Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani announced last night the start of activities of Doha Capital of Arab Culture 2010. A ceremony was held on this occasion which was attended by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad; Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi; Minister of Culture and Information of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja; and a number of ministers and officials. During the ceremony, Qatari Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, who is also Chairman of the Higher Committee for Celebrations of Doha Capital of Arab Culture 2010, delivered a keynote speech in which he stressed that celebration of Doha's selection as Arab Culture's Capital for the current year, following that of Al-Quds in the previous year, comes as a culmination of similar ceremonies that have been witnessed by Arab capitals since 1995. "It is a great honor for the State of Qatar to be a place of Arab culture for the current year and to present the humanity with elites who developed science and arts worldwide," He said.
