SHARJAH: Ahmed Sayed Ahmed Agg, the Minister of Culture, Youth, Sports and Relations with the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, appreciated Sharjah’s efforts in supporting Arab culture under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.

He stressed that culture has always been the primary goal of His Highness, and Mauritania has benefited from the strong will of the Ruler of Sharjah to pay attention to the cultural sector.

This came before the launch of the Sharjah Forum for Cultural Honours, in a meeting that brought together Ahmed Agg with Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Owais, Head of Sharjah Department of Culture, and Muhammad Ibrahim Al Qasir, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs in the Department, in the presence of the Secretary General, Amaziza Mahfoudh Karbali, in his office at the Ministry’s headquarters.

The Mauritanian Minister of Culture pointed out that his country will continue intensive cultural cooperation wi
th the House of Poetry in Nouakchott because of its impact on the local and regional cultural scene of neighbouring African countries, considering culture to be the capital of peoples because it is the reason for existence, as he points out, explaining that Mauritania is ready for any cooperation that can develop. It is presented in the Arab cultural role.

Abdullah Al Owais said expressed his happiness that cultural activity has reached this Arab region, stressing that Mauritania always comes within the cultural directives of the Ruler of Sharjah, noting that when the destination is Nouakchott, His Highness always asks about it and checks on it.

In the same context, Al Owais pointed out that this matter is due to the great cooperation of cultural initiatives, which facilitates the implementation process, highlighting that the wide presence of the House of Poetry in Nouakchott in Mauritania comes thanks to continuous and fruitful cooperation.

The 17th edition of Sharjah Forum for Cultural Honours was launch
ed, which celebrated 4 Mauritanian writers, namely Dr. Muhammad Abdel Hay, Dr. Abdullah Al Salem Al Mualla, Dr. Yahya Al Baraa, Dr. Abdul Wadud Abdullah Al Hashem.

The forum comes in implementation of the directives of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, to honour literary figures who have contributed to serving contemporary Arab culture, and it is held for the third time in Mauritania.

The honouring ceremony was held at the Conference Palace in Nouakchott, in the presence of Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture in Sharjah; the Secretary-General of the Ministry, Amiaziza Karbali; Hamad bin Ghanem Al Muhairi, the UAE Ambassador to Mauritania; Professor Muhammad Ibrahim Al Qasir, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs in the Department; a large audience of Mauritanian intellectuals, academics, and writers, and the families of the four honorees.

In his speech, Abdullah Al Owais said that the process of cultural cooperation between Sharjah Department of Culture and the M
inister of Culture, Youth, Sports and Relations with Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania is proceeding with the meanings of a fraternal partnership that has yielded many cultural activities that varied between poetry, narration and literary awards, and here Sharjah Forum for Cultural Honours returns again to Mauritania, to witness the honouring of a new group of Mauritanian writers in appreciation for their rich literary contributions.

Al Owais added that Sharjah Forum for Cultural Honours, which is keen to communicate with writers from the Arab countries, always emphasises its endeavours to enhance the status of Arab culture, activate the literary arena, and encourage the writer of every sublime and constructive word.

Al Owais pointed out that the continuation of the cultural cooperation confirms the depth of the fraternal relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, which are consolidated by the wise leadership of the two countries, seizing the occasion t
o extend the highest meanings of thanks and appreciation to the Minister of Culture, Youth, Sports and Relations with Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, which always welcomes cultural initiatives.

The head of the Department of Culture conveyed the greetings of the Ruler of Sharjah, to the honourees of this edition.

Amaziza Karbali delivered a speech emphasising that this honourary forum embodies the fraternal cooperation between Mauritania and the United Arab Emirates in general, and Sharjah in particular.

Karbali said that this creative vision has been embodied by the Minister of Culture, Youth, Sports and Relations with Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, over the past years, in cooperation with Sharjah Department of Culture, by organising numerous literary festivals in various formats, such as poetry, theatre and literary narration.

Karbali pointed out that the arrival of the forum for the third time in Mauritania confirms the importance of Mauritania’s intellectuals and th
inkers, who have left distinct imprints and luminous effects in enriching the language of the Quran, considering that honouring them is a tribute to Mauritanian culture in all its diversity, expressing her thanks to His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah for His Highness’s valuable initiatives and his great benevolence for the advancement of Arab culture and honouring the masters of the pen.

The honourees expressed their happiness, and thanks for the honour, considering the forum as one of the evidences of Sharjah’s cultural expansion and its civilisational project aimed at advancing Arab culture and supporting its creators in all parts of the Arab world.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais and Mohammed Al Qaseer, accompanied by Al Muhairi and Karbali, handed over certificates of appreciation to the four honourees, signed by His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, in honour of their creative efforts.

The honouring ceremony was accompanied by an exhibition of a number of publications of
Sharjah Department of Culture, among which Sharjah Cultural Magazine, Al Rafid Magazine, Al Qawafi Magazine, and Al Mashara Magazine.

The exhibition saw a large turnout of attendees for the magazines, as it was crowded with an audience of readers and writers.

Source: Emirates News Agency