The selection of Sharjah as the World Book Capital by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is the crowning achievement of the emirate's cultural project, which has embraced knowledge and the book as a way of renaissance, said Sheikha Bedour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Vice President of the International Publishers Union, And a platform for human dialogue with different cultures of the world.
This came during the visit of Sheikha Badr Bint Sultan Al Qasimi to the UNESCO headquarters in Paris where she met with the Director General of the Organization and a number of officials. She reviewed the historical relations between the Emirate of Sharjah and UNESCO, And the special facilities established by the emirate to celebrate the Sharjah International Book Capital. "The emirate has set up six major themes to highlight its vision of involving all members of society in cultural work," she said. "The culture is a human value through which bridges of communication and dialogue can be extended to various civilizations around the world. And to move forward in promoting the reality of local and Arab publishing, as the main engine for building the cultural system in its different aspects ».
"Sharjah and UNESCO have a long history of fruitful cooperation in various cultural fields. The emirate's title as the World Book Capital is a tribute to the vision laid down by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Advisory Committee of Sharjah. The Supreme Council and the Ruler of Sharjah, and the completion of a journey of partnership with the Organization and various international cultural bodies, in addition to its efforts through which the achievements of civilization that promote the values of love and good and peace ».
For her part, Dr. Audrey Azoulay, Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), praised the integrated program prepared by Sharjah, its great potential for growth, expansion and development, and the promotion of a culture of reading within the UAE and abroad. Challenges facing literary creations in the Gulf region and the Arab world.