Lebanese El-Safi: Syria is Arabism's mother

Renowned Lebanese artist Wadih El-Safi said Syria is the mother of Arabism and the honour and conscience of all Arabs. “Our belonging to Syria is the same as to Lebanon. There is no difference between Lebanon and Syria… the current crackdown in Syria is caused by the international Zionism, but it is a black cloud that will be cleared… I am very confident in the Syrian peoples' capability to overcome this crisis." El-Safi said during his meeting with the Syrian Information Minister Dr.Adnan Mahmoud Wednesday night. In a statement to journalists following the meeting, El-Safi pointed that Art is affected by the surrounding atmospheres, adding that "the role of Art remains basic in consolidating values of originality and adherence to thwart the western campaigns aiming at disfiguring our belonging to our holy lands.” Minister Mahmoud appreciated El-Safi and his noble history in conveying the superior message of art to deepen the national and pan-Arab belonging. "If history was the memory of the nation, the art and culture would be the spirit in present and future…. Artist El-Safi is part of this original history which has consolidated during his long artistic life that dates back to more than half a century," Minister Mahmoud added. The minster added: “These original values will always be our national honourable message at all platforms especially during the counterfeiting awareness campaign that aims at turning upside down Arab ideals and dismantling the Arab community.” “Welcome to the great artist Wadih El Safi and his family in his country and his home and we appreciate his solidarity in this moment with Syria, which he had enriched in land, history, Arab identity and pride as well as belonging and nationalist stance,” the Minister added. The meeting was attended by the artist's son, George El-Safi and the artist Suhail Arafa , the director of the General Authority for Radio and Television.