The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have renewed their cooperation in the initiative of restoring the cultural and heritage sites in the Iraqi city of Mosul. The Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Noura Bint Mohammed Al Kaabi and the Director General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay met at the headquarters of the Organization in the French capital Paris, where the signing ceremony of a new agreement concerning the UAE's participation in the reconstruction of historical monuments in the city of Mosul, which is a milestone in the The march of human civilization.

Nora Al Kaabi:

“Rebuilding my pure church and the clock, and before them

Nuri Mosque and its lighthouse Humpback, a cultural message and civilization

Strong in the face of extremist practices and ideas ».

Audrey Azoulay:

«The goal of reconstruction is to restore a city

Mosul has its true character that reflects coexistence

Peaceful between different religions and ethnic groups ».

The agreement stipulates that the UAE will lead efforts to rebuild a number of destroyed cultural sites in Mosul, the pure churches and the clock.

The spirit of coexistence

`` Today we are honored to renew our cooperation with UNESCO and to sign this agreement, which will enable us to continue our partnership with our brothers in Iraq and the people of Mosul, to help rebuild the cultural and heritage sites that embody the spirit of coexistence and tolerance in the community. Our cultural projects of this kind, carried out under the umbrella of UNESCO around the world, are proof of the UAE's commitment to strengthening UNESCO's efforts through international cooperation in the fields of science, culture and science. Through this new agreement we send a message of hope and a new spirit to our people in Iraq and Mosul ».

Message of Hope

Al-Kaabi pointed out that the reconstruction of the Tahira and Al-Sa'ah churches, which are over hundreds of years old, restores the bright cultural face of Mosul and contributes to building the social fabric and the return of the displaced, especially our Christian brothers to their homes through the restoration of historical monuments and houses of worship that give the Mosul community its identity. And his spirit, after the terrorists tried to make it monochrome, erasing the cultural identity and civilized and human history of the city of Mosul. The Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development noted that the UAE through this project becomes the first country in the world to rebuild the churches of Iraq.

An important step

"Today is an important step in the renaissance of the ancient city of Mosul," said Audrey Azoulay. The aim of this reconstruction is to restore the city of Mosul to its true character, which reflects the peaceful coexistence between different religions and ethnic groups. I must express my deep gratitude to the United Arab Emirates, which has supported our initiative since its launch, in the belief that reconstruction is only possible through culture and education. ”

The new project is an extension of the historic agreement signed in April 2018, where the UAE pledged $ 50.4 million to contribute to the reconstruction of Mosul's cultural heritage. The project will begin with the restoration and reconstruction of historical monuments, especially the historic Nuri Mosque and the 45-meter-high humpback minaret built more than 840 years ago.

Job opportunities and training

The UAE's efforts also include the construction of a museum and memorial displaying and preserving the ruins and history of mosques and churches that have been rebuilt in partnership with the Iraqi government, the people of Mosul and educational institutions. The museum and memorial will have a long-term impact on the Mosul community, providing these projects with training and employment opportunities for more than 1,000 young Mosul residents.

Church of the Hour

The Clock Church is located in the Clock Quarter in Mosul, also known as the Dominican Church. It is one of the most famous churches in Mosul, and one of the distinctive landmarks of the city, and was completely destroyed by terrorism on April 25, 2016. The construction of the church began in 1866. It took six years to build, was inaugurated on August 4, 1873, and its famous tower was not completed until 1882, and contains A monument clock presented as a gift from the wife of the French Emperor Napoleon III in recognition of their service in the city.

Immaculate Church

The Tahira Syriac Catholic Church is the largest church in Iraq, and one of the largest churches in the Middle East capacity, engineering and beauty, opened in 1947 and consists of three high-rise spaces, the largest and highest in the middle, and includes a high-rise dome pierced by twelve windows. The three large interior spaces are based on 18 huge marble columns that converge in splendid arches. It was blown up by terrorism in February 2015.