By John Keating (With photos)

PARIS, Dec 15 (KUNA) -- President of the Arab World Institute (IMA), Dominique Baudis, once again thanked His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for his one million Euro donation for the renovation of IMA's museum two year's ago, and he urged greater cooperation between IMA and Kuwait in the cultural domain.

The Amir's donation was made during an official visit to France in November 2006 during which he visited the IMA.

Baudis made a four-day trip to Kuwait earlier in December to thank His Highness Sheikh Sabah and the nation for its interest in the Arab World Institute and to discuss ongoing projects and proposals for separate or joint initiatives in the cultural domain.

In an exclusive interview with KUNA, Baudis stressed that Kuwait's donation to IMA was especially significant "as it was the first and was brought personally here by His Highness the Amir."

Since then, other donors have come forth following Kuwait's lead, like Saudi Arabia and the Lagardere Group Foundation, and IMA now has three million Euros to move forth with the museum renovation project which will begin in the near future, Baudis indicated.

"My trip to Kuwait was to thank His Highness the Amir for his donation for the renovation of the museum," he said.

But he also took the opportunity to discuss a wide-range of issues with senior Kuwaiti officials, topped by the Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, he said.

"I saw the Prime Minister twice while in Kuwait, and we had a second very long meeting despite the fact he was busy with duties related to his office," the IMA President said.

He pointed out that the prime minister "knows IMA well and speaks good French and wants to be informed about progress" at the Institute and with the museum renovation.

Baudis told KUNA that he had proposed that IMA "organize an event" here in Paris and host an exhibit reserved exclusively for Kuwait.

He said the Gulf countries "are particularly unknown" to the French and Kuwait is unknown for "anything other than oil and buildings."

He affirmed this was a situation which needs remedy as "there is (in Kuwait) a people and a history that goes back to antiquity" and there are traditions that are completely ignored in the West.

"I want to show French people archaeology, music, poetry, painting, and other arts," he said.

He said he felt Gulf countries possessed "an interesting cultural potential" and he wanted to have the GCC more involved in IMA by bringing their culture to the French capital.

Secondly, in the talks with the prime minister and other senior officials, Baudis proposed that Kuwait host "traveling exhibits" that would be organized by IMA and shipped to host countries.

This is a practice that is growing and IMA is already working with a number of countries to receive such exhibits as "The Golden Age of Arab Culture" and "Umm Kulthum."

"These could be presented in Kuwait," he remarked in the interview, noting that IMA has already been involved in similar operations for Algiers, Damascus, and Manama.

Asked about IMA's role in this type of operation, Baudis responded that IMA would work closely with host countries who would ensure transport and insurance for the art works, and two experts from the Arab World Institute would be "on-site" to assist with organization where necessary.

Baudis also discussed "contemporary art exhibits" which could also be held in Kuwait.

His Highness the Prime Minister "reacted very well" to these suggestions, the IMA President indicated, and contacts have been held since his visit to Kuwait with prominent figures in the culture domain like Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters Bader Al-Rifaei.

"I met here with Bader Al-Rifaei after my return from Kuwait and we continued to broaden our discussions," Baudis said.

Baudis also remarked that he had held talks while in Kuwait with a number of other senior cultural figures and he had visited the island of Failaka, which he said impressed him because of its archaeological wealth.

More broadly, Baudis affirmed that he wanted to enhance contacts with the Gulf by promoting better ties and mutual recognition of each other's cultural standing and significance.

"It is important that the GCC recognize the significance of the Arab World Institute, and says this publicly," he stated.

"The GCC must find its place in IMA," he said, adding that he expected some mention from the Gulf body's forthcoming meeting on the desire for better cooperation with the Institute.

While not opposed to a joint Gulf cultural program at IMA, Baudis said it is sometimes easier for organizational purposes to work individually with each GCC country and it is better to present each country's culture and identity separately.

"I prefer to expose the French to better knowledge of the Gulf region as a whole, and then teach them more about the countries individually so as not to create confusion," he noted.

Copyright Kuwait News Agency 2008.