





During the opening of the first Damascus International Book Fair since the liberation of the country, the Minister of Culture affirmed that books will remain the cornerstone of building both individuals and the state, and that the path to the future begins with awareness and culture. In his address, he commemorated the late Dr. Riad Naasan Agha, acknowledging his cultural contributions and his ethical and patriotic path, praising his unwavering stance on truth and freedom of expression. The Minister also called for the fair to become an open workshop for reading and dialogue, a platform that restores meaning to the written word, the role of the intellectual, and a horizon for the future. The fair features the participation of more than 500 Arab and international publishing houses, alongside a rich cultural program of seminars and discussions spanning ten days, reflecting the return of cultural life to Syria and its celebration of intellectual diversity and human development.