As the International Publishing and Book Fairs kicks off in Casablanca, the Moroccan Ministry of Culture, Friday, 14 February, 2014, organised a World Press Conference as part of the sensitization process to get the approval of UNESCO to inscribe the City of Casablanca in the World Heritage List.
The conference was jointly addressed by the Wali du Grand Casablanca, Mr. Khalid Safir; the Maire de Casablanca, Mr. Mohamed Sajid; Minister of Culture, Mr. Mohammed Amine Sbihi, representative of UNECO in the Maghreb, Mr. Michael Millward; the Director of Cultural heritage in the Ministry of Culture, Mr. Abdellah Alaoui, the President and Secretary General of Association Casamemoire, Messrs. Rachid Andaloussi and Kassou Abdurahim, who were all highly elated on the prospects of the inscription.
The cultural and historic heritage of the city of Casablanca marked by modernity is distinguished by its outstanding value, wealth and diversity, and the site holds the proofs of the earliest human settlements.
The ancient medina was restored and partially built during the 18th century, while the modern city of Casablanca has been almost entirely constructed in less than a hundred years; and it presents an exceptional architectural heritage, which is illustrated by the rich and different architectural styles, acknowledged by national and international experts worldwide.
It will be recalled that, after the submission of the nomination proposal by the Permanent Delegation of the Kingdom of Morocco to UNESCO, the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO inscribed the city of Casablanca in the Tentative List of the World Heritage on the 27th November, 2013.
The inscription has brought to the fore the significant efforts made to promote and preserve the architectural heritage and the historic urban ensemble, and which has made the city of Casablanca to be recognized as a cultural heritage of universal and exceptional value, and worth being inscribed in the World Heritage List.
Considering the significant efforts undertaken by the Association Casamemoire to preserve the heritage of the 20th century, and its concern with the preservation of the cultural and architectural heritage, the Ministry of Culture had strengthened the close cooperation already in place through a cooperation agreement with the association.
The initiative was to enable both partners to act jointly in the promotion of the architectural heritage of Casablanca and preserve the exceptional and precious historic and cultural testimony; and this collaboration will lead to a joint preparation of the Nomination file on the city of Casablanca and submit it to the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO within the one year deadline.
Besides, a joint committee, comprising representatives of the Wilaya du Grand Casablanca, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Habitat and City Planning, the Ministry of Urbanism and Territory Management, the Urban Agency of Casablanca, and the Civil Society, will be constituted to follow-up this process.
© Nico news