"Culture is an integral part of our European foreign policy. We are by definition, as Europeans, a soft power. And even now that we are investing more than ever in developing our hard power – that sometimes is needed — our European Defence, our strategic autonomy that sometimes might be needed we continue to be a cultural superpower. Let me say, the cultural superpower in the world," Mogherini said Tuesday as quoted in the statement.
"So for us Europeans, who base our identity on our culture — a culture that values diversity — it is only natural to intervene whenever and wherever we see that culture is attacked. We intervene to de-mine the University of Mosul; to restore the Timbuktu manuscripts; and to preserve the memory of destroyed heritage through the most advanced technologies at our disposal and to protect writers and journalists under attack everywhere in the world," Mogherini said.
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The focus of this year’s book fair held on October 10-14 is the diverse culture and literature of Georgia, which is the guest of honor at the event.