Rabat: review of cooperation prospects between ICESCO and FPMA
Rabat – The Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Salem Ben Mohamed El Malek, held a meeting on Monday in Rabat with the head of programs of the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), Albino Jopela, on the prospects of cooperation between the two institutions in the field of preservation and enhancement of heritage and archaeological sites of the African continent.
According to an ICESCO statement, Mr. El Malek reviewed, during this meeting, the main axes of the vision of the Organization and its strategic orientations, which gives particular priority to the preservation, conservation and enhancement of heritage in its member states. He also noted that ICESCO has carried out several programs, initiatives and projects in the field of preservation and enhancement of heritage in the Islamic world, including recently the publication of a study entitled “Legislative mechanisms to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property in Arab countries”, which will be followed by other studies that will include other ICESCO member states in the Asian and African regions, the statement said. The ICESCO DG further stressed that the Organization has inscribed 634 historical sites and cultural elements from 45 countries in its heritage lists in the Islamic world, and aims to reach 1,000 sites and elements by 2025, adding that it also ensures support to member states in this regard, through training for staff in the field on the preparation of files for inscription on heritage lists and launching initiatives for the use of artificial intelligence in the conservation and enhancement of archaeological heritage sites. For his part, Mr. Jopela welcomed ICESCO’s pioneering efforts in terms of heritage preservation and enhancement, aspiring to benefit from the Organization’s experiences to meet the needs of African countries in the heritage field, and support them in submitting files for the inscription of archaeological sites and cultural elements on heritage lists. The signing of a memorandum of understanding between ICESCO and the Fund was also discussed during this meeting, with cooperation mechanisms between the two parties and the implementation of future programs in the areas of conservation and enhancement of heritage, the statement concluded.
2024-08-27 03:18:03