Jack Lang, president of the Arab World Institute in Paris, said that Qatar played a pivotal role in teaching the Arabic language in France.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), the President of the Arab World Institute in Paris, Minister of Culture and Education in the government of former French President Francois Mitterrand, added that the Institute seeks on every occasion to deepen and develop cooperation relations with the State of Qatar through activities, performances and exhibitions that highlight the cultural heritage. Al-Ghani to Doha and celebrates Qatari creators in all fields, explaining in this context that the last cooperation between the Institute and Qatar was about a year ago and represented the signing of an agreement to encourage the teaching of the Arabic language and its dissemination in France, according to the program and certificate created by the Institute of the Arab World in learning the Arabic language.
He praised the role of Qatar and its pivotal contribution in supporting culture and encouraging learning the Arabic language at the institute and in France, through the Qatari embassy in Paris, noting that Qatar was strongly present at the Gulf Film Festival, and in several plastic and art exhibitions, noting that the special collection of plastic art in The Museum of the Arab World Institute, which includes a distinguished selection of the works of the Qatari artist Youssef Ahmed.
He also indicated that the Institute organized, in cooperation with the Doha Film Institute, at the end of 2021, a special night showing a group of Qatari short films, in the presence of most of their directors. In addition, Jack Lang indicated that Qatari sports, in turn, were distinctly present in the huge exhibition held by the Arab World Institute on sports and football in the Arab world, through the exhibition of Qatari stadium designs that hosted the FIFA,Football,Soccer World Cup Qatar 2022, pointing to The Institute organized, in cooperation with the Qatari diplomatic bodies in France, the Year of Qatar at the Institute and in France, to highlight the Qatari history, heritage and culture, as this partnership and events witnessed great success and turnout from the public eager to discover the hidden aspects of the distinctive culture of the Arab Gulf state, expressing the permanent welcome of the Institute With cooperation agreements and proposals by Qataris to highlight their heritage and culture within the activities of the Arab World Institute in Paris.
He appreciated the great role of Qatar and its effective contribution to the establishment of the Museum of Contemporary Islamic Art at the Institute of the Arab World in Paris, through the prominent role played by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Museums, in supporting the museum by all means, speaking with fascination about what he described as "Urban revolution" In the infrastructure in Qatar, where he praised the impressive success achieved by Doha in organizing the FIFA,Football,Soccer World Cup Qatar 2022, noting that this success was on all levels of sports, engineering, media and culture.
Jack Lang, former Socialist Minister of Education and Culture since 2013, was appointed to head the Arab World Institute in Paris, by former President François Hollande. Lang was succeeded by Bruno Mussolier, President of the Higher Council of the Institute, and Bruno Levallois, Chairman of the Board of Directors. During his reign, the institute witnessed a quantum leap and a great movement, and it got out of its financial crisis that was hindering it.
Since 2009, the Institute of the Arab World had two presidencies, before its management system was modified in 2013 by the French authorities and the Arab side, to return to the one-presidency system. On the Institute’s future policy and the most important activities and performances that this cultural landmark will host, Jack Lang said: "There are many projects, activities and major events, including the exhibition and the major event that the Institute will organize starting next May, under the title / What Palestine Offers to the World /, which will celebrate Palestine, its culture, history and cause"Stressing that this symbolic title carries a special message from the Organizing Authority to uphold Palestinian culture, heritage and creativity in all its colors and characteristics, and will blend the historical aspect with the contemporary artistic aspect, pointing out that the Institute will also shed light on Gaza and what it suffers from siege and marginalization, and will be keen on the presence of artistic and cultural figures. From Gaza, revealing that he will soon visit the Gaza Strip and the West Bank in order to put the final touches to this great event and give the Palestinian cause the status it deserves.
Jack Lang, President of the Arab World Institute in Paris, explained that this great event will be under the supervision of the well-known Palestinian intellectual and figure Elias Sanbar, noting that the Arab World Institute in Paris is almost the only institution in the world that allocates such support, interest and celebration of the Palestinian cause and Palestinian culture and creativity. At the same time, a warning and an alert to the dangerous and delicate situation that the Palestinian cause is experiencing at the present time, indicating that it is marginalized, forgotten, and excluded in the world today.
He stressed that the Institute is keen to give the Palestinian cause the importance it deserves, so that the voice of the Palestinian people and the free creative voices of the whole world can be heard. He pointed out that the Institute of the Arab World in Paris hosts the Museum of Contemporary Art for Palestinian Creativity in Exile, which includes important and wonderful Palestinian works of art that introduce the French and European visitors to the depth of Palestinian culture and creativity in exile and diaspora.
He also pointed out that the institute is heading, with the school entry next fall, to organize another remarkable event under the title “Perfume of the Orient” that celebrates contemporary Arab plastic art from all schools and trends, and all Arab countries will be represented by their culture, heritage and customs.
