Rabat, May 30 2023
The first meeting of the heads of Al Quds cultural institutions, organized by the Arab Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) in cooperation with Bayt Mal Al Quds Asharif Agency and the Palestinian culture ministry, kicked off on Tuesday May 30 in Rabat.
The agenda of three-day conference includes studying the urgent needs of the cultural institutions in Al Quds, drafting an action plan to support these institutions and their activities and launch actions that would contribute to preserving and reinforcing the cultural identity, heritage and civilization of the city of Al Quds Asharif, enshrining the Arab identity of the city and consolidating its cultural and civilizational status.
The conference, coinciding with the silver anniversary of the Agency, was also an opportunity to dedicate an exhibition titled “Al Quds, rising city of lights”, and launch the ALECSO chair of Al Quds Asharif studies.
The meeting also seeks to support the cultural identity of Al Quds, uphold its resistance by protecting the inhabitants’ cultural rights, reinforce cooperation and networking between the cultural institutions in the holy city, help them extend services to recipients of their programs and provide technical assistance to consolidate the capacities of the local cultural institutions.
In a speech on this occasion, minister of culture, youth and communications, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, stated that the choice of the capital city of the Kingdom to host this important cultural meeting between the Palestinian brethren is not a coincidence but is due to the special status of Rabat, the seat of Bayt Mal Al Quds Agency and the city of co-existence embodying lofty aspects of tolerance and coexistence between various human cultures and civilizations.
The minister also underscored the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of Al Quds Committee, and his efforts to preserve the authentic cultural identity of Al Quds Asharif, incarnated by Bayt Mal Al Quds Asharif Agency that strives to fund programs and projects meant to support and consolidate the Arab-Islamic existence in the holy city.
He added that the ministry will support these outstanding efforts and proposes that the results and outcome of this important Palestinian meeting be “compiled in an official document to be named “the Rabat declaration for the consolidation and reinforcement of cultural action in Al Quds Asharif”. The minister also suggested that this declaration be used as a reference for the 24th conference of ministers of cultural affairs in the Arab nation to be held in Marrakesh in 2024.
Mr. Bensaid also expressed readiness to implement the outcome of this meeting and make the Moroccan expertise in the management and planning of cultural institutions and spaces available to Al Quds leaders in order to help consolidate and develop the cultural action in Al Quds Asharif and deepen the Moroccan-Palestinian friendship.
On his part, the acting director of the Agency, Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, underlined that the Agency, upon the instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has laid the foundations by carrying out an ambitious program of cultural and artistic events in four leading cultural centers, in a first stage. Mr. Echarkaoui added that this program is set to be enlarged to other cultural centers with the upcoming opening of the Moroccan cultural center in Al Quds –Bayt Al Maghrib- considered as a model that other Arab countries can follow to purchase properties and turn them into community centers for the benefit of Al Quds populations and institutions.
Taking the floor, Palestinian ambassador in Morocco, Jamal Choubki, expressed thanks to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of Al Quds Committee, for the support extended to Al Quds and its inhabitants, hoping that the meeting will lay the ground for an advanced and quality action plan for the preservation of the cultural life in Al Quds and consolidation of the resistance of its population.
The Palestinian diplomat further considered that this meeting is a first and key step to draft an Arab integrated action plan to protect and reinforce the Arab culture in Al Quds in coordination between Arab states, underscoring the importance of Arab joint action in the cultural sector in the city.
On his part, the Director General of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO), Mohamed Ould Amar, noted that this meeting is a collective and shared space for exchange of ideas and to put forward proposals to inspire and consolidate Arab cultural institutions active in Al Quds, support their capacities to involve the community and individuals in their activities, focus on comprehending challenges and sharing of best practices and expertise between Arab cultural institutions with a view to acquire new skills to improve their sustainability on the long term.
Mr. Ould Amar further considered that holding this meeting is part of the decisions of the 23rd meeting of Arab ministers in charge of cultural affairs that recommended to draft an action plan, jointly with the Palestinian cultural affairs ministry in order to consolidate the Arab culture in Al Quds Asharif.
On the agenda are sessions to examine the following themes: “Al Quds cultural institutions: experiences, programs and needs” and outlining an action plan to support the cultural institutions in Al Quds.
