When our magazine propagates the idea of cultural enlargement as method and manner, it has assumed the task of being a link between economy and culture – with the goal of strengthening cultural exchange and in this way forming a basis for mutual understanding.
M. Saleh Azzawi
Publisher
Mr. Azzawi, owner of AzzawiMediaPrint, is originally from Syria and has been living in Germany for 40 years. He earned a degree in Design in Berlin. He created ARAB FORUM out of a desire to counter the misunderstandings and ignorance about Arab countries and culture he encountered and to introduce and explain European culture to his fellow Arabs.
Rainer Schubert
Editor-in-Chief
Mr. Schubert has been living in Berlin since 1983. He studied law and worked for a long time for various
companies in distribution and marketing before he completed dedicated himself to journalism. He has
since been concentrating as a freelance publicist on the field of international relations and diplomacy.
Bernd-Dieter Fridrich
Economic Editor and Travel Journalist (AEJ / FIJET / TELI / UBJET)
Prof. Dr. h. c. Bernd-Dieter FRIDRICH (born 1943) has been working as a freelance journalist since 1972. Of these years, he spent a total of 18 years abroad. Additionally, he has worked as an economic adviser and technology consultant for foreign governments and embassies. He can draw on 25 years’ experience in promotion of international tourism. He also holds numerous awards (in publishing, science, environmental protection, market research).
Dr. Muhamed Al-Hassan,
Editor
Dr. Al-Hassan was born in Syria. He studied Sport Education and earned his Doctorate in Education at the DHfK in Leipzig. He worked in Syria 1969-1982 in teacher training and then returned to Germany, where he is active as a translator and freelance journalist.
David Andersen
Editor
Mr. Andersen was born in Los Angeles, California. He has many years of experience as a writer, translator, and editor. He is also a much published cartoonist and illustrator and has won several awards. He has been involved with ARAB FORUM since its inception.
David Garson
Travel Editor
Mr. Garson was born in England and is the recipient of numerous awards for his writing and broadcasting on travel and culture, including from Arab states. His articles have been an important part of ARAB FORUM since its first issue. He is a member of:
The Chartered Institute of Journalists (UK)
The Writers Guild of Great Britain
PATWA-Pacific Area Travel Writers Association
The Foreign Press Association (Germany)
Ursula Geike-Garson
Tourism Marketing Specialist, Travel Trade Advisor and Photographer
Mrs. Geike-Garson was born and educated in Berlin. After taking her High School degree she studied tourism and after completion of her studies worked over the years for some of the most prestigious international airlines in managerial positions responsible for Marketing, Sales, Public Relations and Distribution. She now works very closely together with her travel writing husband (David Garson), visiting destinations worldwide and translating his articles from English into German as well as taking the photographs for all his material.
Barbara Schumacher
Freelance Journalist and Photographer
Barbara Schumacher (born 1945) has a degree in mathematics. Between 1969-2005 she held executive positions in publishing houses in Hanover, Stuttgart and Berlin and was working as a journalist and photographer at the same time. Since 1994, the focus of her journalistic interest has been the nations of the Arab League, specializing in the areas of economy, art, culture, education, women and tourism. So far over 600 of her articles have appeared in various print and online media and she has published a book, “Arabien für die Sinne.” She has intensified her travels as a journalist and photographer in the Arab world since 2005. She is a member of German Middle East Studies Association for Contemporary Research and Documentation (DAVO), the German-Arab Association (art and culture study groups, and press dialog), the German-Yemeni Association (Cultural Advisory Board) and the Asil Club. Arab countries she has visited to date include Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen, Syria and Jordan.
Aycha Azzawi
Marketing & PR / Advertising management
Mrs Azzawi has been active in marketing for 18 years. As a former pharmaceutical consultant, she is the right person for the customers to contact – not only concerning ad placement. She makes contacts and demonstrates a fine diplomatic skill in all her dealings.
Contributors
Dr. Issam Haddad
Taufik Reda
Photography:
Mohamed El Sauaf
Alte Potsdamer Straße 9
10785 Berlin
Translation
Dr. M. Al-Hassan
D. Andersen
U. Geike-Garson
Rainer Schubert
Graphics / layout
Dipl. Designer Saleh Azzawi
David Andersen
Advertising management
Aycha Azzawi
Jürgen Schüler
