Location:
Institut du Monde Arabe - 1, Rue des Fosses St Bernard - Paris, Iles de France 75005 (France)
Description:
H.E. Saif Al Islam speaking to the press in Paris
Exhibition in Paris: "Le desert n'est pas silencieux"
Being an international NGO with philanthropic goals to advance human beings and safeguard their rights and dignity, the Gaddafi International Foundation for Charitable Associations decided to protect and promote ancient and modern cultural heritage. Therefore, "The desert is not silent" was set-up in the form of world touring gallery of Libyan antiquities and arts.
Paris, the capital city of France was the first station of "The desert is not silent". On 25 February 2002, His Excellency Saif Al Islam Al Qadhafi, the President of the Gaddafi International Foundation for Charitable Associations and Roseline Bachelot, personal adviser and spokeperson of the French President, representing President Jacques Chirac, presided over the opening ceremony of "Le desert n'est pas silencieux - The desert is not silent" at Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris.
The opening ceremony was attended by number of diplomats accredited in Paris, some French parliamentarians, intellectuals and artists.
Some days after the opening ceremony, His Excellency Saif Al Islam Al Qadhafi was received at the Senate, second French chamber of Parliament, by Honorable Khadija Khali, President of French muslim women, Ms. Roseline Bachelot, spokeperson and personal representative of President Jacques Chirac and Mr. Dominique de Villepin. During this ceremony attended by renowned French and diplomatic personalities, H.E. Saif Al Islam Al Qadhafi received the decoration "Medaille de la Ville de Paris".
"The desert is not silent" stayed in Paris from 25 February to 24 April 2002, and was attended by more than 18 000 visitors.
During the exhibition in France, H.E. Saif Al Islam Al Qadhafi signed on 26 February 2002 with H.E. Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO, an agreement of cooperation between Gaddafi International Foundation and UNESCO. This agreement included of grant to UNESCO of USD 250,000 as a contribution of the Gaddafi Foundation to the programme “Priority Africa – Applying Micro sciences – a new system to utilize laboratories in teaching basic sciences”. In the same agreement, the Gaddafi Foundation expressed its readiness to donate further financial support for following activities: Eliminating illiteracy Rehabilitation and protection programme for marginalized youth Open African University Implementation of phase II of “General History of Africa” Integration of women into the fields of science and technology
H.E. Saif Al Islam Al Qadhafi also signed in Paris on 1st March 2002 with Professor Luc Montagnier, President of the World Foundation, an agreement of cooperation between the Gaddafi Foundation and the World Foundation for AIDS, focusing on the prevention of AIDS in Africa.
H.E. Saif Al Islam Al Qadhafi also signed in Paris on 1st March 2002 with Professor Luc Montagnier, President of the World Foundation, an agreement of cooperation between the Gaddafi Foundation and the World Foundation for AIDS, focusing on the prevention of AIDS in Africa. 
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