JERUSALEM, September 10, 2012 (WAFA) – Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Italian delegation Sunday lay the cornerstone to mark the start of the rehabilitation work at ‘Dar el-Shomali’ Building in Beit Sahour, according to a press release by Italian Consulate-General in Jerusalem on Monday.
The release stated that ‘Rehabilitation of Dar al-Shomali Complex to be used as a Guest House’ project has a total budget of around 430.000 Euro.
The Mayor of Beit Sahour, Hani al-Hayek, together with Consul General of Italy, Giampaolo Cantini, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Rula Maaya’h, Palestinian Municipalities Support Program (PMSP) Director Antonio Larocca, along with the rest of the delegation were present at the ceremony.
This project represents a new important achievement of the PMSP Program in Bethlehem Government within the Cultural Heritage Sector.
Dar al-Shomali project aims to preserve and raise the awareness of the Palestinian cultural heritage associated with the historic city of Beit Sahour, and sustain the use of the building to be used as a guest house, therefore maintaining the development of alternative tourism and creation of jobs, the release said.
The project ‘Rehabilitation of Dar al-Shomali’ completes and integrates the first project implemented in Beit Sahour by the PMSP-, which will be completed on March 2013- targeting the urban requalification of the Old Market Square.
A Twinning Partnership between Beit Sahour Municipality and Agliana municipality has been undersigned to encourage cooperation between the two towns and mutual understanding between their citizens nurturing networks of expertise and mutual sharing of ideas and solutions to overcome some common problems.
“PMSP has 11 ongoing projects in the Cultural Sector and Tourism Sector projects for a total amount of approximately of 3.8 million Euros: six projects have been implemented in the Bethlehem Governorate, one in the Hebron Governorate, two in East Jerusalem, one in Tulkarem Municipality and another one in Sabastiya Municipality.
PMSP Program aims to empower 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.
‘Rehabilitation of Dar El Shomali’ project is the first project to be implemented after the signature of the MoU between Minister of Local Government Khaled al- Qawasmi, and Maaya’h in Sabastiya last June which aimed 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.
M.H./F.R.
