Jerash, 26 March 2019 – The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) officially launched today the “Creation of a Regional Centre for Conservation and Restoration (RCCR)” project, aimed at promoting sustainability around cultural heritage and carried out in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA) and the United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS).
In the presence of H. E. the Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities Issa Gammoh and H. E. the Ambassador of Italy Fabio Cassese, participants to the event benefitted from an exhaustive presentation of the project, at the Jerash Visitor Center.
The project sustains the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage, by first rehabilitating the building that will host the RCCR, located in close proximity to the archeological site of Jerash. The building will then be equipped to carry out conservation of cultural heritage in the Middle East, and to provide specialized training and scientific research on restoration, as well as technical assistance on interventions at regional level, and in collaboration with internationally specialized institutions.
In his reflection on the role of cultural heritage in reviving the legacy of territories and communities, AICS Amman Director Michele Morana emphasised the importance of retaining cultural roots to preserve our integrity as a people. “As one of the Italy-led key initiatives on promoting and safeguarding cultural heritage in the Region, this innovative project seeks to stimulate research to preserve cultural and historical traditions, highlighting the continuous need for the protection of cultural legacy through generations, and encouraging the regional dimension of its impact”.
UNOPS is supporting AICS in the rehabilitation and equipment of the building, ensuring high design and construction standards, the respect of safety and security requirements, and the use of innovative technologies to reduce operational costs.
“UNOPS is excited to contribute to the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in further professionalizing its conservation and restoration work in the country. The Centre will enable qualitative restoration activities, according to international standards, and will offer proper space and facilities for training of staff”, said Bana Kaloti, UNOPS Regional Director for the Middle East Region.