Islamabad - Head of German Embassy Cultural and Press section Dr Tidten has supported the Institute für Auslandsbeziehungen (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations) (IFA) for promoting worldwide cultures through exhibitions, dialogues and conferences.
Addressing a ceremony organised by Cross-Cultural Country Programme (CCP) Pakistan at Islamabad Club on Sunday, Dr Tidten observed that art and culture is the core of IFA exchange programme. He said that Germany sees a huge potential in CCP alumni. Promoting values like peace, democracy and rule of law are high priority agendas of the German government. He hoped to accommodate increasing number of people under the CCP in coming future.
The CCP representative to Pakistan, Alina Chaudhry, said that it is committed to a peaceful and enriching coexistence of people and cultures worldwide and promoting art and cultural exchange in exhibitions, dialogue and conference programs. As a competence centre for foreign cultural diplomacy, the ifa is connecting civil societies, cultural practices, art, media and science.
It is initiating, moderating and documenting discussions on the international cultural relations. She said that IFA shows its commitment to intercultural dialogue and strengthening the formation of networks between Germany and Islamic countries as a partner of the German Federal Foreign Office.
Since 2005, it offers young professionals and committed volunteers from the cultures involved the opportunity to expand their intercultural, professional and political competence, as also to gather international experience through a stay in another cultural context, she said adding that so far, 360 women and men from 31 countries have participated for example 27 from Egypt, 32 from Pakistan, 16 from Iran, eleven from Kyrgyzstan and 56 from Germany.