thesilkroadtoday
Within the framework of the Days of the World Peoples Assembly in Tunisia, recent days witnessed a joint cultural activity between the World Organization of Writers, delegated by the Assembly, and the Tunisian Writers’ Union. Literary experiences and cultural visions converged through a series of events that reflected the depth of cross-border cultural relations and highlighted the importance of people’s diplomacy in fostering human dialogue among nations.
The Tunisian Writers’ Union is one of the most prominent cultural institutions in Tunisia. It is a cultural association founded in the early 1970s and officially licensed on March 17, 1971. The Union includes around 400 members from various literary fields—short story, novel, and poetry—as well as research areas such as history and civilization. It operates through institutional structures, holding a general electoral assembly every three years, ensuring the rotation of responsibilities and strengthening collective cultural work.
The first meeting featured a warm official reception, where Mohamed Saad Barghal and members of the Union welcomed the President of the World Organization of Writers, avant-garde poet Margarita Al, in an atmosphere that reflected openness and mutual appreciation. Discussions focused on prospects for cultural cooperation, ways to enhance literary exchange among writers from different countries, and the development of joint projects that could contribute to the promotion of literature on a global scale.
The second meeting took place during a seminar organized by the Union at its pavilion at the Tunis International Fair. The event hosted the President of the Organization, Margarita Al, and Vice President for Media Affairs, Dr. Ashraf Aboul-Yazid. The seminar served as an important platform for exchanging ideas on the role of cultural institutions in times of global transformation. It also provided an opportunity to present diverse literary experiences, including participation in a multi-voice poetry session, and to open in-depth discussions on the role of cultural media in supporting creativity.
In a step reflecting openness and recognition, membership in the World Organization of Writers was granted to five members of the Tunisian Writers’ Union: Dr. Rim Al-Zayani, critic Tarek Al-Omrawi, and writers Mohamed Saad Barghal, Borawi Baaroun, and Kamal Al-Sakri. This recognition came in appreciation of their literary and intellectual contributions and their role in enriching the Tunisian and Arab cultural scene.
These meetings were further crowned by the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two international cultural entities. The agreement aims to strengthen partnership in publishing, translation, and organizing joint events, as well as supporting initiatives that bring cultures closer together and expand the scope of literary dialogue. It represents an important step toward building sustainable bridges between writers and cultural institutions worldwide.
The events concluded with the Tunisian Writers’ Union honoring the delegation of the World Organization of Writers, represented by its President, poet Margarita Al, and Vice President for Media Affairs, Dr. Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, in recognition of their efforts in supporting cultural work and enhancing communication among writers. This tribute reflected the depth of cultural ties and reaffirmed that literature remains one of the most powerful means of bringing peoples closer and shaping a more open and understanding human future.
