Waqar Naseem Wamiq RIYADH — The European Union delegation in Riyadh together with the EU member states, in cooperation with the Ministry Of Culture And Information, are all set to celebrate Europe month in Saudi Arabia. A month-long sequence of activities are beginning from April 5 to May 10 in Riyadh and Jeddah, according to the head of the EU delegation for the GCC Ambassador Michele Cervone D’urso press conference at the EU delegation’s headquarters in Riyadh. “More than 6 European films and one documentary will be screened from Portugal, United Kingdom, Hungary, Italy, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands. The Europe month celebrations includes 7 musical concerts ranging from Jazz to classical from Czechoslovakia, Italy, Denmark and the European Union. An Exhibition on the history and culture of Polish Muslims (Tatars) is one of the main attraction of the Europe month in Riyadh. A reading and story-telling evening by Kingdom and European authors are also part of the activities,” D’urso said. D’ursu also stated that Saudi conceptual artist Abdul Naser Al-Ghunaim would hold a presentation on May 2. “Ghunaim is very creative and talented artist in the Middle East at the moment and is well known internationally. He will make a presentation and hold a live performance at the Kingdom’s conceptual-art event on May 2,” he said “Books builds bridges without borders between cultures and generations to promote education, tolerance and to inspire imagination in a globalized world. The delegation of the EU is also participating with a stand in the first ever children’s book fair by the King Fahd Cultural Center at their premises in Riyadh,” D’urso added. Talking about the Europe Day celebration, D’urso said, “The European Union delegation in Riyadh together with the EU member states has been organizing the Europe Month since 2011 and celebrating Europe Day since the institution of the EU delegation here in 2005. Europe Day is an annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe. This year the Europe Day celebration will take place at the Tuwaiq Palace on May 9 to mark the 68th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. The choir of the Greek Cypriot School in Riyadh will perform the EU anthem which will be followed by a reception,” he said. The closing ceremony of the Europe month will be held at the residence of the EU ambassador on May 10. The event will feature a classical-piano concert by the distinguished Italian pianist Scipione Sangiovanni. “The Europe month is a part and parcel for us for a broad range of activities. This year we are trying to scale up people to people dialogue through various kind of cultural and educational activities between the peoples of Saudi Arabia and the European nations,” he said.