Jack Lang is among the French intellectuals who defend the Arabic language and the need for its presence in the school and cultural milieu. In this context, he published in 2020 the book “The Arabic Language is a Treasure of France”, in which he sheds light on the depth of the Arabic language, its history and its distinguished position, past and present.. despite the value of this. The book, and the value of the voices defending the language of Dhad, this language still has not gained its fortune, and this treasure is still hidden, marginalized and forgotten in France, in the opinion of some.
In this context, the former academic and law professor explained that France is historically linked to the Arab world, whether in the positive, cultural, civilized sense or in the negative, colonial (colonial) sense, pointing out that the Arabic language is one of the important cultural links between Paris and the Arabs, stressing at the same time, However, when he was a minister, he encouraged the teaching of the Arabic language in French schools, despite all the obstacles he encountered.
He explained that he noticed, during his assumption of his ministerial duties, that the problem in France does not lie only in the Arabic language, but rather in the rest of the foreign languages, such as German, Italian and Spanish, which also remained marginalized, indicating that the Arabic language today is taught in many French institutes and schools, but remains There is a problem of continuity that it suffers from, which repels some pupils and students from learning it, despite their attachment to it, pointing out that the French state has signed cooperation agreements in recent years with Maghreb countries to recruit qualified Arabic language teachers, within the framework of encouraging the intensification of continuity in learning this beautiful language. .
And Jack Lang indicated that, since assuming the presidency of the Institute of the Arab World in Paris, he has been keen to take care of the Arabic language, noting that in this context he has developed a certificate for the Arabic language that is taught at the Institute, and this certificate is recognized by France, Europe and internationally, noting that what gives cause for optimism is This great interest and demand in recent years to learn the Arabic language, study it and delve into it in French universities and higher institutes, indicating that the certificate created by the institute will encourage this demand more for the Arabic language.
He also appreciated the pivotal and major role played by the State of Qatar, through the agreement signed by the Institute with it, in encouraging the learning of the Arabic language at the Institute and in France. Jack Lang, head of the Institute of the Arab World in Paris, stressed to QNA the great integration of the French of Arab and Islamic origins in various generations into French society and its institutions, pointing out that they contribute fundamentally to building, renaissance and progress of the country.
And he said "This does not negate the existence of a racist minority in French society, like all societies, that tries to tarnish the image of immigrants, Arabs and Muslims, under the influence of the hate speech spread by the far-right party led by Marine Le Pen."Stressing that this racist discourse is very dangerous to society and must be resisted and fought, noting at the same time that the majority of the French are reconciled with the values ​​of tolerance, solidarity and acceptance of the other, and they encourage the integration of immigrants into French society.
He explained that the Institute of the Arab World in Paris is a forum for embracing the Arab-Islamic culture in France and Europe, and represents a civilized and cultural bridge that encourages dialogue, cooperation, communication, discovery and solidarity between the West and the East, praising the effective contribution of Arabs and Muslims to the development of science, philosophy, translation, literature and human culture during the period of prosperity of Arab-Islamic civilization. Noting that the Institute of the Arab World in Paris allocates monthly and periodic meetings to honor Arab and Muslim philosophers, writers, and thinkers, and to introduce them to their books and enlightening intellectual productions, stressing the positive and important role that literature, translation, creativity, and culture can play today, despite all the contradictions that surround it, and its effective contribution. In the dialogue between cultures, peoples and civilizations, East and West, North and South.
The head of the Arab World Institute in Paris concluded his interview with QNA, saying that he is concerned about the rise of the extreme right in France and Europe, calling for the need to fight "racist mentality" Which is pursued by a minority in society and not giving it an opportunity to affect the rest of society, stressing at the same time that the presence of immigrants, foreigners and different cultures in European societies is luck, wealth and added value to these societies and not the other way around.
added: "In the end, the wave of the extreme right will soon disappear from France and Europe, because European peoples are tolerant by nature and accept others easily.". It is worth noting that the Institute of the Arab World in Paris, which was established in 1980 during the reign of the late French President Francois Mitterrand, is a French institution concerned with cultural affairs. Within its continuous activities throughout the year, it receives writers, thinkers and artists from all over the Arab and European world to present their ideas and creativity.
Designed by Frenchman Jean Nouvel, the institute is a unique architectural masterpiece located on the banks of the Seine, as well as being the most important institution of Arab-Islamic culture in France and Europe. This cultural landmark, which has a budget of 30 million euros and employs 150 employees, seeks to develop the study of the Arab world in France, deepen understanding of its civilization and culture, encourage cultural exchange and stimulate communication and cooperation between France and the Arab world. Arabic in France.
