UAE building culture, science together, but it needs time: Shaikh Sultan

Frankfurt - Media should beware of publishing the negatives of the country's institutions without knocking on their doors and ask for clarification because what is published in our local media spreads across the world, he pinpointed.

The cultural movement in the UAE is on the right track, said His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, during his visit to the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Work is on to build culture and science together, but it needs time, Shaikh Sultan stressed.

The country, he said, has moved from one stage to another by creating a new generation since its establishment 40 years ago.

"We need not to hurry to gain the fruits of education and bringing up our sons. We feel the change in our generation once every four decades, as a new generation gets born," Shaikh Sultan highlighted.

Shaikh Sultan clarified that his participation in Al Bath Al Mubashir radio programme, Arabic for live broadcasting, to listen to the public and reply to their queries aims to guide the young generation and raise them educationally.

Shaikh Sultan gave such remarks on the sidelines of his visit to the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Speaking to the media, Shaikh Sultan said that the press ought to benefit from the experience of the studies centers in analyzing the news. The media should not use inaccurate views, rather; the news should be based on correct information that could benefit the reader.

"Our country is wide open. It is vulnerable to the good and bad things," he added.

Media should beware of publishing the negatives of the country's institutions without knocking on their doors and ask for clarification because what is published in our local media spreads across the world, he pinpointed.

"We have to show the whole world the most beautiful things in our civilization," he noted, adding the UAE press is now more mature than it was in the past period.

"We have to work for the good of the national and citizens and fly the national flag aloft in all fields."

Shaikh Sultan recalled a visit he made to China when he saw the UAE flag flying high leading other countries' flags. That moment, Shaikh Sultan said, he broke out into tears.

Shaikh Sultan mentioned several cultural projects he is undertaking among which a translation programme at the University of Sharjah meant to translate the most important books.

He stressed on the quality of books not the quantity. Shaikh Sultan also works on a book on history of the creation of the urban societies in the gulf. This book shall consist of a number of volumes.

He also signed the German version of his latest book called 'Under the Flag of Occupation' which is being displayed at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com