UAE has become a model for cultural diplomacy - Assilah Official

Assilah, Morocco - july 21, 2010 (WAM)- Secretary General of Morocco's Assilah Forum Mohamed Bin Issa said on Monday that UAE has become a model for cultural diplomacy. He also hailed the openness of UAE to the cultures of the world and cited the literary and cultural prizes such as Sheikh Zayed Book Award launched by the UAE as a telling example in this regard.
Bin Issa was speaking at the opening of the two-day seminar on diplomacy and culture being held as part of the Assilah Cultural Festival currently under way in Morocco.
UAE ambassador to Morocco Saeed Hamad Al Jari Al Ketbi, Executive Director for Cultural and Arts Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development Bilal Al Budoor, former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, Moroccan Minister of Tourism Yasser Alzenaki, other senior state officials and cultural and literary enthusiasts were present at the ceremony.
Bin Issa added that the UAE has been able to excel in promoting the good and distinguished image through its international cultural events held in the country attracting senior decision makers, political, cultural, economic and scientific personalities in the world.
'Culture is no longer a missing link in the international relations as many countries have adopted the attitude to enhance the diplomacy through mutual pumping of substantial amount of culture among them", said Bin Issa.
"Many countries that listen to the pulse of the time are beginning to realise now that conventional diplomacy will grow thin, prompting them to take the initiative to think of alternatives such as popular diplomacy as well as tourist, artistic and exploratory diplomacies", added Bin Issa.
Speaking at the ceremony, the former French Premier called on the world countries to establish a new world which is not dominated by the Western culture. – Emirates News Agency, WAM