By NNN-KUNA,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy has affirmed that the Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre here is considered a chance to shed light on the real meaning of Islam.
The French leader was speaking at the Louvre in the presence of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al-Saud on the occasion of the laying of the cornerstone of the Islamic Art room at the Visconti Courtyard there.
Sarkozy stressed that this project is a chance to show that Islam is a religion of progress, science and modernity, and that extremism in the name of Islam is a deviation from religion and that killing in the name of Islam is also an insult to Islam.
For his part, Prince Alwaleed said that the Summit of the Mediterranean Union which was held in the French capital last Sunday affirms France’s friendship with the Arab and Mediterranean countries.
He added that that this department at the Louvre which displays part of the Islamic art heritage reflects the generous hospitality of the French culture towards all forms of art.
The Saudi prince is reported to have donated 17 million euros for this project which is valued at about 86 million euros. The Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah had also donated five million euros for this project during his official visit to the country in November 2006.
The wing will consist of a free-form, glassy structure that will bring a modern touch to a neoclassical courtyard. The design for the new wing will involve covering much of the neo-classical courtyard.
The Department of Islamic Art is currently closed but scheduled to reopen in 2010 in a new gallery in the Visconti Courtyard. Some 2,000 objects will be on display, reflecting the breadth of inspiration and creativity of the Islamic lands over 13 centuries and three continents.
The department is considered the youngest of the museum’s eight departments, which was created in 2003.