بسام عبد الرزاق
Al-Mada Foundation is always distinguished by the exhibitions it holds, and creates a wonderful atmosphere for publishers and the audience of writers, so sees the Secretary-General of the Arab Publishers Union, Mr. Bashar Shabaro, the great carnival that Baghdad hosts through the activities of the Iraq International Book Fair.
Shabaro told Al-Mada during his tour of the exhibition corridors, that “historically and without compliments, there is a common proverb that says that (Egypt writes, Beirut prints, Baghdad reads), and now Baghdad has returned with the beginning of its return to normal life and to its historical and cultural center.”
He also says, I personally participated in the first exhibition held by Al-Mada Foundation for Media, Culture and Arts in Erbil, and I remember and follow the activity of Al-Mada and the activity of other exhibitions.
He added that “the phenomenon of exhibitions is a double-edged sword, the exhibition creates a distinctive cultural atmosphere, and its importance is that it moves in all types of knowledge, not only the book, but the writer, publisher, translator, painter, musician and media, and you find overlap and intersections, and the exhibition has a wonderful atmosphere that brings together Iraqi, Arab and Western, and diversity and communication occur.”
He pointed out that “Al-Mada Foundation is distinguished by its exhibitions and serves them in the media and culturally, and when the Prime Minister is the one who opens the exhibition, he pushes all government institutions to pay attention to the exhibition, and this is a very important step.”
He added that “the exhibition is characterized by several things, including the presence of halls according to countries, and this matter comforts everyone, and there are people interested in certain roles and have follow-up with specific authors and with activities and signatures, so this helps the reader and those interested in buying books to reach his goal and reach his goal better,” noting that he hopes “that we will arrive one day when the Iraq exhibition will be in one hall that is comprehensive and inclusive and under one roof, and this helps and creates suitable conditions for display.”
He pointed out that “the choice of time was very important, the weather is beautiful and the conditions are appropriate, especially when holidays are repeated during the days of the exhibition, all these things may not be noticed by the average person, but they prove that there are those who plan correctly to provide a greater opportunity for exhibitors, publishers and visitors to meet with each other and discuss and care about books.”
He pointed out that “our role as an Arab publishers union lies in communicating with all Iraqi publishers, and the Iraq International Book Fair is part of the list of Arab exhibitions program that we distribute to publishers everywhere, and the Erbil Fair also deals with it as an accredited exhibition and communicate with its management permanently and choose the right time so as not to intersect with an Arab exhibition held elsewhere, so that publishers have a comfortable atmosphere in travel and follow-up.”
Shabaro believes that “the role of the Association of Publishers and Writers has become very important, by bringing together publishers and writers, and I hope that the Iraqi publishers will come together.”