IYAD BIN AMEEN MADANI, MINISTER OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION, TODAY TOURED THE RIYADH INTERNATIONAL BOOK EXHIBITION 2007 AT THE RIYADH EXHIBITION CENTER, INSPECTING THE FINAL TOUCHES FOR OPENING THE EVENT ON TUESDAY. THE EXHIBITION WHICH ATTRACTED MORE THAN 600 PUBLISHERS WILL LAST FOR TEN DAYS. IN A STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE VISIT, MADANI SAID THAT, FROM NOW ON, HIS MINISTRY WILL BE IN CHARGE OF BOOK FAIRS IN THE KINGDOM, LAUDING THE COOPERATION OF THE MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND SAUDI UNIVERSITIES. THE PURPOSE OF HOLDING BOOK EXHIBITIONS IS TO DISPLAY AND HIGHLIGHT NEW ISSUES AND PUBLICATIONS NOT AVAILABLE IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES YET OR ON MARKET BENCHES, THE MINISTER SAID. ASKED ABOUT THE ROLE OF CENSORSHIP, HE SAID SAUDI ARABIA IS A COUNTRY COMMITTED TO A RELIGIOUS FAITH AND ETHICAL APPROACH AND HAS ITS DISTINCT NATIONAL CHARACTER. ASKED ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE COMMISSION FOR PROPAGATION OF VIRTUE AND PREVENTION OF VICE, HE SAID "THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE AND WE ARE ALWAYS IN CONTACT WITH THEM" TO FULFILL THE CONCERTED ROLE. HOWEVER, DIFFERENT VIEW POINTS COULD EASILY FIND THEIR WAY TO THE SURFACE WITHOUT PROVOCATION OR EMBARRASSMENT OF THE OTHER PARTY, HE ADDED.
