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Shaikh Sultan inaugurates Armenian cultural show

SHARJAH — His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, inaugurated on Sunday the Armenian cultural exhibition at the art district.

The art exhibition, which will conclude tomorrow, showcases more than 60 paintings and various other art works depicting the Armenian art.

The formal inauguration was attended by Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah; Shaikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Culture and Information; Hofeck Hofhas Bnesan, Armenian Minister of Culture and Youth Affairs; Dr Arshack Poladyan, Armenia’s Ambassador to the UAE; and Abullah bin Mohammed bin Owais, Director-General of the Department of Culture and Information. The inauguration was also attended by a number of prominent officials in Sharjah and the visiting delegates from Armenia.

Shaikh Sultan toured the exhibition area where a number of Armenian paintings, carpets, batik, gobelen are displayed. He expressed his appreciation of the Armenian art.

Addressing the media, Dr Shaikh Sultan said: “The objective of organising the exhibition is to exchange expertise and gain more information related to Armenia, the country of culture and civilisation. This is not the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) we sign with a foreign country. The signing of the MoU is a means of conveying a country’s civilisation to another country and is a great proof that we are bearing the fruits of a successful relation with Armenia. Sharjah is considered a very important cultural venue hosting various international cultural events that contribute to promoting the human knowledge and help in shaping the cultural future of the country.”

Dr Poladyan told Khaleej Times that the main aim of signing the MoU is to consolidate the cultural relations between the two countries and exchange expertise among the Armenian and the UAE artists. Through the Armenia cultural days, Sharjah residents will be able to gain more knowledge about the Armenian culture, art and folklore.

“Dr Shaikh Sultan showed great keenness in organising and highlighting the Armenian cultural days in Sharjah which is a very well known cultural hub. The Armenian days will strengthen the cultural ties between the UAE and Armenia and exchange various creative ideas between the artists,” he said, hailing the initiative of Dr. Shaikh Sultan.

“While touring around the exhibition area, Dr Shaikh Sultan expressed his admiration and appreciation of the hard work of the Armenian artists who endeavoured to produce the best level of art that can best represent their country.”

He also noted that according to the signed MoU, the forthcoming Sharjah Cultural days 2005 will be held in Armenia.

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