The Closing of the International Conference on Cultural Heritage and Development at The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA)
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Alexandria, 24 January 2006—The International Conference on Cultural Heritage and Development (20 to 22 January 2006) was concluded in a session attended by a group of specialists on cultural heritage and development including, Dr. Fathi Saleh, Director of Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (Cultnat), Dr. Mohamed Awad, Director of The Alexandria and Mediterranean Research Center (Alex-Med), Dr. Abdel Halim Nureldin, Director of the Calligraphy Center, Dr. Hassan Fekry, Center for Documentation of Cultural and Natural Heritage (Cultnat). As a result of a three day discussion, the conference managed to sieve out some recommendations covering many aspects of tangible and intangible heritage, which in by all measures grades the conference as a success.
Chaired by Dr. Micheal Cernea, Member of the BA Board of Trustees, the closing session ended with some recommendations to be applied through a comprehensive action plan. Dr. Cernea stressed the need for another international conference to evaluate the implementation process.
Amongst some of the recommendations of the conference were setting up a national committee concerned with the dissemination of archeological awareness among decision makers, civilians, and those interested; supporting archeological site management processes through archeological documentation, surveys, and restoration; establishing an academy for heritage concerned with human capacity building, archeological sites development and management; encouraging the role of civil societies in cultural development process; developing mechanisms to enhance heritage; formulating marketing and quality control plans through a fund to support and conserve heritage; spreading awareness among civil societies on heritage issues as an integral part of the sustainable development process; and finally, developing national policies for heritage conservation and management.