Antagonisms are beginning to recede, giving way to cooperation and understanding important steps in the path that would lead to a durable peace. But the realization of peace requires the Knowledge of the nature and life of countries and peoples. And this is where publications like this Year Book derive their value. It is some kind of a friendly hand extended to other peoples. In this Year Book we are presenting facts, pure and perhaps not so simple .
True fingers can be dry and boring, but they are essential as a direct means of giving information.
While the following chapters speak for themselves, we would like to emphasise the importance of Culture, Information and Tourism. They are important factors in any peace process. It is through culture that one gets to know the inner workings of people's minds. Nations and peoples are remembered by their cultural heritage more than by anything else. It is tourism which creates the empathy necessary to know at first hand the civilization of countries and it is the information which is the channel for the communication of facts and images.