The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) launched, on February 2, 2022, the “ALECSO Talks” series for 2022 with a lecture on “The 1972 UNESCO Convention and the Preservation of Al-Quds Al-Sharif as a World Heritage in Danger” presented by H.E. Ezzeddine Bach Chaouch, former Tunisian Minister of Culture and international expert in Cultural Heritage with UNESCO.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, expressed his appreciation of the topic of the lecture, as it carries deep significances related to support for the Palestinian Cause at all levels, including in the field of culture. He reaffirmed, on this occasion, ALECSO’s commitment to pursue this support and to give the Palestinian heritage a special status in the Organization’s activities and conferences as well as in its participations in relevant international events.
This event was attended by Dr. Mohamed Saleh Ben Aissa, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, President of the Tunis Center, along with Arab diplomats accredited to Tunisia, and a number of relevant researchers and academics. Among the participants were also Dr. Mounir Bouchenaki, international heritage expert, Dr. Musa Sroor, from Birzeit University, Palestine, and Dr. Wadan Boghofala, from Tiaret University, Algeria.
In his lecture, Dr. Bach Chaouch reviewed the circumstances pertaining to the preparation of the inscription file of the city of Al-Quds as a world heritage. He highlighted, in this regard, the valuable contribution of ALECSO in the preparation of the file, and the significant role it plays in preserving cultural heritage in all Arab countries, and particularly in the city of Al-Quds. He stressed the importance of further promoting joint Arab action in this regard.
Responding to participants’ interventions, Dr. Bach Chaouch offered many proposals and insights on ways to protect Al-Quds against all attacks targeting it, calling for the need to document the memory of this city with all its architectural components.
