BERLIN: The Arab Cultural House (Al Diwan) of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Germany opened on Friday the Al Diwan Arabic Book Fair in Berlin, with the participation of 66 publishing houses from many Arab and foreign countries.
The exhibition's activities, which will last for three days, will include a debate, discussion, and intellectual sessions with the participation of a number of journalists and academics to talk about the most prominent regional and international issues. It will also witness the signing of a number of agreements to strengthen relations between the Diwan and various cultural institutions.
In a speech on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Germany HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani said, “Today I am pleased to open the first Arab book fair in Berlin with the participation of more than 60 publishing houses from various countries of the Arab world and Germany.”
He highlighted that words such as "world literature", "convergence of cultures" or "discussions between cultures" are not mere terms for visitors and participants in the exhibition, but have become a reality that is experienced personally, noting that mutual knowledge between cultures generates a common understanding that achieves Peaceful relations between peoples and establishes relations based on common interests and mutual respect.
He stressed that culture in the State of Qatar has become a strategic choice, as culture and arts are essential elements in achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030, which seeks to move the country towards a knowledge economy based on cultural diversity while preserving its identity and traditions, announcing the initiative to launch an ambitious project to translate Arabic books into German.
With the participation of the LITT Publishing House, under the name "Diwan Library", where literary, philosophical, political, and sociological books will be translated, to be selected by a specialized Arab-German committee.
At the end of his speech, Sheikh Abdullah pointed out that the book fair is more than just a place to buy books, it is a space to celebrate the written word and a place to learn, inspire, and communicate with others who share a love of reading, and at the same time it is a support for Arab publishers.
It is worth noting that the Arab Cultural House (Al-Diwan) was established in November 2017 by the State of Qatar with the aim of enhancing communication and understanding between Arabs and Germans, by disseminating Arab culture, and informing German and European recipients in general of the cultural, civilizational and humanitarian role of Arabs in various eras.
The idea is based on the fact that Qatar recognizes the role of culture in building bridges of human and cultural communication, dialogue, and understanding, as culture plays a pivotal role in getting to know other and understanding views to enhance the values of cultural dialogue and mutual understanding.
The Arab Cultural House (Al Diwan) organizes cultural events to create a state of dialogue and interaction between the Arab community and the German public, as its activities cover a large part of the elements of cultural exchange, including artistic and photographic exhibitions, theatrical performances, music, and films.
