NNA - The French Embassy and the French Cultural Center, in collaboration with the Union of Importers of books, launched Friday the first day of Francophone Book Fair in BIEL under the auspices of President Michel Sleiman represented by caretaker Minister of Culture, Gaby Layoun, who also presented caretaker PM Najib Mikati at the Fair's twentieth edition titled The Words of Others.


The opening was attended by representative of House Speaker Nabih Berri, MP Michel Moussa, and ambassadors of Belgium, Canada, Switzerland and France.


"The Francophone is a diverse group that shares common values, and finds opportunity in diversity," said the French ambassador, Patrice Paoli.


He pointed out that the large turnout for this exhibition for twenty years proved that the French language was dear to the Lebanese and that the values of respect and tolerance resonate with them.


"The Francophone is part of the identity of Lebanon," he added.


In turn, Layoun saw that the book fair was further proof that Lebanon was a cultural beacon and a pillar of the Francophone, despite the troubled internal political situation and regional instability.


"It is true that the forces of darkness are trying to drag us down in an attempt to take us back to the sorrowful times of war, but it is also true that the vast majority of Lebanese seek peace, security and stability, and love life and are open to all cultures in the world," said the minister.



================R.Z.