Text: M.Zisso; Photo: Archive
The Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq H.E. Mr. Falah Abdulhasan Abdulsada Abdulsada hosted an Iraqi Folklore Concert at the Prague Conservatory. The leading artist was Omar Bashir, an Iraqi- Hungarian musician. His father, Munir Bashir, was considered to be the supreme master of the Arab maqamat scale system. Omar Bashir was born in Budapest in 1970, and started playing the Oud with his father at the age of five. The Ambassador of Iraq delivered a welcome speech to the guests, selected excerpts of which we are introducing to you.
Your Excellency Jan Bartošek, Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies. Your Excellency Pavel Růžička, Chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Czech Republic-Republic of Iraq.
Your Excellencies, Distinguished Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is a pleasure to welcome you, and let me thank you for your presence here at our event today, through which we want to send a message of peace and love, That is why the title of the event came with „Together we sing for peace, and with culture we fight terrorism“, as there is no other language more warm and interactive than the language of culture and music, as it is the bridge among nations and peoples and an important tool in confronting the forces of darkness, and in spreading the values of life in its beautiful human form as well as planting hope for future generations.
Honorable Guests, Iraq is considered one of the countries that have suffered the most from terrorism of all kinds, and we can say with certainty that rifle alone does not impose peace without culture – a culture of love, acceptance of others, tolerance, and dialogue. Therefore we are trying here to highlight the role of culture and its tools in restoring life to normal.
So, Ladies and Gentlemen, let us raise olive branches and sing for peace, and may the cannons be silenced forever.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks and appreciation to the Prague Conservatory, especially the Director Mr. Petr Čech, and all those who contributed to organizing this event.
