SABASTIYA (NABLUS), June 21, 2012 (WAFA)- The project “renovation and management of a crusade multi-function hall” in Sabastiya, a village northwest of Nablus was presented to the local population and guests from the international community, a press release issued by the Italian Consulate General in Jerusalem said on Thursday.
The project was funded by the Italian Government and the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem through the Palestinian Municipalities Support Program (PMSP) in partnership with Lombardy Region, Associazione di Terra Santa (ATS) and the Jericho Mosaic Center, it said.
PMSP director Arch La Rocca presented to the audience the important achievements made by the PMSP in the cultural heritage and tourism sector, in particular he drew the attention on the 456,900 Euro project aimed at renovating a splendid crusader hall to be used as a multifunction hall.
The new conference hall will host conferences and conventions of international organizations and will be completed by July.
In the framework of the presentation, an important memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Minister of Local Government Khaled Al Qawasmi, and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Rula Maaya’h was also signed at the presence of the consul general of Italy in Jerusalem Giampaolo Cantini, governor of Nablus Jibril Al Bakri and mayor of Sabastiya Mohammed Azem.
The aim of the MoU is to enhance the commitment between the two ministries towards the citizens in improving and supporting the quality of living by urging them to adhere to the standards of the cultural heritage preservation, said the release.
Since the re-launching of the PMSP activities in 2008, 11 projects in the cultural heritage and tourism sector have been implemented for a total amount of approximately 3.8 million Euros; 6 projects were implemented in Bethlehem, one in Hebron, two projects in East Jerusalem, one project in Tulkarem municipality and another project in Sabastiya municipality.
The above mentioned projects are characterized by the creation and the enhancement of guest houses towards rehabilitation, and preservation of old historic buildings such as in Bethlehem and Tulkarem and by the implementation of training courses in cultural heritage conservation as in East Jerusalem.
In Hebron, the rehabilitation of the Turkish bath in the Old City as a visitor center will start soon, it said.
The PMSP program aims at empowering the local authorities to take responsibility in the protection and development of the cultural heritage for the promotion of the local community service in social, educational cultural and economical sectors, it concluded.
T.R./M.S.
