03.10.2012.

Minister Vucic opened exhibition within the Iraqi Cultural Week

First Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Aleksandar Vucic opened the exhibition in the Central Military Club of the Serbian Armed Forces within the Iraqi Cultural Week which has been held for the third year in a row in Belgrade.

On this occasion, Minister Vucic pointed out that, although the political and social situation in Baghdad and Belgrade have changed in the past period, it did not affect the friendly ties between the two nations. In addition, he said, many Iraqi students who were educated in Serbia became the best ambassadors of our country in Iraq.

- Our Ministry of Defence and the Iraqi Ministry of Defence represent the spinal column of bilateral relations between the two countries. However, the potentials of cooperation are far higher and it would be useful to intensify the activities on both sides in order to prepare the next meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic and Technical Cooperation – Minister Vucic said adding that it was also an opportunity for the finalization of contractual regulations between the two countries which are currently under negotiations.

Minister Vucic also expressed his satisfaction with the participation of Iraqi students in the project "World in Serbia", and that the inhabitants of the Serbian capital are able to hear sounds and see the colours of Iraq.

According to Ambassador of Iraq Falah A. Abdulsad, works of Riyadh al Kaysi whose exhibition was opened this evening, depict the everyday life and modern legacy of the Iraqi citizen. Within the Week of Iraqi Culture it has been for the third day that creativity and artistic works of Iraqi artists are presented.

- The event is an opportunity to show how strong have been the relations between Belgrade and Baghdad for more than half a century – the Iraqi Ambassador said pointing to the many similarities between our and the Iraqi culture. He also expressed his confidence that cooperation between the two countries will intensify in the future.

After opening of the exhibition, a concert of Iraqi lute player Selim Salim and the Art Ensemble of the Ministry of Defence, "Stanislav Bini?ki", was performed.

In order to promote the culture of Iraq, the Embassy of Iraq in Belgrade, has been traditionally organising the Iraqi Cultural Week, in the period from 1 to 5 October during which musicians, visual artists and filmmakers from Iraq were presented at several locations in the city.

Continuing the Iraqi Culture Week, in the Conference Hall of the Central Military Club, tomorrow, there will be held a dance concert of the folk dance folk group "Al Basra" and the closing event on Friday will be marked with the concert of the group "Munir Beshir" and awarding appreciation letters and gifts.