A CRITICAL funding crisis has been identified at a United Nations (UN) agency after the withdrawal of US support nearly 17 years ago.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) director general Audrey Azoulay, however, acknowledged the contributions of individual member states in supporting its activities.
Ms Azoulay made special reference to Unesco’s Mosul project, citing it as an example, at a Press conference held yesterday on the sidelines of the 42nd session of the World Heritage Committee (WHC), being held at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain until July 4, gathering over 2,000 experts from all over the world.
The 840-year-old Great Mosque of Al Nuri in Mosul, a symbol of cultural beauty and religious significance, was blown up in 2017 by the Islamic State (IS) terrorists.
In April, the UAE committed to rebuilding the mosque within five years in partnership with the Iraqi Culture Ministry and Unesco at a cost of $50.4 million.
“With Unesco, financing is an acute issue since 2001, after the US withdrawal,” Ms Azoulay told the GDN.
“However, our activities of supporting and preserving world heritage sites are ongoing with the voluntary contributions from member states, one of which we witnessed in Mosul.
“We welcome backing from member states or other agencies that want to support our activities, be it even on a project basis.”
US cut off funds to Unesco as a penalty after Palestine was accepted into the UN agency as a full member.
The World Heritage Committee session was inaugurated on Sunday night by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.
Strategy
It is being organised by the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) and the International Centre for Study of the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Property.
During one of yesterday’s sessions, Baca president Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa highlighted Bahrain’s efforts in preserving cultural and heritage sites.
“Bahrain has established a long term strategy to preserve our natural and cultural sites, which includes limiting construction around these sites,” she said.
“Legal measures are also being looked into to ensure this.”
Among the first set of official sessions, which started yesterday, was the presentation of the activities and implementation of WHC’s decisions by Unesco World Heritage Centre director Dr Mechtild Rossel.
The session was chaired by Shaikha Haya bint Rashid Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s former ambassador to Unesco.
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