16th  meeting of the Arab Expert Committee on Cultural and Natural Heritage Concludes in Kuwait

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16th  meeting of the Arab Expert Committee on Cultural and Natural Heritage Concludes in Kuwait

 

The 16th  preparatory meeting of the Arab Expert Committee on Natural and Cultural Heritage concluded on September 4, 2023. The two-day meeting was hosted by the State of Kuwait, represented by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL). 

In his closing remarks, the Acting Secretary-General of the NCCAL, Dr. Mohammad Al-Jassar, announced that coordination is under way to hold two further meetings to finalize discussions toward a unified Arab position regarding the Arab heritage files to be submitted to UNESCO.

Al-Jassar indicated that his country is keen to submit files for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage Lists, in coordination with Arab countries, and to unify efforts to meet challenges in the field of heritage protection.

The meeting, held under the supervision of ALECSO, was attended by heritage experts from Arab countries, with virtual participation by Arab Ambassadors to UNESCO.

The meeting concluded with a set of recommendations, including in particular :

  • Giving Palestinian heritage the support and attention it deserves; 
  • Calling on Arab countries to coordinate with the African and Asian Groups in UNESCO, and with other Groups, to support the Arab files submitted for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage Lists; 
  • Providing the needed training and technical support for Arab countries seeking to prepare and submit heritage inscription files;
  • Providing the needed training and support in the areas of heritage protection and conservation;
  • Fostering the role of civil society institutions in preparing Arab heritage inscription files.

The participants announced their support for the inscription of “‘Uruq Bani Ma’arid” in Saudi Arabia, “Tel Sultan” in Palestine, and “Djerba Island” in Tunisia, as world heritage.

The participants also expressed thanks to the State of Kuwait, represented by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, for hosting this meeting. They also extended thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its significant efforts to host the next meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.