(Abu Dhabi) – Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, opened the 26th General Conference of the Arab Writers Union in Abu Dhabi.
Egyptian Minister of Culture, Helmy Namnam, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Writers, Mohammed Salmawi, Chairman of the Emirates Writers Union, Habib Al Sayegh, and a number of writers, ambassadors and Emirati and Arab officials attended the opening session.
Sixteen Arab delegates, representatives of the Union’s Secretariat-General are participating in the six-day cultural event. Uganda is attending as an observer.
In his address to the meeting, Sheikh Nahyan said the UAE views arts, thought and culture as key tools for developing the community, improving living standards and engaging individuals to contribute to and participate in achieving inclusive development goals.
“By organising this meeting, you confirm that the Arab Nation with the thought and innovation of its men and women is quietly capable of being a reading, writing, conscious and enlightened nation. I applaud your important role – as writers and men of letters – in unlocking the creative thought, enriching the reader and audience’s imagination and promoting the profile of reading, writing, listening and watching in the lives of individuals and community as a whole,” Sheikh Nahyan said, pointing to the vital role of writers in expressing human feelings, ambitions and aspirations, explaining challenges mankind is facing today, disseminating arts and literature, fostering the spirit of culture and optimism and fighting ignorance and indifference.
“I admire the role of writers in spreading the principles of co-existence and peace, their efforts in addressing societal issues, risks facing the nation, and in shouldering responsibilities for human and community development for the development of their nation. We, in the UAE, highly value your genuine role in the development of the community. The UAE through its leader President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has declared that 2016 will be the year of reading given its place as a true key to culture,” he said.
“The UAE reminds all of you that the Arab Nation is in desperate need today, more than at any time before, for wise writers and readers so as to deepen the values of hope, optimism, moderation, solidarity and prosperity,” he added.
(Courtesy WAM)