Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10KUWAIT17
2010-01-11 13:44:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kuwait
Cable title:  

MISSION KUWAIT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE 34TH ANNUAL BOOK FAIR

Tags:  OEXC OIIP SCUL KPAO ZR 
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VZCZCXRO4807
RR RUEHBC RUEHDH RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHKU #0017 0111344
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 111344Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4422
INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS KUWAIT 000017 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP (JSAWYER),NEA/PPD (DBENZE, PAGNEW),
IIP/NEA/SCA (MBANDLER)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC OIIP SCUL KPAO ZR
SUBJECT: MISSION KUWAIT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE 34TH ANNUAL BOOK FAIR

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000017

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP (JSAWYER),NEA/PPD (DBENZE, PAGNEW),
IIP/NEA/SCA (MBANDLER)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC OIIP SCUL KPAO ZR
SUBJECT: MISSION KUWAIT'S PARTICIPATION IN THE 34TH ANNUAL BOOK FAIR


1. (U) Summary: U.S. Embassy Kuwait participated in Kuwait's 34th
annual book fair, held from October 28 to November 7, 2009 and
attended by thousands of book lovers from across the socio-economic
and political spectrums, including many groups of school children,
from around the Gulf region. The Embassy booth provided IIP
literature on American history, politics, society and values,
biographies, as well as English language teaching and educational
materials. The Ambassador attended the opening celebration as a
guest of honor and accompanied the Minister of Information as he
toured the exhibition hall. Virtually all media outlets reported on
the Ambassador's attendance and U.S. participation. End Summary.


2. (U) In addition to the popular American titles translated into
the Arabic language by the State Department's regional book offices
based in Cairo and Amman, e-journals covering topics as diverse as
Islam in America, higher education in the United States and American
teenagers, were also on display in the stall and distributed free of
charge. Bookmarks, pens, InfoUSA CD-roms, U.S. maps and IIP
booklets on U.S. history and society were also complimentary.
Representatives of AmidEast were at hand on an almost daily basis to
answer questions related to study in the United States and State
Department-sponsored educational and exchange programs such as
ACCESS and YES. A total of 781 books, mostly non-fiction and
biographies (President Obama's "Dreams from my Father" was a
best-seller) were sold. We were able to answer questions on
tourism, business and consular issues through an internet-connected
laptop. Each weekday morning saw public school children and
educators bused in from all of Kuwait's educational districts.
These fieldtrips gave us the chance to interact with young people
from religiously conservative and Bedouin backgrounds who normally
have little exposure to this aspect of American culture.


3. (U) The Ambassador was invited as a guest of honor to the
Inauguration Ceremony of the book fair, which took place in a
ceremonial tent at the heart of the International Fair Grounds.
Along with high-ranking officials from the Kuwaiti government and
prominent figures of Kuwait's National Council for Culture, the
Ambassador accompanied the Kuwaiti Minister of Information on a tour
of the exhibition hall, trailed by dozens of media representatives.
Virtually all media outlets featured the Ambassador's attendance and
the U.S. Embassy's participation.


JONES