São Paulo – The State Parliamentary Council for Communities of Foreign Roots and Cultures (Conscre) should celebrate 14 people from foreign communities in the state of São Paulo next Tuesday (30). They will be praised for their activities in 2010. Conscre, an initiative of the Legislative Assembly, operates in the integration of communities of several origins in the state and has annual ceremonies.
The Arab honoured this year will be Paulo Skaf, president of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp). According to Rezkalla Tuma, the representative of the Arab community at the Conscre, and also president of the council of former presidents at the organisation, Skaf was chosen due to his civil activities. “His work made Fiesp very prominent,” said Tuma, also adding that the ethical side is added, as Skaf does not have a past marked by negative happenings.
In 2009, the Arab personality celebrated was Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce president Salim Taufic Schahin. This year, apart from Skaf, those honoured are Panôs Nercessian (Armenia), Demetre Georges Markakis (Greece), José Perez Rial (Spain), Giorgio Cunial (Italy), Tuyoci Ohara (Japan), Gabriel Zitune (Israel), Rita Ariga Sprogis (Latvia), Pedro Constantinov (Moldova), Igor Anatolievich Chnee (Russia), Eulogio Quinõnez Ramirez (Paraguay), Andres Luna Venegas (Peru), Antonio de Almeida e Silva (Portugal) and the late Maria Andreevna Iwanow (Russia).
The event should take place at 7:00 pm at André Franco Montoro auditorium at the Assembly and is open to the public. According to Tuma, apart from the celebration, in which each personality will have two minutes to address the audience, there will be dance presentations, music and typical foods of the communities. Each ethnic group will be responsible for its area. The celebration should take place at the Assembly’s Monumental Hall and admittance is free.
*Translated by Mark Ament
