Speaking at the opening of this seminar, which was an opportunity to underline the urgency and legitimacy of the project to widen the perimeter of the medina of Essaouira classified in the UNESCO world heritage list, Mr. Azoulay invited the audience to “take the proper measure of the issues, challenges and promises for tomorrow of this decisive project for the Cité des Alizés in the medium and long term”.
Organized jointly by the Essaouira Culture, Arts and Heritage Local Development Company (SDL. ECAP), the Essaouira Mogador Association, the Ministry of Culture, the city of Essaouira and the UNESCO Office for the Maghreb, this forum laid the foundations for a process that will develop throughout the weeks and months to come.
In this perspective, the Advisor to HM the King highlighted “the relevance of the first stage of this process which aims to optimize, expand and consolidate the historical achievements born from the inscription of Essaouira in 2001 in the heritage list UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After analyzing the factors which underpin the legitimacy, feasibility and finality of “the great leap for which Essaouira is preparing”, Mr. Azoulay praised “the ambitions and determination of the Souiris to go ever further to raise the colors to the highest of Morocco in the world planet of heritage, culture and the richness of all our diversities”.
Recalling that the City of Trade Winds “is one of the most successful cities on the African continent in the UNESCO galaxy of lists of the world ranking of tangible and intangible heritage”, the Advisor to HM the King underlined that “this performance must be understood as a contract of reciprocal responsibility whose central actors and guardians are the Souiris who are called in their daily lives to protect, promote and transmit respect for their heritage and the values they embody.
For his part, the governor of the province, Adil El Maliki underlined the imperative of reconciling the protection of heritage with economic development, noting that the history of Essaouira is not limited to the interior of the city walls. , but extends well beyond.
“Today we have the necessary tools to protect our heritage, but we must act with diligence and responsibility,” he noted, calling for combined efforts and thoughtful action in order to preserve the cultural identity of the city, while promoting its sustainable development.
For his part, the president of the Municipal Council, Tarik Ottmani, praised the importance of this project for the Cité des Alizés and its inhabitants, pleading in favor of the conservation of the unique architectural aspect of the city, which contributes to its charm and its tourist attractiveness.
Mr. Ottmani, in this wake, called for the preservation of the historical and cultural heritage of Essaouira, while allowing harmonious and respectful development of its heritage.
In a statement to MAP, the head of the Culture Program of the UNESCO office for the Maghreb, Karim Hendili, noted that the city of Essaouira goes beyond the walls of the medina, noting that the proposed modification of the boundaries of ancient Mogador is legitimate and encouraged by the World Heritage Convention.
This reflection is focused not only on broadening the scope, but above all on strengthening the safeguarding and transmission of collective and shared memory, he specified.
The general director of SDL ECAP, Abderrahim El Bertai, for his part, specified that this meeting aims to explore possible paths for achieving this ambitious objective of revising the exceptional universal value of the medina of Essaouira.
Furthermore, the director of the National Institute of Archeology and Heritage Sciences (INSAP), Abdeljalil Bouzouggar, delivered a detailed presentation on the safeguarding of Essaouira’s heritage, in which he outlined the issues and challenges linked to the preservation of the history and cultural wealth of the city.
This meeting, which is part of the process of reviewing the exceptional universal value of the Cité des Alizés, was marked by the presence of a host of personalities from various backgrounds.
The program included sessions of debate, reflection and exchange aimed at reaching conclusions and concrete recommendations to guide the implementation of the project to modify the boundaries of the medina of Essaouira, classified as universal heritage of the humanity.