Intellectuals Hail Sultan's Move to Set Up...

SHARJAH RULER'S INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT ARAB WRITERS' MOVEMENT; DEVELOPMENT OF ARAB CULTURE

Eminent writers, intellectuals and officials from the UAE and Arab world have lauded the decision by His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to set up the permanent headquarters for the General Union of Arab Writers at the Sharjah Book Authority. They said the decision would go a long way in supporting and strengthening the objectives and activities of the Union.

Speaking to the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, eminent citizens and intellectuals said Sharjah has always accorded culture and cultural development top priority at the local, regional and international levels, in accordance with the outlook and intellectual temperament of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah who is himself a distinguished intellectual, author, playwright and historian. Moreover, HH Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi has always supported the movement of Arab writers and encouraged them to play their active cultural role for the enrichment of the cultural and literary landscape in the Arab world.

Habib Al Sayegh, Secretary-General of the General Union of Arab Writers, thanked HH the Ruler of Sharjah on behalf of heads of all unions, association, societies and councils of Arab writers. The decision of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah comes at the right time as the UAE is currently the headquarters of the General Secretariat. The Sharjah Book Authority is a unique complex that includes everything related to publishing and writing, which gives it numerous advantages that writers from all over the Arab world can avail.

He added: The UAE today especially Sharjah -- is the genuine capital of Arab culture. Culture has always been the overriding interest and focus of HH the Ruler of Sharjah as an Arab thinker, creative writer and historian. Considering the cultural development an integral part of economic prosperity, His Highness offers his support with a strategy he adopts in various areas, including language, poetry, theatre, art and cinema, as well as book fairs and reading festivals etc. Over 3,000 cultural events take place in Sharjah every year, which reflects the eminence attached to culture and its role in the development of society.

Al Sayegh thanked HH the Ruler of Sharjah for inviting heads of all unions, associations and societies of Arab authors to attend the opening ceremony of the headquarters of the General Union of Arab Writers and the Sharjah International Book Fair.

Ahmed Issa Al Asm, Vice Chairman of the Emirates Writers Union, expressed his joy at the decision of HH the Ruler of Sharjah, saying: The establishment of permanent headquarters for Arab writers in Sharjah gives us (writers) a sense of stability. The time has come to unify efforts on this front in order to achieve positive results, benefitting intellectuals and society alike.

He added: This decision is great news for every intellectual in the UAE and Arab world. The establishment of this headquarters in Sharjah will give younger generations the opportunity to meet writers from different generations and countries and inspire them to become writers themselves, as the presence of an intellectual today means the presence of another in the future.

Alhanoof Mohammed, member of the Board of Directors of Emirates Writers Union, conveyed the happiness and excitement of all writers over the decision saying: This is great news! From the moment HH the Ruler of Sharjah issued the decision, we have been exchanging congratulations and expressing our great joy and sincere thanks to His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi. This is hardly surprising for Sharjah, which has become the Emirate of such historic initiatives in the fields of culture and literature.

We, Emiratis, rejoice because HH the Ruler of Sharjah attaches such importance to culture, and because Sharjah will become a destination for all Arab authors, resulting in an active cultural movement in the Emirate, added Alhanoof Mohammed.

Khaled Omar bin Qaqah, writer and Media Advisor to the General Union of Arab Writers, outlined the administrative and organisational advantages of having permanent headquarters for the Union in Sharjah, not to mention its significance for literary and intellectual activities.

He said: This move is a major leap forward in the march of the Union and can only be made by an intellectual who recognises the important role of culture. We appreciate this step for the numerous benefits it is set to deliver. We look at it as a lasting endowment and gift for culture and thought in the region crowning the outstanding initiatives contributed by Sharjah to Arab and global culture.

LINK:	http://www.sharjahmedia.ae/en/media-centre/news/10/10/2017/intellectua...
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