UNITED KINGDOM: Arab ambassadors meet British economic, political and cultural leaders to discuss heightened economic and cultural cooperation between the UK and the Middle East
Record ID:
791526
UNITED KINGDOM: Arab ambassadors meet British economic, political and cultural leaders to discuss heightened economic and cultural cooperation between the UK and the Middle East
- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Arab ambassadors meet British economic, political and cultural leaders to discuss heightened economic and cultural cooperation between the UK and the Middle East
- Date: 29th September 2011
- Summary: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 28, 2011) (REUTERS) WIDE OF LIVERPOOL TOWN HALL CLOSE UP OF ROOF OF LIVERPOOL TOWN HALL BANNER SAYING "IT'S LIVERPOOL" WIDE OF OUTSIDE OF CONFERENCE CENTRE CLOSE-UP OF BANNERS OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE CENTRE SAYING "LIVERPOOL WELCOMES LABOUR" LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 27, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF LABOUR PARTY LEADER ED MILLIBAND SPEAKING AT A DINNER ORGANISED BY THE LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 28, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE AMBASSADORS ARRIVING AT THE PALM HOUSE IN SEFTON PARK, LIVERPOOL FOR A PRESENTATION EXTERIORS OF SEFTON PARK PALM HOUSE VARIOUS OF PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UK MANUEL HASSASSION TALKING TO OTHER ATTENDEES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MANUEL HASSASSION, PALESTINIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UK, SAYING: ''I would say that for the UK to recognise the Palestinian state would help to deepen the roots of the trade relations between the Arab World and the United Kingdom.'' VARIOUS OF ARAB AMBASSADORS INSIDE THE PALM HOUSE IN SEFTON PARK, LIVERPOOL BEFORE THE PRESENTATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KHALED RASHID AL-MANSOURI AMBASSADOR OF QATAR TO THE UK SAYING: ''These Qatari students are ambassadors for their country and I think that their presence here in this majestic city can increase the cooperation between the two regions, whether it being the state of Qatar and the city of Liverpool.'' VARIOUS OF THE ARAB AMBASSADORS HAVING THEIR PICTURES TAKEN (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HATEM ATALLAH, AMBASSADOR OF TUNISIA TO THE UK, SAYING: ''Tunisian relations with our European partners are old and varied, and in Tunisia we build these relations on interests. And we build on this together, and that our relations be stronger with all our partners that have guaranteed a better situation for us, with regards to the economy and trade.'' MORE OF ATTENDEES AND AMBASSADORS LISTENING TO SPEECHES (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) TAHER QASSIM, CHAIR OF THE LIVERPOOL ARAB ARTS FESTIVAL, SAYING: ''I think that it's a very good opportunity for the Arab ambassadors to get to know about the available opportunities and to get to know the Arabs who are living here, and we can strengthen the relations to benefit both parties.'' MORE OF SPEECHES AND ATTENDEES VARIOUS OF AMBASSADORS ALL TOGETHER HAVING THEIR PHOTO TAKEN ON THE STEP OF THE SEFTON PARK PALM HOUSE
- Embargoed: 14th October 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom, United Kingdom
- Country: United Kingdom
- Reuters ID: LVA89A0TPD44VTQ6V3FDEW6X31FL
- Story Text: Arab ambassadors to Middle Eastern countries were in the English port city of Liverpool this week hoping to join forces in order to promote economic and cultural ties with Britain.
The meeting of ambassadors comes at the same time as Britain's Labour party conference, which is also taking place in the city.
Leader of the opposition Ed Milliband was invited to give a speech at an event organised by the League of Arab States where he addressed the issue of Palestinian statehood.
Around 18 ambassadors were in Liverpool, and many of them also attended a lunch held at the city's Sefton Park Palm House on Thursday (September 28).
Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Manuel Hassassion, was one of those attending the event, ''I would say that for the UK to recognise the Palestinian state would help to deepen the roots of the trade relations between the Arab World and the United Kingdom,'' said Hassassion.
As a university city, Liverpool has a large number of foreign students, among them are Qataris.
''These Qatari students are ambassadors for their country and I think that their presence here in this majestic city can increase the cooperation between the two regions, whether it being the state of Qatar and the city of Liverpool,'' said Qatari ambassador to the UK Khaled Rashid Al-Mansouri.
Many of the diplomats spoke of the importance of trade relations with Britain, with Tunisia saying they are keen on building and improving relations with all their European partners.
''Tunisian relations with our European partners are old and varied, and in Tunisia we build these relations on interests. And we build on this together, and that our relations be stronger with all our partners that have guaranteed a better situation for us, with regards to the economy and trade,'' said Tunisia's ambassador Hatem Atallah.
Liverpool has one of the longest standing Arab communities in the UK and the team from the Liverpool Arab Centre explained the wide ranging nature of their work including work in schools, promoting health care in the Arab community and also briefly outlined the history of the group.
Every year an Arab Arts Festival takes place in the city and its chair praised the fact that so many ambassadors from Arab states had come together, saying it was an opportunity for the ambassadors to also meet members of the local Arab community.
Only last year the festival celebrated its 10th year in the city, with next years festival due to take place between the 6-15 July. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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