Paris- The International Conference for the Inscription of Hebron on UNESCO’s World Heritage List kicked off on 25 November in Paris with the participation of politicians as well as of Palestinian, Arab and international experts. This two-day conference held at the Arab World Institute in Paris was convened by Hebron Municipality and its two key partners in the Project to Support the Inscription of Hebron on the World Heritage List, i.e. Arcueil and Belfort municipalities in France.
The Opening Session was attended by Hebron Mayor Khaled Osaily, Mr. Elias Sanbar, Ambassador of Palestine to UNESCO, Mr. Etienne Butzbach, Mayor of Belfort and Mr. Daniel Breuiller, Mayor of Arcueil. In his welcome address, Mr. Butzbach underlined the importance of partnerships between France and Palestine. He confirmed that success was possible because there is a real will to succeed. “We have sought over the past 17 years to build a French-Palestinian partnership through Belfort and Hebron municipalities. Twinning agreements were signed and several projects were implemented to help achieve this goal. The fact that Mayor Osaily heads Hebron Municipality plays a major role in ensuring the success of this international campaign. Efforts must continue to implement our joint strategy, mainly through ending occupation. Hebron cannot develop, its sites and heritage cannot be protected, its economy cannot grow and sustainable development cannot be ensured unless occupation ends. What we achieve here today and tomorrow will provide support to Hebron’s nomination file which is backed by Mayor Osaily’s genuine and efficient efforts. We wish to continue to work as partners until Hebron’s nomination file is endorsed by UNESCO. Palestine’s recent membership of this organization has no doubt removed all obstacles preventing Hebron’s inscription on the WHL. When one sees the great archeological sites in Hebron one understands a clear message: occupation must end and Palestinian land, history and heritage must be restored to Palestinians so they can ensure a future just as bright as their past has been”, he said.
Mayor Osaily conveyed the greetings of Palestinians in general and Hebronites in particular to participants. He underlined the importance and value of Palestinian cities which Palestinians have preserved so humanity can enjoy them. “We at Hebron Municipality consider ourselves the guardians of this cultural heritage of humanity. We must protect it and ensure it is passed on to future generations despite obstacles created by occupation and settlement activity. This is our key priority and a main objective that we seek to achieve at all times. This international campaign to inscribe Hebron’s Old City on the WHL was launched in 2009 in partnership with our friends and partners at Belfort and Arcueil municipalities with whom we worked to promote cooperation and cultural exchanges. They have played a major role in ensuring the success of this campaign with full support from President Abbas, PM Fayyad and Palestinian government members. Moreover, a vast majority of Member States supported Palestine’s UNESCO membership bid, thus proving their support of justice and Palestinian rights. Efforts by President Abbas, PM Fayyad, Foreign Minister Al Malki and all GOs and NGOs shall not cease until Palestine becomes a full-fledged member of the UN and all Palestinian rights are acknowledged, including the right to build an independent Palestinian State and to live a normal life, just like all other nations in the world, without occupation or settlements. The idea of inscribing Hebron on the WHL started as a far-fetched dream in which many people did not believe. However, we have persevered and are fully confident that this dream shall come true”, he said.
As for Mr. Elias Sanbar, he said: “Palestine has become a full member of UNESCO following an intense political and diplomatic battle waged by the Palestinian leadership both inside and outside this UN agency. Membership of such an important UN agency is a key gain which
shall open the door for the submission of other files by Palestinian cities rich with heritage. However, our efforts shall not stop here. We shall continue our work until we are recognized by all international organizations and until we become the 194th UN Member State. We shall not tire of defending our legitimate rights guaranteed by all international treaties and resolutions”. Sanbar then thanked Hebron, Arcueil and Belfort municipalities as well as all experts taking part in this Conference for their great efforts.
The opening session ended with a speech by Mr. Breuiller who commended Palestinians and their leadership for the way it continues to run Palestinian affairs under very dire conditions. “It is very difficult to be a Mayor but it is almost impossible to be the mayor of a Palestinian city. Arcueil has always sympathized with Palestinians and was the first city to host a Palestinian sports team in 1982 at a time when the world used to consider Palestinians as terrorists. I am happy to see Palestinians focus on culture as a means to prove themselves, and I thank UNESCO for voting to admit Palestine as a full-fledged member which allows for the inscription of Hebron on the WHL. I hope that 2012 will witness the acceptance of Hebron’s file so that its heritage can be inscribed on that List”, he added.
It is to be noted that archeology and history experts from Italy, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Palestine and France are taking part in this Conference in addition to a number of project supporters and sponsors from throughout the world.