Belgium, Luxembourg host Qatar Cultural Days

Qatar's Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari inaugurated Friday night an arts exhibition under the motto "Qatar Cultural Days" at Bozar centre of fine arts in the Belgian capital. "We have a responsibility towards our nation, towards our culture. Not everybody knows about the richness of the Gulf countries and their culture" Al Kuwari told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), after the inaugural ceremony. Qatar has talented artists, a rich folklore and very good music and dance groups, said Al-Kuwari. Money, oil, and gas are not the only things Qatar has, but it also has the human aspect, he noted. "We are pleased that we are active in the cultural field through the cultural days throughout the world. Culture is very important to pave the ground for relations in all its aspects. It brings big momentum between the countries in their relations" stated the Minister. These events develop ties between Europe and the Islamic world, he said, adding that it is a good opportunity to hold the event in Brussels since the EU headquarters are here and other major European capitals are close by. On Monday the exhibition will move to Luxembourg which will play host to the Qatar Cultural Days. Director of Bozar Paul Dujardin in his speech at the ceremony said that Qatar's culture has an important role to play. "Both Qatar and Belgium are relatively small countries but with very great common ambitions in the fields of culture and arts on the regional and international level," he said. On his part, Qatar's ambassador to Belgium, Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al Thani, noted that for the first time Belgium was hosting a Qatari cultural exhibition. He described the two-day event as an exceptional event as it is being organized in the EU capital Brussels and it also coincides with celebrations marking the Day of Europe. A traditional musical group from Qatar entertained the large number of foreign and European diplomats and officials, cultural personalities and men of arts and letter who attended the ceremony.