Doha, December 13 (QNA) - A number of officials in Arab and international cultural organizations confirmed that the State of Qatar has succeeded in providing a fine example to follow in promoting cultural diversity, human coexistence and civilized dialogue, which was confirmed during Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
This came at the end of the work of the "Organizations from Local to Global" Forum, which was hosted by the Ministry of Culture for two days as part of the Darb Al-Saai activities, held within the framework of the celebrations of the National Day of the State, which falls on the eighteenth of December of each year. "
The participants in the forum affirmed the success of the State of Qatar in promoting dialogue and understanding and enriching cultural diversity, while proudly expressing its Gulf, Arab and Islamic culture and identity during its hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which earned it the respect of the whole world.
Mrs. Maryam Yassin Al-Hammadi, Director of the Department of Culture and Arts at the Ministry of Culture, said in press statements following the conclusion of the forum, that the discussions reflected the unity of the approaches and strategies in force, which enhances the presence of many places of convergence, especially common areas, foremost of which is the promotion of identity and civilized communication, both at the level of interfaith dialogue. , or cultural dialogue through various initiatives, referring to Qatar's efforts to promote the most important commonalities, namely the Arabic language and the preservation of identity, the most important of which is the law to protect the Arabic language issued in 2019, and interest in translation and promotion of international understanding similar to the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, along with The role of specialized centers in the Ministry of Culture, which promote culture and support the Arabic language through its various activities, as well as the efforts of various state institutions to support this language.
Al-Hammadi added that it was agreed during the forum on some axes that will be dealt with jointly through the participating organizations, which reflects the unification of efforts and common positions, foremost of which is the start of a joint project for the Arabic language, because of the great interest it represents at the local level, as well as at the Arab level. Especially since the League of Arab States had previously launched a day for the Arabic language, in addition to the international day that falls on the eighteenth of December every year.
For his part, Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, addressed in his intervention at the forum the mechanisms of cooperation and bridging between cultures to achieve understanding and dialogue and highlight the efforts made in the field of interfaith dialogue, referring to the efforts he made. The center aims to enhance human communication and understanding between peoples, especially the experience of coexistence between citizens and residents of different nationalities until they become united, which strengthens the unity and strength of the state internally and externally.
Al-Nuaimi emphasized the openness of the Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue internationally and that it helps those wishing to enhance such community cohesion, those who have challenges, as much as possible, through thought and communication with religious leaders to build partnerships and relationships that in turn contribute to building communication networks to solve any problems or challenges that may arise. To confront them, noting the efforts of the center locally and internationally and the most important conferences it organized as well as its publications, in addition to its presence on various digital platforms, as it contributed daily tweets in various languages to clarify the importance of sport and its relationship to religions.
Dr. Murad Mahmoudi, Secretary of the Executive Council and the General Conference and Acting Director of the Culture Department at the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), spoke about the organization's mechanisms to bridge differences and turn them into areas of strength, indicating that it stems from three things that start with the letter T, communication and then acquaintance, to reach consensus.
Mahmoudi explained that the organization is working to communicate with organizations and institutions, and that is through dialogue, understanding and exchanging knowledge, because meeting and communication makes us get to know the common denominators, and ALECSO has also chosen a networking mechanism with community institutions so that it is not elitist, but for all members of society, pointing out Communication achieves knowledge of the other, which leads to coexistence, but while preserving the cultural specificity of each country, which is what the State of Qatar succeeded in and was crowned in hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as it was able to translate the real goals of coexistence and achieved the requirements of the World Summit held in Mexico recently. It is to live in peace while respecting cultural specificities, and therefore diversity means that we integrate with our different colors, races and tongues, stressing that the Qatari model is an Arab and international model in achieving coexistence and international understanding.
For his part, Dr. Saad Mohammed Al-Zoghaibi, Director of the Department of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities at the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, said at the forum that the State of Qatar succeeded in bringing together international organizations in one forum, complementing its success in promoting cooperation and coexistence at the international level during hosting the FIFA World Cup Qatar. 2022.
He added that the GCC cultural strategy has given great attention and unprecedented openness to the international community, by promoting joint representation in international cultural forums and events, building and activating strategic partnerships with countries, institutions and international cultural organizations, and benefiting from their experiences in developing the cultural sector in the GCC countries, where many signatures have been signed. Cultural memorandums of understanding with many brotherly and friendly countries, as well as international organizations.
Al-Zughaibi stressed the interest of the Gulf Cooperation Council in strengthening its cultural identity by supporting, protecting and circulating the Arabic language as a language for communication and creativity, and encouraging the cultural product related to the cultural identity of the countries of the Cooperation Council, in addition to promoting scientific research and authorship to study and analyze the concept of cultural identity and its tangible and intangible elements, and to preserve cultural heritage and exchange experiences in this regard.
As for His Excellency Ambassador Khaled Fateh Al-Rahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), he spoke about the role of specialized centers in civilizational dialogue in achieving bridges of understanding, saying, “Centers for civilizational dialogue are promoted all over the world through one mission, which is operative promotion Civilization is the essence of dialogue,” noting the existence of dialogue tools to work on strengthening the dialogue itself, its mechanisms and tools, in addition to strengthening the civilized role with its multiple axes that are consistent with the issue of peaceful coexistence between people, which makes it necessary for people to understand others and their culture, and to perform A common role in this understanding, referring to the role of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue affiliated to ISESCO in this regard.
Mrs. Jawda Mansour from the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen in Doha also addressed the definition of the cultural strategy of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization "UNESCO" in the GCC countries, explaining that the UNESCO Office for the Gulf States and Yemen has a local work program in consultation with member states, and that the organization considers that Culture is one of the main drivers of development, and individuals and peoples have a fundamental right to participate in and enjoy it.
She added that the UNESCO office in Doha assists the Gulf states and Yemen in promoting and implementing UNESCO cultural conventions and recommendations by supporting relevant policies, capacity building, cooperation, communication and developing partnerships, and is also working to increase support for developing the capabilities of all stakeholders in order to inventory, protect and safeguard intangible cultural heritage in a practical way. And effective in the countries of the region contributing to the transfer of living heritage to the younger generation.
At the end of her intervention at the forum, Mansour affirmed UNESCO's commitment to assisting the Gulf states and Yemen in designing cultural policies, measures and programs aimed at supporting the creativity, production, distribution and dissemination of cultural goods and services, and benefiting from cultural and creative industries, especially through the implementation of the 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity. Cultural Expressions and the 1980 Recommendation Concerning the Status of the Artist, referring to the many projects the organization is undertaking in Yemen.