabrics.
The first theme entitled (Rethinking Democracy) is chaired by Mr. Mohammad Ibn Issa (Morroco) and presented by Mr. Haris Silajdic (Bosnia), Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah (Kuwait), Mr. Michael Frendo (Malta), Dr. Mohiéddine Amaimor (Algeria). The second theme entitled (Social Media, A new Space for Democracy) is chaired by Mrs. Giselle Khouri (Lebanon) and presented by,Mr. Gammal Mohammad Ghiets (Egypt), Dr. Maria Lia Pop (Romania), Mr. Georgio DaBromida (Italia),Mrs. Nahida Nakad (Lebanon). Al-Babtain said: as for the third theme, it is entitled (Education and citizenship, key tools for the 21st century), chaired by Dr. Yousif Al-Ebrahim and presented by, Dr. Khaled Hroub (Palestine), Dr. Abdulwahid Akmir (Morocco), Dr.Simon Petermann (Belgium), Dr. Luigi Moccia (Italia).
It is worth mentioning that this session is organized by the Foundation of Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain’s Prize for Poetic Creativity under the patronage and presence of the European Parliament President, Martin Schulz, and entitled: "Euro Arab dialogue in the 21st Century: toward a common vision”
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