THE MAJLIS
We are a small group devoted to culture, but given my background in diplomacy, I also have significant governmental responsibilities. That takes up most of my time, because I am not exclusively devoted to culture. Still, I strive to give the cultural sector its due value. It deserves it and plays a role in economic recovery, in preserving national unity, and in safeguarding freedom of expression. That is why we regularly hold conferences at the National Library and organize exhibitions, gatherings, and other initiatives. Cultural industries differ significantly from other industries, which is why I believe Lebanon has a great future in this field. I keep repeating this to my colleague at the Ministry of Economy so it becomes part of his daily concerns. Cultural industries require no raw materials and produce no pollution; they rely primarily on expertise and talent in theater, cinema, music, and related fields. I would also note that our universities graduate between 500 and
600 people each year in fields related to the cultural industries. We have every ingredient for success here. That is heartening and motivates us to do more.
What about intangible heritage? Is there a plan? The people who carry it are slipping away …
We won’ t let it slip away, especially since Lebanon, and I personally, played a central role in drafting the convention. We were among those who drafted it, particularly after the Istanbul conference in 2002. Lebanon played a key role in two recent conventions: the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
But what is actually being done on the ground to safeguard what is threatened with ruin?
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