FM opens Arab Cultural Centre in Berlin

HE Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani opened the Arab Cultural Centre “Al Diwan” in the German capital of Berlin yesterday, aiming at spreading the Arab culture in the framework of the Qatar-Germany Year of Culture.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said: “With the opening of the Arab Cultural Centre in Berlin today, we celebrate the old friendship between Germany and Qatar,” adding that the Arab Cultural House will be a platform for vital cultural exchanges and development, and a testament to Qatar’s commitment to building bridges with nations around the world.
The opening ceremony was attended by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and a number of officials and public figures.
For his part, Qatar’s ambassador to Germany Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said that the Qatar-Germany Year of Culture 2017 included many inspiring initiatives to build bridges between the two cultures.
He underlined that the opening of the centre offers a unique opportunity for strengthening the German and Arab cultural relations.
Al Diwan has a significant importance as the first Qatari cultural centre outside Qatar.
Its opening represents a new and distinctive chapter in the Qatari-German cultural relations.
The building of Al Diwan is one of the most beautiful buildings in the upscale district of Zehlendorf.
The Qatari embassy has restored and rehabilitated the ancient building to preserve its historical character and transformed it into an Arab cultural house, aiming at bringing together cultures, extending bridges of communication between them, and introducing the Arab culture in the arts, music, literature and cinema.
The centre will contribute to the strengthening of the Arab-German relations and the establishment of a broad strategic dialogue in the cultural field, which will contribute to mutual understanding of cultures, strengthen bilateral institutional relations through partnership with other cultural institutions in Germany, and introduce the rich Arab culture through the centre’s huge library and reading room.
The centre will help build lasting and deep understanding relationships that highlight commonalities among peoples.