2023-08-27 14:16:54
Rimini – Italy on August 27 / WAM / A number of dignitaries, cultural and religious, at the “Rimini” Meeting for Friendship between Peoples 2023 in the Italian city of Rimini, praised the cultural and human vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, which seeks to build bridges Communication between peoples and civilizations.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah was highly appreciated and praised by the participants in the meeting, who highlighted the initiatives and contributions of His Highness in the areas of sustainable development, education and international cooperation, which reflect His Highness’s keenness to create real and sustainable interaction between civilizations and religions.
The Emirate of Sharjah, represented by the Sharjah Book Authority, participated in the “Rimini Meeting for Friendship among Peoples 2023”, which is the largest summer cultural festival in Europe and the Western world, with the presence of more than a thousand participants from different countries of the world who represent the global cultural and religious scene.
The meeting hosted a symposium entitled “Friendship between Cultures”, in which HE Ahmed bin Rakad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, HE Bernard Schulz, President of the “Rimini Encounter” Foundation, Ms. Maria Tribodi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, and Ms. Antonella Sharoni Alibrandi, Deputy Minister, spoke. Education in the Vatican.
During the symposium, His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakad Al Ameri affirmed the Emirate of Sharjah’s commitment to dialogue and acquaintance between different peoples and cultures, pointing out that it is not limited to introducing the West to its culture and heritage, but also seeks to introduce Arabs to the West’s culture, creativity and diversity. His Excellency cited the saying of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, “Culture is the basis for building human dialogue and creating understanding and harmony among all peoples of the world, regardless of race, religion or geography.”
Al-Amiri said that getting to know the culture of the other removes fear and ignorance and opens horizons for understanding and peace, and this confirms the importance of presenting the human face of nations through their literature, arts and customs, and not only through their goods and products. Trade relations, which were one of the best tools for establishing opportunities for cultural exchange.
He expressed his pride in the role of the Sharjah Book Authority in promoting friendship and communication with different cultures of the world, explaining that its global participation is not limited to attending book fairs, but rather it carries out a larger mission, which is to be a bridge linking the UAE and the Arab region with the world, and to host countries of the world as guests. Sharaf at the Sharjah International Book Fair is an opportunity to build lively friendships between Arab culture and other cultures of the world.
Bernard Scholz expressed his gratitude for the opening of this symposium, which is in line with the vision and goal of the meeting, which is to promote friendship between different cultures, stressing the importance of this topic in light of the challenges and conflicts facing the world today, which require concerted efforts and cooperation between peoples.
He welcomed the guests participating in the symposium, who represent vivid examples of communication and understanding between cultures. He concluded his speech by thanking the Emirate of Sharjah for its hospitality and generosity during Italy’s hosting of the “Sharjah International Book Fair 2022”, which is one of the most prominent cultural forums in the region.
For her part, Mrs. Maria Tripodi emphasized that culture is a priority in her country’s foreign policy and that it is considered a means of preserving heritage, identity and peace in times of conflict. She indicated that Italy supports and promotes its culture, tourist sites, and tangible and intangible heritage as a major source of income and development. She also praised the Document of Human Fraternity Stressing that all the dialogues she held in the world relied on culture as a basis for understanding and friendship between peoples.
In her turn, Antonella Charoni Alibrandi said that culture and education constitute two main pillars for building friendship between peoples, and in order to achieve this friendship, we seek in the Ministry of Education in the Vatican to link education with culture and open dialogue regarding it in schools, so spreading awareness of this among students guarantees a real education that respects the identity and history of each culture. The pioneering policy of having more than 1,000 Catholic universities in the world opens its doors to culture without fear of a decline in its religious identity. On the contrary, it benefits from dialogue with the other to develop this identity.
In turn, Dr. Wael Farouk, a professor of Arabic at the Catholic University, addressed the concept of friendship from a linguistic and cultural perspective, saying that friendship is represented in accepting the dimension and difference between individuals and cultures, as it helps to discover the truth of oneself and the other, and here the role of institutions that contribute to building bridges of communication and friendship between cultures, such as ministries, emerges. Foreign affairs, education and institutions that support books and culture, as well as such a pioneering meeting full of hearts that believe in friendship and meeting in order to achieve a message of peace for the whole world.
After the end of the symposium, the meeting witnessed a live intervention by one of the teachers at the Victoria Magnesian School in Armenia, which was restored by order of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, as part of his humanitarian project to revive the heritage. To His Highness for the restoration of the church «Haghardzin Monastery» and the repair of the street leading to it, which is a symbol of identity and belonging to the Armenians.
She added that she personally benefited from this initiative, as she can now easily visit the church and pray in it, pointing out that this human and cultural communication between Sharjah and Armenia reflects the spirit of tolerance and cooperation between peoples, and that it will never be forgotten by the people of her country.
The “Rimini” meeting for friendship between peoples is the largest summer cultural festival in Europe and the Western world and aims to bring together people of different religions and cultures in an atmosphere of friendship, intimacy and peace. Religion, culture, art and media. It discusses important issues related to humanity and civilization. The meeting is an opportunity to build lively friendships between Arab culture and other cultures of the world. It also highlights the role of institutions that contribute to enhancing communication and understanding between peoples and civilizations.
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