ABU DHABI, 13th February, 2014 (WAM) -- The Alliance Francaise, an organisation formed to promote French language and culture, is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its presence in the U.A.E..
The Alliance Francaise was established in Abu Dhabi in 1974, soon after late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan made his first official visit to France, as part of a young nation?s attempt to earn new friends and allies, Dr. Zaki Nusseibeh told Gulf News daily. Dr. Nusseibeh, one of the Alliance's founders and its President in Abu Dhabi for 37 years, says it is a celebration of Sheikh Zayed?s love for cultural and educational ties with other peoples. "It was a turbulent time and the U.A.E. needed new friends to overcome the expected difficulties of a young nation but that did not restrict Sheikh Zayed?s vision on foreign relations to economic and military relationships alone.""Sheikh Zayed strongly believed in cultural and educational ties also, which culminated into establishing a French School and the Alliance Francaise in Abu Dhabi in the same year that he visited France," he said, explaining that it came as a policy decision of both governments during Sheikh Zayed?s visit. The Alliance Francaise is the largest linguistic and cultural multinational non-governmental organisation in the world, with a mission to open up the borders of French language and culture, with respect for the diversity of local cultures. It has 1,000 offices across the world, including Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai. More than 2000 students, of whom 30 percent are Emiratis, learn French from the Alliance Francaise - Abu Dhabi every year. The institute also teaches Arabic to the French and other expatriates. It also organises cross-cultural events with French and local artists every year. A media library containing books, CDs and DVDs in French is accessible to the public and updated every month with the latest titles. Dr. Nusseibeh is currently a cultural advisor with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, and was an interpreter and Director of the Press Office of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2014.
