Mr. Valeriy Kononenko, Deputy Chairman of Russian-Jordanian Business Council, Chairman of Committee of Tourism, Culture, Religion, and Cooperation with public organizations meeting with Mr. Jeryes Samawi, Secretary General, First Vice-Minister of Jordan Culture; visiting Haya Culture Centre, and meeting with its Director General Mrs. Dina Abu Hamdan

Mr. Valeriy Kononenko, Deputy Chairman of Russian-Jordanian Business Council, Chairman of Committee of Tourism, Culture, Religion, and Cooperation with public organizations had an official meeting with Mr. Jeryes Samawi, Secretary General, First Vice-Minister of Jordan Culture in Jordan Ministry of Culture. Mr. Ali Maher, an official from the Royal Committee of Cinematography, also participated in the meeting.

The participants discussed the questions of cooperation between Jordan Ministry of Culture and the Committee of Tourism, Culture, Religion and Cooperation with public organizations of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council in the spheres of culture, cinematography, art, and religion.  Both sides agreed that it is necessary to sign an agreement of cooperation between Jordan Ministry of Culture and the Committee of Tourism, Culture, Religion and Cooperation with public organizations of the Russian-Jordanian Business Council in order to successfully continue further development of mutually beneficial cultural relationship between two countries and coordination of joint programs in different spheres, including the ones mentioned above.

Mr. Jeryes Samawi and Mr. Ali Maher invited Mr. Valeriy Kononenko to visit Haya Culture Centre for children.  Besides Mr. Ali Maher, a member of Board of Directors of Haya Culture Centre, the following people were present at the meeting in the centre:  Director General of Haya Culture Centre Mrs. Dina Abu Hamdan, Director of “Baba Yaga” theatre Mrs. Yori (Denmark), Mrs. Antonella from “Om” theatre (Italy), an actress and a founder of “Linx” theatre Mrs. Petra (Sweden), a specialist in cinema dances Mrs. Evline from “Glase Eye” (Scotland), a member of Board of Directors of Haya Culture Centre Mazen Hamarneh.

Haya Culture Center was founded in 1976 by King Hussein and Queen Alia, and given the name of their daughter Princess Haya.  It is situated in the centre of Amman, occupying the territory of 2 hectares.  Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein is the President of the guardian council, while Mrs. Dina Abu Hamdan is its Director General.

Children of 6-13 years old take classes in the Centre.  Over 50,000 people (up to 500 people a day) visit the Centre every year.  There are the following classes in the Centre:

- theatre, dance (folk, ballet), music

- art, applied art, planetarium, bibliography

- street traffic rules and regulations, etc.

Royal Palace, as well as the parental fund, sponsors the activities of the Centre.  Centre stuff equals 34 persons.  The specialists from different parts of the world are working in the Centre, which makes the education international (Sweden, Italy, Scotland, Holland, Denmark, etc.). Jordan Ministry of Culture also lends a great support to the Centre.

Director General Mrs. Dina Abu Hamdan accompanied Mr. Kononenko to the classes and workshops of the Centre, showed their activities, exhibits, works of art and performances made by children. During a friendly talk both sides agreed to establish a close cooperation between Haya Culture Centre and the Committee of Tourism, Culture, Religion, and Cooperation with public organizations.

It was decided to work on the following issues:

-     establishing partnership with one of the similar schools in Russia;

-     inviting a Russian teacher of dance techniques (classic ballet, modern, folk);

-     starting children exchange via organizing tours to both countries and student exchange for Russian students who want to take practical training in Haya Culture Centre;

-     working on organizing a children festival with the participation of Haya Culture Centre in the framework of the Russian festival in Jordan, etc.