THE FRENCH PRESIDENT OPENS UP THE ARAB WORLD FORUM ALONGSIDE JACK LANG

USPA NEWS - The President of the French Republic, François Hollande inaugurated the 1st Arab World Forum, an initiative, of inviting "Arab Think Does". This project was wanted and set up by Jack Lang, President of the Arab Institute, January 15, a week after the attacks of 7 January in Paris and Dammartin.

François Hollande alongside Jack Lang, and Danielle Mitterrand (Wife of François Miterrand, French former President), and Fleur Pellerin culture minister, delivered a speech rallying around the sharing of culture and brotherhood between France and the Arab world. During the forum launching, it is Jack Lang who introduced the ceremony by thanking the presence of President Francois Hollande "We are proud and happy that you (Mr President of the French Republic) to receive this symposium bringing together Arab countries are at the The Arab World Institute (IMA) to present the "New World Arab", bringing together think tank. This is a first in France. The IMA (Institute of World Arab) has never been so much recognized and honuored by a President, as whom are very attached to this unique bridge between the Arab World and the rest of the world. 1(See article http://www.newsrama.uspa24.com/bericht-3182/-france-mourns-the-twelve-killed-by-terrorists-and-is-in-national-mourning.html)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jack Lang also expresses his deep attachment to a main of the Republican values: "fraternity"; then he defines Islam as "Universal religion of peace and light. "The President of the The Arab World Institute (IMA), who was alternately every minister of culture for ten years and also minister of Education in France, is an intellectual, opened to the world and is one of the broad emblematic figures, remained very popular and valued citizens French, of all ages and all edges. Jack Lang's popularity continues well after his ministerial mandates, because it often gathers around agreed projects and empathy loans. It is true that France has a thirsty need for unity rather than division, now more than ever. Jack Lang said that since appointed as head of the The Arab World Institute (IMA), François Hollande came four times including exposure to inaugurate the Hajj to Mecca (Pilgrimage) expressing the commitment of Francois Hollande to Islam. More than ever we must express our Muslim brothers that their place is full and avoid comunitarianism.--------------------------------------------------------------------- President Hollande, then makes his speech by " I wanted to inaugurate this 1st Arab World forum, so to speak, to introduce at least, first because it is the The Arab World Institute (IMA) and I am attached to this institution, to the point to come back regularly, but because the initiative in trying circumstances that we know comes, so to speak, at the right time. "--------------------------------------------------- "The Arab World Institute (IMA) is known and recognized, especially since Jack Lang took the responsibility to become an eminently cultural place. It is here produced great events. I think of the exhibition on the pilgrimage but even at this time on the magnificent works that are presented by Morocco. But never the Arab World Institute had undertaken an such intellectual adventure of this dimension to understand that the Arab world could carry voltage and crisis, but also of renewal and hope. "

THE PEOPLE CAN GATHER AROUND CULTURE IN A TOUGH TIME TO AVOID MISUNDERSTANDING AND FIGHT FANATICISM Jack Lang said: The President stressed the need to bring the two sides to avoid amalgams and avoid misunderstandings on the world "Arab-Muslim and African". “This is the meaning of what we ourselves have to do. Promote the emergence of demanding civil societies to resolve conflicts that traverse the Arab world and ensure that we can develop, France, Europe and the Arab world, the two shores of the Mediterranean; An alliance that would not just of heart or reason but a true economic union, political, cultural. At a time when fanaticism and terrorism hits in Africa, the Middle East, on French soil and threaten all over the world, there also need to see what are the forces in the Arab world who create, who innovate, working to build a better world". The tragedies and hardships can have two effects on people either defeat them, humiliate them, submit them; on the contrary wake them, raise them, take them to the top of what their message. This is true for France, which has been able in recent days to meet, to come together. Not in a reflex of fear that would not have looked like it, but in a show of solidarity, unity and trust in its values. This is also true for the Arab world that lives difficult, dark times, and at the same time can also be set in motion for that its forces - and there are many, economic, political, cultural-, may defeat other forces who want to divide and separate.

THE FRENCH MUSLIMS HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AND DUTIES THAT ALL CITIZENS------------------------------- François Hollande takes the opportunity before this audience mainly Arab, to appease the spirits and bring a message of peace and brotherhood towards the Muslims in France who feel stigmatized since the terrorist attacks of 7 January 2015, which followed the Republican march 11 January. "Muslim The French have the same rights, the same duties as all citizens. They must be protected. The secularism helps it, because it respects all religions. The school of the Republic is also a place of light and therefore knowledge. The history is taught at school, which means including the history of religions, to know where we came from and what these religions are as for common hopes. But also the need to make every child becoming adult to form his conscience and become a free citizen, that's the meaning of the school of the Republic". The head of state added that measures would be undertaken to fight strongly against racism and anti-Semitism: "I wanted that anti-Semitism and racism could be combated firmly, with requirement and that this struggle should be established as a national priority. I do it because it's my duty to the head of state; I do it because it's also a great obligation for France, which should lead by example. France is committed to an ideal of freedom, in common life, unity. France always is tied to be a reference or example. Therefore, nothing should be tolerated. "

IDEAL FOR A PROSPEROUS WORLD UNITING THE ARAB WORLD AND EUROPE ------------------------------------- Francois Hollande said that the Mediterranean is the most dangerous river in the world, by human disasters, illegal refugees stranded in the water trying to reach Europe. "A Sea where today, unfortunately, we note on precarious boats too many deaths of these refugees. The Mediterranean must not be a sea of misfortune but a sea of prosperity and that is what Europeans have to do with the Arab countries. How? A greater use of existing institutions, the Union for the Mediterranean, the 5 + 5 group is undoubtedly a valuable tool with the Maghreb, and then create the area of security, development and solidarity around the Mediterranean area. That is why France, while assuming the presidency of the 5 + 5 group, will take new initiatives to the western Mediterranean." "How can we grow, prosper all that unites Europe and the Arab world? We need to achieve that by being clear between us, lucid. Radical Islamism has fed all the contradictions, all the influences of all the misery, all the inequalities of all unresolved conflicts for too long. And, it is the Muslims who are the first victims of fanaticism, fundamentalism and intolerance. We must remember, and every time I did, wherever I travelled in the Arab world, Islam is compatible with democracy, we must refuse amalgam and confusion and first in France "---------------------------------------------- THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS ARAB OF SOLIDARITY MESSAGE The President of the Republic ends up by expressing how he was affected by the expression of global solidarity chain, especially Arab countries, even from the lost refugee camps in Syria's background. "This is the message that so many Arab friends sent us these days, either directly from the march of 11 January, in a thousand ways through the supports that have multiplied. I want to thank from the heart because their presence was not only useful but also necessary. It marked also there a shared commitment to what needs to move us and it was an expression of solidarity, a common awareness that both sides of the Mediterranean we had a kind of destiny, that we must share". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "That is all the meaning of your initiative."-------------------------------------------------For more information see : www.elysee.fr, www.imarabe.org, ufmsecretariat.org