SYRIA: Damascus becomes capital of Arab culture for 2008 at ceremony attended by Syrian and Arab officials

Record ID: 279902

  • Title: SYRIA: Damascus becomes capital of Arab culture for 2008 at ceremony attended by Syrian and Arab officials
  • Date: 21st January 2008
  • Summary: AUDIENCE AT OPERA HOUSE ARAB AND FOREIGN OFFICIALS ENTERING THE OPERA HOUSE HALL MORE OF AUDIENCE ARAB AND FOREIGN OFFICIALS IN THE HALL AT THE OPERA HOUSE ASSAD WALKING TO PODIUM TO DELIVER SPEECH ASSAD DELIVERING SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD SAYING: "It (Syria) continues to create its identity without losing its essence. It expresses itse
  • Embargoed: 5th February 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVACQ45KTWBB54DOUO2ZI3A57KRU
  • Story Text: Damascus was officially proclaimed as the capital of Arab culture for 2008 on Saturday evening (January 19) at a ceremony attended by Syrian and Arab leaders at the Damascus opera house.
    Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his wife Asma personally greeted the leaders and officials who included the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, his wife Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser al-Misnad and former Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, as they arrived for the official proclamation ceremony.
    Assad, who addressed the ceremony, described Damascus and Syria as a centre of art, culture and religious tolerance in the Middle East.

    "It (Syria) continues to create its identity without losing its essence. It expresses itself through all kinds of literature, art, though, philosophy, sufism, and beliefs. Religions coexist in harmony and amity,"
    said Assad in his address.

    "Damascus is proud of its roses and it sprinkles its jasmine perfume on those who visit it. It quenches the thirst of those that visit it from its sweet springs. But Damascus also has a sword that it quickly raises against those who wish to harm it," he added.
    The Arab League designates a different Arab cultural capital annually, and Damascus, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, now takes the torch from the Algerian capital Algiers.
    Although the official proclamation ceremony was by invitation only, a large public celebration was held on January 13 which culminated in a large fireworks display at the Umayyad Square in Damascus.
    A further celebration is scheduled to take place in the Spanish city of Granada to highlight the role Damascus played when it was the capital of the Umayyad Empire in taking Arab culture through Andalusia and into Europe.
    The Umayyad Empire extended from Spain to India from the years 661 to 750 AD, during which time Damascus, as the Empire's capital, reached the height of its power and prestige.
    As the new Arab cultural capital, Damascus will host performances and cultural events throughout 2008.
    Amongst the highlights of the programme is a conference which is expected to bring together Czech writer Milan Kundera, American intellectual Noam Chomsky and novelist Isabel Allende, daughter of former Chilean president Salvador Allende.
    Another is a performance by Lebanese diva Fairuz, one of the Arab world's greatest women singers, who last performed in Syria 20 years ago.
    Anti-Syrian politicians, MPs and journalists in Beirut, who accuse Syria of interfering in Lebanese politics and hindering the election of a new Lebanese president, have asked Fairuz to cancel the performance.
    However, organisers say that the concert will go ahead as planned on January 28.
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