Today's Edition
KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (DUBAI)
The United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has hailed the UAE's role in the restoration of Middle Eastern heritage, saying the country had become a leading partner for the organisation in a number of critical projects, most notably in Mosul in Iraq.
Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Thursday, UNESCO Director General, Audrey Azoulay, said the Revive the Spirit of Mosul campaign, which restored several sites including the famous Al-Nouri Mosque and its Al-Hadba Minaret, was amongst the most challenging the agency had undertaken, highlighting the foundational role the UAE had played in supporting the successful restoration.
"When I first went to Mosul, it was very quiet, there was nothing, 80% of the old city had been destroyed," she said. "UAE and Unesco worked together to bring the identity back to the city."
The Mosul project was launched at the World Governments Summit 7 years ago, less than a year after the liberation of the Iraqi city from Da'esh. Fighting and purposeful vandalism had destroyed much of the ancient city's historical landmarks.
As the project nears completion, Azoulay reminisced about the enthusiasm of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to help support UNESCO at the time, saying that His Highness jumped on board the project immediately. The UAE was the key financier of the $115 million project but also helped in training and implementation.
Azoulay was joined on stage by Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, the UAE's Minister of Culture, who noted the restoration of two churches in conjunction with the mosque as an example of the UAE's commitment to tolerance and cultural and religious harmony and tolerance.
"These are the values of the UAE and our late father," he said. "The UAE's efforts are about reviving the multi-faith identity, and with the help of UNESCO, we were able to do that."
Al Qassimi said in addition to the engineering and restoration work, it was empowering the people that formed the centre of the country's strategy.
He said the UAE had trained 1500 Mosul residents for the project, empowering them with the professional skills needed to maintain and implement the restoration and reconstruction of the historic sites.
"At the end of the day, those physical structures need to be there. They need to be constructed. But it's all about the people with this project," he said. "Now those people can handle their jobs themselves."
The Mosul project has received worldwide acclaim and has become symbolic of Iraq's rise following decades of devastating conflict.
