Paris Book Fair Opens Amid Controversy
Reuters, The Associated Press Published: March 13, 2008
PARIS: Opening the Paris Book Fair should have been a low-key cultural event during the state visit to France of President Shimon Peres of Israel. Instead, it was charged with Middle East tensions.
Several Arab countries are boycotting the prestigious annual fair, where Peres was speaking Thursday, because it honors Israeli writers.
The Nobel Peace laureate's appearance at the book fair comes near the end of his five-day state visit to France - a sign of President Nicolas Sarkozy's effort to rebuild frayed ties with Israel.
"I am against the boycott of books," Peres said Wednesday. "Books are written to awaken reflection, to try to make sense of ideas."
Sarkozy's spokesman called for calm.
"It is not books that we should fear," David Martinon said at a news conference Thursday.
The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization urged its 50 member nations to boycott the fair, saying Israel should not be honored at a time of "siege" against the Palestinian people.
The Moroccan-based organization said last month that it had urged the boycott to protest against Israel's actions against Palestinians.
"The crimes against humanity" that Israel is perpetrating in the Palestinian territories "constitute, in themselves, a strong condemnation of Israel, making it unworthy of being welcomed as a guest of honor," the group said in a statement.
for the complete article, including a photograph, go to http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/13/europe/paris.php
PARIS: Opening the Paris Book Fair should have been a low-key cultural event during the state visit to France of President Shimon Peres of Israel. Instead, it was charged with Middle East tensions.
Several Arab countries are boycotting the prestigious annual fair, where Peres was speaking Thursday, because it honors Israeli writers.
The Nobel Peace laureate's appearance at the book fair comes near the end of his five-day state visit to France - a sign of President Nicolas Sarkozy's effort to rebuild frayed ties with Israel.
"I am against the boycott of books," Peres said Wednesday. "Books are written to awaken reflection, to try to make sense of ideas."
Sarkozy's spokesman called for calm.
"It is not books that we should fear," David Martinon said at a news conference Thursday.
The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization urged its 50 member nations to boycott the fair, saying Israel should not be honored at a time of "siege" against the Palestinian people.
The Moroccan-based organization said last month that it had urged the boycott to protest against Israel's actions against Palestinians.
"The crimes against humanity" that Israel is perpetrating in the Palestinian territories "constitute, in themselves, a strong condemnation of Israel, making it unworthy of being welcomed as a guest of honor," the group said in a statement.
for the complete article, including a photograph, go to http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/13/europe/paris.php
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