A Celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the foundation of Arab Writers Union

Under the patronage of President Bashar al-Assad, a central celebration for the Arab Writers Union was held today at Al-Assad National Library on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its foundation.

Vice-President Najah al-Attar delivered a speech in which she recalled the memory of when the leader Hafiz al-Assad asked her as she was the then Minister of Culture to oversee the completion of building a headquarter for the Writers Union as quickly as possible so that it would be a place for them to convey the message of the pen, and to provide them with the capabilities they need.

The Vice  President said that the writers are the vanguards and they should use literature to spread enlightenment and a rational and intellectual renaissance, which would lead to the achievement of advancement and prosperity.

“We want our literature to instill the most noble concepts of patriotism, nationalism, progress and humanity, and to look forward to achieving a qualitative shift which pushes the society forward and the nation towards more steadfastness in the face of dispersion, division, and disassociation from its history and Arabism,” al-Attar added.

Al-Attar highlighted the heroics, sacrifices and steadfastness of the Syrian Arab Army in the face of all kinds of aggressions as well as their belief in fighting as the only way to achieve victory.

Al-Attar confirmed the unity of the Syrian people in spite of the fabrications and plots contrived against Syria.

Dr. Al-Attar greeted and thanked President al-Assad in her name and on behalf of the participants in the celebration, appreciating his firm principles, his unique valor, his faith in his people and army, and his keenness to enhance our steadfastness and to strengthen our commitment  to our national concerns and our affiliation to our homeland, Arabism and Palestine.

A documentary on the foundation of the Arab Writers Union and its meetings was screened during the celebration, shedding light on the writers who established the union, the literary associations affiliated to the Union, and the newspapers and periodicals issued by it.

“We represent 45 unions and associations” Head of the Writers Union of Africa, Asia, and Latin America SherifShobashy said. “We came to Syria to express our solidarity with the steadfast Syrian people who challenged terrorism and rejected extremism and subservience”.

In his turn, Secretary General of the Writers Union of Palestine, Murad Al-Sudani said that Damascus and Jerusalem constitute one culture which indicates the confrontation of the American, Zionist and reactionary hegemony attempts, stressing that the writers who came to Syria with the aim of participating in this celebration express their stand with this country in the face of terrorism that poses a threat to the entire Arab nation.

Chairman of the Arab Writers Union, Malek Saqqour, said that Syria is now an issue of world concern due to its victory and steadfastness, referring to the coincidence celebrating the foundation of the union with the victories of the Syrian Arab army and people and to the role played bywriters in building the culture of our children and enlightening our youth.

Inas Abdulkareem