Libya, UNESCO sign agreement on protection of cultural heritage

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) – Libya has signed a cooperation agreement with the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its headquarters in Paris on the establishment of a programme aimed at protecting the cultural heritage in Libya.

Signed by the Libyan representative to UNESCO, Abdelsalem Al-Kalala and Akio Arata, Director of Cooperation at UNESCO, the agreement has the goal to develop the technical and institutional capacities for the Libyan Department of Antiquities to promote cultural heritage and its protection in Libya.

The implementation of the programme comes after Italy granted one million euro to UNESCO, which is the implementing part of the project to finance the programme that targets three sites of the cultural heritage identified by the Department of Antiquities and UNESCO - the museums of the city of Bani Walid and Misurata.

The programme involves archeological sites that can be integrated in the development strategies and contribute to give economic activities to populations and communities near the sites.

It also involves the setting up of workshops to preserve cultural products, as well as the opening of Libya’s new Museum in Tripoli.
-0- PANA BY/TBM/MSA/MA 1August2012