8 December. On November 18,  the ICCROM-ALECSO course on 'Documentation and Management of Heritage Sites in the Arab Region' was inaugurated at an official opening session under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, at the Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan. This opening session marked the participation of twelve Arab countries in the activities of ATHAR Programme. The first part of the course took place in Umm Qais, Jordan.

Participants were introduced to: site management and integrated conservation methods; the processes relevant to the application of the World Heritage Convention; and the integration of documentation with site management.

Participants have now moved to Bosra, Syria, where the second part of the course started on 4 December. This is focused on the application of site management planning methods, including the socio-cultural, institutional and legal frameworks in the region. The course will end on 12 December 2006 in Bosra with an official closing ceremony under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Culture, Dr. Riyadh Na'ssan Agha.

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

updated on: 27 January, 2010