Opening the Arab Heritage in Portuguese Culture Exhibition at the University
02 November 2010
On November 2nd 2010, Dr. George Torres Pereira, the Portuguese Representative to the Palestinian Authority and Prof. Rami Hamdallah, University President, inaugurated the Arab Heritage in Portuguese Culture at the New Library at the New Campus.
The Exhibition, which lasts for a week, includes paintings and items that reflect the Arab heritage in the Portuguese culture. The exhibition presents and familiarizes visitors with the many aspects that shape the Arabness of the Portuguese culture in the fields of language, art, and science. During the exhibition, Dr. Pereira presented a description of the Portuguese culture and its many Arab-related aspects.
A large number of students visited the exhibition which they described as impressive and beautiful. They also said that they noticed a remarkable Arabness in the Portuguese culture and that many aspects of this culture is Arab in nature
After that, a lecture was organized at the Library in which Dr. Pereira delivered a speech about his experience in Palestine over the last years that his spent in his position as a Representative. The title of the lecture was "Return Back to Palestine…A European Diplomat Speaks out Loud" in which he spoke about his experience during his first mission to Palestine between 1995 and 1997. He also spoke about the years he spent in Jaffa and after that in Beit Hanina and his perception of the Palestinian Israeli conflict.
He then discussed the relationship between the two sides in terms of geography and other aspects of life. He described the conditions that he experienced and his perception of the situations in Palestine before and after the Second Uprising (Intifada). He explained to the audience that for a long time, most Europeans believed in the Israeli version of what goes on in Palestine while the Palestinian voice was usually totally ignored. But he assured that the international awareness is developing in favor of the Palestinians and more people are now fully aware of the reality of the conflict on ground.
He added that people in Palestine must always be optimistic regarding their cause and to have a strong belief in solution in the near future. He expressed his admiration by the Palestinians who show great optimism and maintain a high level of hope no matter how bad and frustrating situations in Palestine are. Furthermore, Dr. Pereira described the role that the European governments play to support the Palestinian cause and bring the conflict to an end.
Dr. Pereira finally spoke about the importance of the Palestinian identity and mentioned that Palestinian, though scattered among different countries and became integrated in many societies around the world, must try to preserve their own identity because it is the most important element in the existence of any nation.
Students also exchanged ideas and questions with Dr. Pereira regarding the situation in Palestine and the future of the Palestinian cause.
Pereira has worked as a representative of Portugal to Palestine since 2007 and has previously worked as the Portuguese Consul between 1995-1997. Pereira lived in Al-Ajami neighborhood in Jaffa and traveled a lot between Gaza and Ramallah. His continuous traveling between different parts of Palestine has brought him close the daily situations that the Palestinian experience under occupation.
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For more pictures on the exhibition click here
