BERLIN, 10 June 2006 — Prince Nawaf ibn Faisal, vice president of the Youth Welfare Presidency and head of the Saudi delegation to the World Cup, yesterday inaugurated Saudi cultural activities, which included folklore dances and cultural shows, organized on the sidelines of the international soccer extravaganza.
He said the Saudi delegation was carrying the message of love and peace for the whole world. He also underscored the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and Germany.
“We came to your country to strengthen these ties,” he told the Germans during the opening ceremony for the cultural event. “We represent a country that loves peace, fraternity and cooperation with other countries. Our country works to promote peace and security in all corners of the world.”
He commended the German government for making state-of-the-art arrangements for the World Cup in order to make the event a big success.
Saudi Ambassador to Germany Osama Shubokshi said the Saudi cultural programs being held on the sidelines of the World Cup would promote Saudi-German ties.
Abubakar Bagader, undersecretary at the Ministry of Culture and Information, said his ministry had been making preparations for these programs ever since Saudi Arabia qualified for the World Cup.
The programs includes two lectures, the first titled “Germany in Saudi Eyes,” by Abdul Hameed Qashri, and the second titled “Saudi Arabia in German Eyes,” by Laila Marlin Saires. The events will include painting, photography and Arabic calligraphy shows.
Top German officials as well as a number of Arab ambassadors to Germany attended the opening ceremony.
