Beirut: Minister of Culture, Dr. Ghassan Salameh, has sponsored a significant cooperation agreement between the Arab Cultural Club and the Lebanese Publishers Association to organize the Beirut International Arab Book Fair. The agreement, signed at the National Library, aims to unify efforts for the event's organization, starting from 2026.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the agreement was officially signed by Dr. Hassan Mneimneh, former Minister and President of the Arab Cultural Club, and Nabil Abdel-Haq, President of the Lebanese Publishers Association. The signing ceremony was attended by several members of both organizations and Minister Salameh's advisor, architect Jad Tabet.
The agreement stipulates that the Arab Cultural Club and the Lebanese Publishers Association will no longer hold separate book fairs in Beirut. Instead, they will jointly organize the Beirut International Arab Book Fair under the guidance of a newly formed committee. This committee will consist of three members from each organization and an observer from the Ministry of Culture, who will coordinate between the committee and the ministry.
The oversight committee will be led by a board of directors, including the presidents of both the Arab Cultural Club and the Lebanese Publishers Association. Both presidents emphasized that this collaboration aims to enhance the fair's national and regional significance, with the first jointly organized event anticipated next fall.
Minister Salameh also held discussions with Fouad Saniours, the president of the Arab Cultural Club, Dr. Hassan Mneimneh, and the club's vice-president, Ms. Salwa Sanioura Baasiri. They explored various cultural matters, including the book fair and the Sidon City Museum project, which receives support from Kuwait and the Arab Fund for Construction. President Siniora highlighted the importance of completing this historic project, and Minister Salameh reaffirmed his support for initiatives that will facilitate its realization.