Masdar Diplomacy
Officials, UN colleagues and interested persons gathered around former international civil servant, Nabil Abou-Dargham, on Thursday 27 February for his new French poetry book signing, which took place at Bokja Design spaces in down town Beyrouth. Il était une fois la guerre et la nuit (Once upon a time, there was war and night) is the title of this new publication, which describes the poet’s emotions during the 2024 war in Lebanon.
Representing the President of the Republic, Dr Antoine Shoucair the Director-General of the Presidential Palace, praised the content of the book and the initiative that its proceedings are given to charity efforts. He also noted that President Jospeh Aoun puts knowledge and culture on top of his priorities.
Nabil Abou-Dargham expressed gratitude for the President’s representation and wished Lebanon under the current mandate would be a cultural oasis in a world that has become most complicated at the political, security and development levels.
Attending the book signing were also Brigadier-General Shadi Nakhleh, representing Army Commander ai General Hassan Odeh; Brigadier-General Ali Shmayssani Secretary of the President’s office; General Shamel Roukoz, former Parliament member; Dr Hasan Charif, Chairperson of the Association of Former International Civil Servants (AFICS); and Hassan Kokach representing Emir Talal Arslan.
Il était une fois la guerre et la nuit is published by Nashiroun in Beyrouth in 128 pages. Introducing the book, Mounia Soubra, professor of French litterature and languages in Orléans, France, said, “this book will be an inevitable part of war poetic archives in Lebanon.”
