ARC-WH, Arab Cultural Attachés Forum ink MoU

With a view to preserving the cultural heritage of the Arab countries, Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) and the Association of Cultural Attachés of Arab States signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the ARC-WH headquarters here yesterday. 

President of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH) Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa signed on behalf of the cultural centre while Prof. Abdullah. A. Al Kandari, Head of Cultural Office in Kuwait Embassy signed on behalf of the Arab countries. 

All the ambassadors and Cultural Attachés of the Arab countries in Manama took part in the ceremony. 

The MoU is for one year but renewable at the end of its period. It will enhance the exchange of cultural happenings, conferences and specialised workshops between the heritage centre and the Arab countries.

Speaking to DT News, Shaikha Mai said that they had tried to convey the right message to all the ambassadors here, “how important our national heritage is”. 

She said that it was their mission at the regional centre to do their best for the conservation of the Arab Cultural Heritage and they would do so in collaboration with all the Arab countries.

According to Egyptian Ambassador Suha Ibrahim Al-Far, they have big operations with Bahrain in the cultural field. She said that the event would be an advantage for the cooperation between different Arab countries in the field of culture and they were collaborating with the number of countries accordingly.

Prof. Al Kandari said that the Arab embassies in the Kingdom have signed an agreement with the ARC-WH. “It is the first of its kind agreement but it will open door to a lot of cultural activities between the Arab countries and the ARC-WH.”

“Now there will be conferences, workshops and visitors coming from different Arab countries speaking about their cultures,” he said, adding, “I hope it will prove to be a very good agreement for all the Arab countries and especially for the Kingdom of Bahrain.”

Dr. Kamal Bitar, representing ARC-WH said the MoU was basically to consolidate the partnership between the cultural centre and the Arab region for a better understanding to face the big challenges in the cultural field together.

“It will enable the exchange of information and materials regarding cultural and natural world heritage in the Arab region. It is also for the exchange of ideas about the ways to preserve the cultural heritage according to the World Heritage Convention of 1972,” he remarked.