In a meeting held yesterday in TAGI House , the establishment of the Jordanian Syrian Association for Culture and Science as a Jordanian non-profit society was announced. A selected group of intellectuals and leaders in the fields of thought, science and economics attended the meeting as founding members, in addition to the representative of the Ministry of Culture and His Excellency the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Syria in Amman .


At the start of the meeting, Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh was elected as head of the session. In a welcome speech, he emphasized the importance of this initiative which aims at developing and consolidating the cultural, scientific and economic cooperation among the citizens of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Arab Republic of Syria , away from political or religious practices.


The founders approved the Association's draft constitution, and authorized the First Board of Directors to propose any amendments to be offered for discussion in cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Culture , and to support the Association's objectives. The proposed amendments will be presented during the first meeting of the General Assembly.


The founders also authorized the Board of Directors to prepare a strategic plan, so that the Association will start its functions and realize its objectives after being officially registered with the Ministry of Culture.


The attendees unanimously elected the First Board of Directors as follows:

His Excellency the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Syria Dr. Abdul-Fattah Ammourah, and His Excellency Dr. Nasser Al-Din Al-Assad were elected as honorary members.

The founders decided to use offices in TAGI House as a temporary headquarters pending the completion of all arrangements and legal and administrative procedures, as well as seconding a manager for the Association from Talal Abu-Ghazleh Organization. International until a full-time manager is appointed.

All the participants welcomed the establishment of the Association and expressed their readiness to make their best efforts and support it with all means to realize its objectives.

Mr. Ghassan Tannash, representative of His Excellency the Minister of Culture and Rapporteur of the National Committee for Declaring Amman the Capital of Arab Culture said that the establishment of the Association was an important qualitative addition on the occasion of declaring Amman the capital of the Arab culture. He indicated that the Ministry is ready to provide all the facilities which would assist the Association in playing its avant-garde role and realizing its objectives.

At the end of the meeting , Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh declared on this occasion that the Board of Directors of Abu-Ghazaleh Group of Companies decided to hold its annual meeting in Damascus during the period September 14-18,2002.