17 October. ICCROM, through its ATHAR programme, and in partnership with the UNESCO-Iraq Office in Amman, has organized a training course in Istanbul for twelve Iraqi conservation professionals. It is taking place at the Department of Architecture, Kadir Has University, Turkey.

The main objective of the course is to introduce the latest conservation methods and specifically:

• to create awareness of cultural heritage principles, conventions, charters and organizations;
• to enable participants to acquire knowledge of documentiion, follow-up and monitoring of works related to conservation planning, as applied to conservation projects in Iraq;
• to provide guidance related to ongoing conservation projects in Samara and Erbil.

The course is divided into three introductory units:

• conservation of architectural heritage in Iraq: international principles of protection and their application in a national context;
• investigation and conservation of structural failures in historic buildings; and,
• maintenance management systems, supervision, and monitoring of preservation projects.

The course instructors are regional specialists from the networks of the organizing institutions. By the end of the course, it is expected that participants will be able to follow up, supervise, and monitor the conservation projects in Iraq, with particular reference to the Al-Askari Shrine in Samara and Erbil Citadel.

Member States represented: Canada, Germany, Jordan, Netherlands, Syria, Turkey, United States

updated on: 27 January, 2010