Everybody is coming, everybody will be here! If any of you are in doubt, take a look at the calendar of events and see for yourselves… As soon as Beirut was selected as the World Book Capital for 2009 by the UNESCO, the whole country pitched in to help make this event a success. The planned projects and events augur well for an exceptional year, packed with conferences, visits, discovery of the national heritage, culture and history, in all its diversity. That is not all, as for once, an official event will take on playful and attractive aspects. At this point we would like to thank the Ministry of Culture, which has largely contributed to this, for adopting a policy of openness and closeness to the community. Nothing is left to chance and everyone has the opportunity to take part, specially children and the young. For once, they will not be left out. They will be able to have the time of their lives with the various reading contests, music festivals, puppet shows, street theater, etc. In addition famous authors will come from all over the world to present their work and discuss Arabic, African, European, Latin, South-American and Asian literature.
It is indeed an exceptional year which starts at the Unesco Palace this Saturday 25th of April 2009, in the presence of the President of the Republic, Mr. Michel Sleimane, the Minister of Culture, Mr. Tammam Salam, the Secretary General of the Arab League, Mr. Amr Moussa and Mr. Abdel Menhem Ariss, the President of the Municipality of Beirut (who has authorized the use of the streets and districts for the events purposes), with a stilt show, poetic animations, "a cappella" songs, lights and giant screens.
During this time, most of the public will be in down-town Beirut listening to the Hakawatis (our renowned storytellers) and vibrating to the rhythm of the heart of this city which will never cease to beat.
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