Several hundred members of Cleveland's Syrian community along with friends and supporters gathered at the Syrian Cultural Garden for a ceremony dedicating the new bust of Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani.  Bust of Nizar Qabbani in Syrian Cultural Garden
A huge tent was erected in the Syrian Garden because of threatening weather.
Dr. Adnan Mourany, MD is the president of the Syrian Cultural Garden Association. He began the program by welcoming the crowd to the dedication of the statue of Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani. Note: Be sure to click the icon in the lower right of the videos once you click on the play arrow so you can watch them full screen. Also, we apologize for the lighting of some photos and videos. The tent and the intermittent sun proved to be a challenge.  Dr. Adnan Mourany, MD
Dr. Mourany, then introduced Syrian Garden project chair Jamil Dayeh.
 Dr. Adnan Mourany and Jamil Dayeh
Leila Khoury is the artist who created the bust of poet Nizar Qabbani in the Syrian Cultural Garden in Cleveland. She spoke about it at the dedication of the statue. 
Leila Khoury
Next, Wael Khoury, M.D., Head of Cardiology at Marymount Hospital, Syrian American Cultural Council founding president and Syrian Cultural Garden project Chair told how it came to be that his daughter Leila Khoury created the bust of Nizar Qabbani.
 Dr. Wael Khoury, M.D.
Next, Omar Qabbani the son of the late great Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani, came from Dubai for the occasion and spoke about his father's life and works.
Omar Qabbani
Wael Khoury then told why a bust of the Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani was created for the Syrian Cultural Garden in Cleveland. He presented a Tribute and Legacy of Nizar Qabbani.
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Omar Qabbani, Dr. Adnan Mourany and Dr. Wael Khoury
Cleveland Cultural Gardens representative Berj Shakarian said that Qabbani is now with Shakespeare, Beethoven and others in the Cultural Gardens. 
Berj Shakarian
Dr Mourany and Berj Shakarian
Michael Meissner
Ambassador Heather Hodges President of Cleveland Council on World Affairs also spoke. Ambassador Heather Hodges
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Be sure to view the 3 other pages from the Qabbani Bust event by following the links below.
Qabbani bust dedication in Syrian Garden - Main Page (this page)
Recitation of Qabbani poetry in both English and Arabic
Photo page - posing with the bust of Nizar Qabbani
Bust of Nizar Qabbani in Syrian Cultural Garden
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