Culture Minister Briefs UNESCO’s World Heritage Director on Morocco’s Progress in Cultural Heritage


Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, informed the Director of the World Heritage Centre of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Lazare Eloundou Assomo, on a working visit to Morocco, of the progress made by the Kingdom in the field of cultural heritage.

During the meeting, Bensaid also reviewed developments in the new draft law due to be submitted to the Government Council, which includes a number of new provisions aimed at preserving, conserving and enhancing the country’s cultural heritage, the Ministry of Youth said in a statement.

The importance of the partnership between Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and UNESCO was underlined from the outset at this meeting, it added.

This was reaffirmed by HM the King in the message addressed to the participants in the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which met in Rabat in 2022, underlining Morocco’s constant
commitment to participating actively and responsibly in multilateral international work.

The main aspects of strengthening cooperation between Morocco and UNESCO in the field of world heritage preservation were examined, added the same source, recalling that Morocco had signed a framework agreement with the UN organization in 2022, aimed at exchanging expertise, strengthening skills and contributing to the proper preparation of files for the inscription of heritage elements on UNESCO’s tentative lists.

The two parties discussed the results of this cooperation, particularly in the field of tangible heritage, and the need for Morocco to register other elements with UNESCO.

They also agreed to continue their cooperation and to draw up a joint work program, emphasizes the same source, noting that several events will be organized in Morocco in collaboration with UNESCO, including Jazz Day in Tangier.

Eloundou Assomo’s working visit to Morocco includes meetings with several Moroccan officials and visits to the
cities of Rabat, Marrakech, Essaouira and the historic mosque of Tinmel (Al Haouz province), which was damaged by last September’s earthquake, the press release concluded.

Source:Agence Marocaine De Presse