The Main Points of H.E. Speech at "the Syrian Educational Week" in London

12 Sept. 2004

§ I stop in  London on my way back from Brazil and Argentina where I saw for the first time the Arab cultural heritage brought to that distant continent by our grandfathers and grandmothers.

§ In 1922 Syrian and Lebanese women started the first Arab women NGO in Brazil that they later developed to become the best hospital in Latin America, the Syrian- Lebanese hospital that is still directed and run by Arab women.

§ This is only one of hundreds of medical, social and charitable institutions which the Arabs started all over South America contributing by that to the well – being and prosperity of the countries to which they arrived.

§ Wherever they went, Arabs carried their culture, art, language, literature with them; they carried the spirit of the orient realizing that it is its best asset.

§ In today's event the Syrian  - British society is following in the footsteps  of grandfathers and grandmothers by starting national dialogues through culture and by introducing Syria to British people through its art, music and glorious history of concord between religions and civilizations.

§ Second to human pain and suffering in the Middle East Arab culture, archaeology and valuable historical places are today the victims of vicious wars.

§ Peace is desperately needed to save human lives but also to save our culture that has always been our pride and treasure.

§ In this important endeavour the Bss is also true to the essential approach of president Bashar al Assad whose vision focuses on dialogue among nations and on peaceful exchange of knowledge in order to make our world a peaceful and beautiful place for the entire humanity to enjoy and live in harmony■