More than 200 Arab writer at Frankfurt's exhibition; Schroeder rejects distortions of the image of Arabs, Muslim

The German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and the secretary general of the Arab League Amr Moussa opened the International Frankfurt Book exhibition by a joint call against the attempt to distort the image of Arabs and Muslims in the world.

In his speech, Schroeder called for establishing the foundations of a vast and balanced dialogue between the east and the west in all domains. He said that the meeting of the Arab and western world in Frankfurt exhibition is but an opportunity to show the true picture of the Islamic culture and to expose the wrong judgment alleged by certain people against Islam.

He added that Europe is the best place to disseminate the true concept about Islam and rapprochement between the Arabs and the West. He expressed his appreciation for all Arabs who contributed in their role in the fields of chemistry, medicines, philosophy, who can not be denied in the progress of humanity and Islamic civilization.

Schroeder urged the West to know the Arab civilization at its board conception through the International Frankfurt exhibition, noting that he encourages the dialogue of civilizations among various cultures. He explained that limited conceptions and lack of knowledge contribute to enhancing the negative images about Islam and Muslims.

The German Chancellor said that terrorism threatens all civilizations and it has no link to the clash of civilizations, rejecting that the war against terrorism is a war against cultures.

In his speech, Moussa said the conference is an opportunity in which the west is is exposed to the old and modern treasures of the Orient. He called for looking at the future and leaving the past behind -- which certain sides want to bring in.

He also called for standing against what he called "violence, repression and oppression." He said that the meeting at International Frankfurt exhibition with the Arab and Islamic civilization comes in the context of what he described " the shinning moments in the history of the relations between the East and the West, rather on the route to clashes between the two civilizations." As individual and guests of honors, the Frankfurt exhibition is attended by some 200 of prominent Arab writers and poets including the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, the Syrian poet Adonis, the Moroccan writer Taher Bin Jalloun and Lebanese novelist Elias Khouri.

The exhibition includes 6700 exhibiting sides from 111 countries. It lasts for five days. This exhibition is considered a valuable opportunity for the Arabs in general to acquaint others with the Arab and Islamic cultural heritage and identity, especially as this is the first time in which the Arab world is the guest of honor to the exhibition.