The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization held, on October 27-28, 2021 at its headquarters in Tunis, the 6th meeting of Liaison Officers of the Architectural and Urban Heritage Observatory in the Arab Countries, held under the theme of the “Arab Urban Heritage Registry”.
The meeting comes as part of implementing the objectives of this significant mechanism established within ALECSO to implement the Charter for the Preservation and Development of Urban Heritage in the Arab Countries.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, underlined the importance of the Observatory, stressing the need to benefit from this mechanism to preserve urban heritage in the Arab countries. He indicated, in this regard, that ALECSO stands ready to continue supporting this pilot project.
On her part, Dr. Hayat Guermazi, Tunisian Minister of Cultural Affairs, highlighted in her opening statement, delivered on her behalf by Dr. Faouzi Mahfoudh, Director-General of the National Heritage Institute, the importance of the Observatory, being a key mechanism that has made significant achievements. She called, in this regard, for supporting and enhancing the Observatory through cooperation between the Organization and its Member States, at the forefront of which the Republic of Tunisia, the host country of ALECSO.
Representatives from most Arab countries took part in the meeting, in addition to a number of relevant experts and those interested in the Observatory’s field of work.
The meeting discussed various theoretical and practical issues pertaining to the Observatory’s work, and culminated in several proposals and recommendations.
During the meeting, a practical vision was presented for the development of the Arab Urban Heritage Registry. Moreover, an internal law was proposed to regulate the meetings of Liaison Officers and to govern coordination and communication among Liaison Officers and with the General Coordinator of the Observatory and the Culture Department of ALECSO.
At the end of the meeting, participants agreed in principle to pursue preparations for establishing the Arab Urban Heritage Registry which they considered as a significant achievement, calling for setting a time-schedule for the implementation of its key objectives.
