In the presence of the Minister of Culture – President Putin opens the 10th International Forum of United Cultures

Ramallah - Ma'an - Palestinian Minister of Culture Imad Hamdan participated in the sessions of the St. Petersburg Forum for United Cultures, which was held under the title "Culture of the 21st Century: Sovereignty or Globalization?", during which Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech on human values ??and the culture exchanged between countries in the world. Minister Hamdan said in a speech he delivered during the forum: 'We have come to you from Palestine, carrying with us messages of pain mixed with hope, and we share with you the conditions of the Palestinian cultural scene, hoping to learn about your rich cultures and valuable experiences, and to exchange ideas with you in this forum, which is considered a vital platform for cultural dialogue, and to study together how to preserve cultural identity while adapting to modernity. 'I speak today on behalf of the children killed in Gaza, whose innocent cries were silenced by unspeakable violence. I speak on behalf of the 10,700 Palestinians who have been arrested since the beginning of this genocide, in the West Bank and Jerusalem. I speak on behalf of young Palestinians who are eagerly looking forward to a dignified life and a bright future. I speak on behalf of Palestinian intellectuals, both living and buried under the rubble, writers, poets, musicians and visual artists. I carry the voices of Palestinian women who have lost their sons and have been subjected to sexual violence,' Minister Hamdan said in his speech. 'The systematic violence, displacement and destruction we are facing is not just a conflict, it is genocide. Gaza, where more than 40,000 people have been killed, stands as a testament to this reality. Tens of thousands have been injured, and millions have been displaced, living with deep physical and emotional scars that will remain with them for generations to come.' These are not just numbers, they are human lives, families, memories and communities torn apart by the machine of violence aimed at erasing Palestinian identity, yet ou r people stand firm, rooted in the land of their ancestors. The Minister continued: 'Our culture, rich in heritage, language and history, remains a powerful symbol of resistance. It is a culture that connects us to Jerusalem, Gaza and every part of Palestine, as Palestinian poets, musicians and artists continue to create even in the darkest times, expressing the collective memory and hope of a people who refuse to be silenced. Culture in Palestine is not a luxury, but a weapon of dignity and survival, and a living testimony to our inalienable right to exist. In conclusion, the Minister called on the international community to stand with Palestine and end this genocide, saying: 'The Palestinian government needs your support to rebuild Gaza after this horror ends, to redraw the cultural landscape, rebuild the destroyed cultural centers, and preserve what remains of our cultural heritage.' Source: Maan News Agency