Last update - 00:00 20/01/2008
Assad: Damascus is the capital of culture and resistance
By The Associated Press
Syrian President Bashar Assad marked UNESCO's choice of Damascus as the 2008 Capital of Arab Culture by describing the city as a center of culture as well as resistance.
In a celebration attended by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Qatari Emir
Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa al-Thani and Arab League Chief Amr Moussa, Assad
hailed the ancient city's historical role as a cultural center while asserting its steadfastness against all enemies.
"Damascus is the capital of resistance culture by symbolizing Arab culture - the culture of freedom and defending freedom," Assad said.
UNESCO's Cultural Capitals Program, which in the Arab world began in 1998, aims to promote the cultural aspects of development and increased
international cooperation, according to the organization.
"Damascus is proud of its Damascene flowers and the way it sprinkles its
visitors with jasmine perfume and quenches their thirst with its fresh
springs, but Damascus also wields an eponymous sword against the avaricious ones who would harm it," he said.
The Syrian president also said the tradition of Damascus was to strive for peace, but with dignity and pride.
Moussa, for his part, said in his speech that Damascus will lead a dialogue among civilizations at time Arab and Islamic culture faces unprecedented challenges.
The year-long festival has provided impetus to freshen up Damascus, one of oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and the city has turned into a big workshop as its medieval buildings are renovated and streets repaired.
Activities to mark the occasion will include conferences, symposiums,
concerts, plays, dance performances, and movies to be held across the country.
Festivities began last week with a public carnival in Damascus' old city's central square featuring acrobats and a light show, as well as a fireworks from the mountain overlooking the city.