Information minister highlights Bahrain's cultural boom

Manama, Apr. 23 (BNA): Information Affairs Minister Isa bin Abdulrahman Al-Hammadi has affirmed that intellectual, literary and cultural creativity movement, education and training programmes and scientific research have flourished under the pioneering Reform Project spearheaded by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa as a result of the unprecedented freedoms of expression and copyright guaranteed through various means of information, communication publishing and printing. The minister was speaking as he opened today the third charity Used Books' Exhibition, organised annually by Al-Wasat newspaper marking the World Book and Copyright Day at Country Mall in Budaiya, in the presence of Al-Wasat's Board of Directors' Chairman Adel Al-Maskati, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Mansoor Al Jamri, intellectuals and writers. Al-Hammadi highlighted the importance of book fairs in spreading knowledge, praising the Used Books' Exhibition for the valuable books it included, and which cover all fields of knowledge. He said the citizens' high turnout conveys a clear message that people in Bahrain are keen to read, and acquire language and culture. He said that the fair represents a kind of transfer of information among the members of society, which, he affirmed, is an aspect of social cohesion prevailing in the kingdom in the cultural field. The minister called for intensifying efforts to encourage youth and the present generation to read and acquire knowledge, noting that although access to information is easy and timely, the individual should have a strong knowledge base, which can be provided only through reading books. He thanked Al-Wasat newspaper's management for holding the exhibition in which about 30,000 donated books are exhibited, calling on the citizens to visit the fair and benefit from its valuable books. Answering a question by the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) on the cultural roles played by media establishments in the Kingdom, the Minister of Information Affairs said the "Used Books Exhibition" proves that they do not focus their efforts on one field only, noting that along with its daily issue, Al-Wasat also has many publications throughout the year. He pointed out that other newspapers hold events and contribute to the cultural movement through attracting and training youth, and organising cultural and literary competitions, calling on press institutions to assume their role in promoting culture and knowledge among the citizens and residents.