Gulf ministers arrive in Saudi Arabia for closing ceremony of security drill

LONDON: Saudi authorities on Monday announced a $30 million donation to support the work of the ALIPH Foundation, the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Zones.
Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the Kingdom’s Minister of Culture, made the announcement during the foundation’s second donor conference, held in Paris, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Prince expressed his gratitude for the efforts made by the ALIPH Board of Directors to protect cultural heritage threatened by conflict. He said that culture was a key aspect of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development plan and that his country was playing an active role in protecting cultural heritage from various threats and reducing risk factors that could lead to its neglect and destruction. its destruction.
“We are also working on initiatives that strengthen the protection of the heritage and culture of our rich and diverse country and the world at large: training specialists, strengthening and supporting professional networks in the field of heritage and establishing important links organizations to enable and coordinate joint efforts,” said Prince Badr.

At the second @ALIPHFoundation Donor and Partner Conference, HH @BadrFAlSaud announced a new $30 million funding commitment that will help preserve cultural heritage sites around the world. pic.twitter.com/8Nu3l6I4cY

— Ministry of Culture of Saudi Arabia (@mocsaudi_en) January 31, 2022

The Kingdom shone the spotlight on culture during its 2020 G20 presidency to highlight the role that heritage preservation can play in global and sustainable development, he added, and was elected by UNESCO Vice-Chair of the World Heritage Committee for 2021 to 2023.
“Our collective efforts are crucial to strengthen the role of cultural heritage as an essential contributor to peacebuilding, the promotion of social cohesion and a better understanding of our memory and our cultural diversity”, declared the prince.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Foreign Affairs, declared: “The ALIPH Foundation is a collective response to the destructive madness which, in Iraq as elsewhere in the world, threatened to carry away the works which bind generations, bear witness to the diversity of societies and invite dialogue. between peoples and religions.

Prince Badr also had separate talks with the director of the Louvre museums Laurence des Cars, the president of the ALIPH Foundation Thomas Kaplan and the Omani Minister of Heritage and Tourism Salim Al-Mahrooqi, on the sidelines of the conference.

I had the pleasure of participating in the second conference of donors and partners of the @ALIPHFoundationthe International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Zones.
Our collective efforts to protect and rehabilitate cultural sites have never been more crucial.

— بدر بن عبدالله بن فرحان آل سعود (@BadrFAlSaud) January 31, 2022

Meanwhile, Prince Badr, who is also Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla, and Le Drian chaired the first meeting of the Franco-Saudi committee to discuss heritage development in the governorate.
“AlUla’s unique place in the (Franco-Saudi) partnership continues to grow in the areas of cultural, environmental, tourism, human and economic development,” the commission said.
“Thanks to Franco-Saudi collaboration in a three-year archaeological program, nearly 120 researchers and archaeologists visited AlUla, reaffirming its appeal as a center of leading archaeological activity.”
Prince Badr and Le Drian signed an agreement on December 4 to launch “Villa Hegra” in AlUla, which will bring the “French Villa” model to the Middle East through a unique combination of cultural, artistic, educational, culinary exchanges and community and knowledge transfer.

Did you know? Thanks to Franco-Saudi collaboration within the framework of a three-year archaeological program, nearly 120 researchers and archaeologists have visited #AlUlareaffirming its appeal as a leading center of archaeological activity. pic.twitter.com/iXoPKSU3Ss

— الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العلا (@RCU_SA) January 31, 2022

The two parties will also collaborate on artistic residency programs and the exclusive Ferrandi-AlUla International College of Tourism and Hospitality, as well as community activities, local craft workshops and intellectual discourse.
“The Franco-Saudi partnership, with the collaboration of the Royal Commission for AlUla and the French Agency for the Development of AlUla, has been a successful model for nearly four years. And the best is yet to come,” Prince Badr said in a post on Twitter.

Gérard Mestrallet, Executive Chairman of @AF_ALULAwelcomes the holding this morning of the first Franco-Saudi committee to #AlUlachaired by Mr. @JY_LeDrianMinister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and His Highness the Prince @BadrFAlSaudminister of culture of saudi arabia pic.twitter.com/y9JljFkl39

— French Agency for the Development of AlUla (@AF_ALULA) January 31, 2022