The Republic of Tunisia today saw the launch of the 20th edition of the Sharjah Narrative Forum under the theme "The New Short Story... Transformations in Form and Structure".

Held under the patronage of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the forum includes four topics on approach and critical analysis, discussed over two days by more than 50 Tunisian novelists, short story writers, academics, and critics.

The opening ceremony was held at Ennejma Ezzahra Palace in Sidi Bou Said in the capital Tunis, in the presence of Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Department of Culture; Dr. Iman Ahmed Al Salami, UAE Ambassador to Tunisia; Muhammad Ibrahim Al Qasiri, Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs at Sharjah Department of Culture; Khaled Kashir, Director-General of the National Library at the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs; and a number of intellectuals, university professors, and those interested in narrative writing.

The opening ceremony was accompanied by an exhibition that included a number of publications of Sharjah Department of Culture, including Sharjah Cultural Magazine, Arrafid Magazine, Al Qawafi Magazine, Al Masrah Magazine, Al Heera Magazine from Sharjah, and a number of various literary works.

The exhibition saw a large turnout from the public to purchase the publications.

Abdullah Al Owais delivered a speech, in which he referred to the importance of cultural cooperation, and said that the Sharjah Department of Culture is very pleased with the renewal of fraternal relations and the continuation of joint cultural cooperation with the Tunisian Ministry of Cultural Affairs, as this cooperation resulted in many diverse cultural and literary activities, fora and festivals in several Tunisian cities from Tunis to Kairouan.

Al Owais added that the cooperation has emphasised the importance of Arab cultural dialogue to enhance the presence of Arab writers, authors, poets and critics in the Tunisian and Arab cultural scene, and this is what the wise leadership in both countries is keen on and to always emphasise the depth of fraternal relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Tunisian Republic.

Kashir said that the Sharjah Narrative Forum in Tunisia is one of the cultural manifestations of Sharjah in the Arab world, and is of considerable importance as it deals with story writing, and its importance and influence increase as it is organised within the framework of cooperation between Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates.