By Mustafa Al-Sofi (with photos)
ASILAH, Morocco, Aug 16 (KUNA) -- Chairman of ongoing 29th Asilah International Cultural Festival and Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affair Mohammad Ben-Issa hailed Thursday as "valuable" the participation of Kuwaiti elite in the event.
A large delegation of Kuwaiti political and social elite are taking major part in the activities of the festival, Ben-Issa told KUNA here.
"The Kuwaiti participation boost the cultural symposiums, being held by Al-Muatamed Ben Ebad "Summer University as part of the festival.
"The cultural activities gather more than 500 intellectuals, including Kuwait's former deputy prime minister Dr. Ismail Khedhr Al-Shatti, professor of political science at Kuwait University Abdullah Al-Shaiji and scholar Mohammad Ghanem Al-Romehi as well as Kuwait Ambassador to Morocco Salah Mohammad Al-Buaijan..
"The strong presence of Kuwaiti intelligentsia enriches the discussions of the symposiums, the plastic art shows and cultural exhibitions," the minister pointed out.
Meanwhile, he appreciated Kuwait's "generous assistance" to Asilah city and the summer festival which indicated the depth of historical ties between the two countries.
Ben-Issa deemed the cultural, economic, political and social ties between Morocco and Kuwait a "model" of ties among Arab countries.
"The 29th session of Asilah International Cultural Festival is the most important as it helped create common ground among peoples of the Arab world, the Mediterranean basin countries and Africa and prepared for substantial universal cultural dialogue," he noted.
The minister took great pride in the fact that Asilah turned to be the center for effective interaction among intellectuals, artists, media people and politicians from across the globe.
As part of the first day activities of the festival, an international symposium was held on August 3 under the theme of "Africa and Europe - Challenges of One and Commitment of the Other," the minister recalled
"It was attended by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and over 40 ministers from Europe and Africa.
"The festival also featured the "First Conference on Music in the World of Islam," which discussed various aspects of music and arts in the Muslim world.
"The international symposium held on Tuesday under the title of "Intelligentsia and Fundamentalism in the Arab World" provided a rare opportunity for intellectuals to probe the highly important theme.
"Through discussion of the fundamentalist thought we did not aim to ridicule it. We aimed rather to mull its impacts on the new generations," Ben-Issa went on to say."
"The dialogue drew Muslim as well as Christian participation," the minister pointed out, voicing hope that such cultural events would narrow the gaps among people with different cultures.
For his part, chief of Asilah Municipal Council hailed investment in the cultural sector as conducive to sustainable development.
He asserted that Asilah city made noticeable economic achievements by means of the festival and the development of human resources.
The Asilah international cultural festival will come to a close on Sunday, August 19.
