Under the Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, the  Regional Course on Documentation and Management of Heritage Sites in the Arab World, an activity of ICCROM’s ATHAR programme, will be inaugurated on 18 November 2006 at the Department of Antiquities of Jordan.

The course is jointly implemented by ALECSO (The Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, Tunis)and ICCROM (The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, Rome) in partnership with the Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan, and The Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums, Syria.

His Excellency Mounir Nassar, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan, will represent Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah at the opening session, in the presence of Dr. Fawwaz Al-Khrayshah, Director General of Antiquities, and the representatives of the General Directors of organizing institutions: Dr. Rita Awad, Director of Culture, ALECSO, and Zaki Aslan, Coordinator of ATHAR Programme, ICCROM. The inauguration will also be attended by several directors and representatives of UNESCO-Amman Office, Arab and Foreign embassies in Jordan, and institutes of archaeology in Jordan. 

The opening session coincides with ICCROM’s opening its 50th year celebrations at the 9th Mediterranean Exchange for Archaeological Tourism in Paestum, Italy, marking the fiftieth anniversary of the passing at the 1956 General Conference of UNESCO held in New Delhi, India of the resolution that led to the founding of ICCROM as an intergovernmental organization.

The regional course addresses the need for enhancing the applied knowledge in conservation planning and management in the Arab region. It will provide basic understanding of how to make and manage documentation to inform decisions that ensure the protection of cultural heritage sites. The overall goal is to protect and promote the rich cultural heritage in the Arab region, and broaden access, appreciation and understanding of its past.

Twenty five professionals working in cultural heritage institutions will attend the course from twelve Arab countries including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen.

With the support of the General Directorate for Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy.

updated on: 27 January, 2010