H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, and his accompanying delegation (Dr. Mourad Mahmoudi, Secretary of the Executive Board and General Conference, Acting Director of the Culture Department, and Mr. Abdelhedi Ghemari, Coordinator of Activities at the Culture Department) attended the opening of the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 10-25, 2023.
The opening session was addressed by HH Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Saudi National Commission For Education, Culture and Science, and also by Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.
The Arab Group will hold daily meetings throughout this session. The Director-General of ALECSO will participate in the first meeting with the aim of unifying Arab positions regarding the files submitted for examination by the Committee, and mobilizing international support for the Arab files, namely: “Uruq Bani Ma’arid” (Saudi Arabia); “Tel Sultan” (State of Palestine); and “Djerba Island” (Tunisia).
The Director-General will also present the results and recommendations of the preparatory meeting of Arab Expert Committee on Cultural and Natural Heritage, held in Kuwait on August 3-4, 2023.
The Arab Group called for the need to coordinate in advance with ALECSO regarding the heritage files to be submitted for inscription.
The Director-General recommended providing material and technical support to heritage sites and monuments in the Arab countries, especially those inscribed on the World Heritage List in Danger, and those located in conflict areas.
