Mikati visits Francophone book fair

The Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati visited the Francophone Book Fair accompanied by Lebanese Information Minister Walid Daouq, Minister of Economy and Trade Nicolas Nahas. Mikati took a tour around the exhibition sections, accompanied by ministers as well as the French Ambassador in Lebanon Patrice Paoli and his delegation. The exhibition library halls were crowded with visitors and readers, including the writer and painter Titeuf Philip Chabeuil Zeb. The new mobile library project has been inaugurated in the French corner today afternoon, in order to encourage kids to read more in the south governorate Tibnin, the project is financed by the French centre in Beirut, administrated by the Alfa Association. It aims to eliminate illiteracy, knowing that the moving library bus will make a tour in the area in order to maintain reading hobby for children, constructing clubs and making several activities representing children rights. In Hall B, discussion was held about "En mission a la Croix Rouge de 1967 a 1987" the Red Cross mission in the period between 1967-1987 talking about Nayella Hashim experience as a volunteer in the Lebanese Red Cross. In another section, the Lebanese writer Hoda Barakat spoke at Aghura hall about her new book "Boyaume de cette terre" a Queen from Earth. In her interview with Rita Bdour, she said that the events of the book take place in Boshra district, reflecting three generations history since 1920 till the beginning of the civil war. The Francophone journalist association section included a number of interviews with Lebanese writers in French language, including Dr Antone Massara, Jezzel Eid and Tania Heji Toma. The exhibition witnessed many book signings.