The Minister of Culture and the Director of “UNESCO” are reviewing international efforts in the restoration of antiquities

The World Summit on Governments hosted 2025 qualitative sessions and forums, which included various fields of government work, including a session on the closing day entitled “How do culture revive cities after crises?” And culture (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay, and discussed the project to revive the spirit of the city of Mosul after the destruction in 2017, and the UAE efforts with a group of international actors in restoring and preserving this cultural heritage, and preserving pluralism in this city.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi talked about this international cultural project, which the UAE was the largest financier, through his personal experience as a follower of this file, when he was the permanent delegate of the UAE to UNESCO in Paris, and he was coordinating these efforts, stressing that a city Mosul has a long history, and it includes many effects, and it has always been the point of connection and exchange between cultures and religions, so the UAE’s contribution was present to preserve this cultural wealth, and this ancient historical pluralism, which is not the first time that the UAE has made such efforts, especially with regard to historical effects It has carried out restoration work in the city of Jerusalem between 2002 and 2004, as well as the restoration of a group of archaeological mosques in Africa, and this is derived from the established UAE values, and the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi added: “Restore the ancient city of Mosul and its various historical and rich landmarks, the spirit and glow of the previous city, but the most important thing is our investment in the city’s residents and the human element there, where thousands of craftsmen and professionals were trained in the areas of restoration, construction and the maintenance of heritage landmarks, and this is an order Important in a rapidly polarized world, in which we need pluralism, openness, culture, building societies, empowering youth and preserving cultural heritage.

For her part, Audrey Azoulay, during her conversation, valued the role of the global summit of governments in raising the issues of cultural pluralism and the maintenance of human and historical heritage, and she said: “I am happy with my participation in the summit of governments, and I am with you today to talk about the Iraqi city of Mosul with historical symbolism, which was subjected to comprehensive destruction , It included its mosques and churches, due to the attacks of the (ISIS terrorist organization), and we all remember the war against culture and against women and the spirit of the city, which was like its name, connected and bridges of civilization and pluralism.

Audrey Azoulay added: “A global gift occurred to rebuild the old city, and the UAE was the first supporter to restore all these monuments, and in 2018 the UAE joined the (UNESCO) initiative to revive the spirit of Mosul, which aims to rebuild the cultural heritage of the city after the destruction that affected it, and it was The largest partner and supporter, followed by the European Union, and a group of partners, presented a model on the support of international efforts in preserving the cultural and humanitarian heritage, where the historical landmarks ».