Minister of Culture Ghassan Salameh welcomed UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Anany at his office in the National Library in Sanayeh, Beirut. El-Anany's visit to Lebanon is in response to an invitation from Minister Salameh. The meeting was attended by Lebanon's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Ambassador Hind Darwish, UNESCO's Regional Director in Lebanon Pablo Fontani, UNESCO member Ahmed Za'oush, Director General of Antiquities Engineer Sarkis Khoury, Director General of Cultural Affairs Dr. Ali Al-Samad, Architect Jad Tabet, and Head of UNESCO - Beirut’s cultural sector, Joseph Credy.
The meeting began with a welcoming speech from Minister Salameh, where he expressed gratitude to UNESCO for supporting the World Heritage Committee in listing the "Jabal Amel Forts" on the World Heritage in Danger list during the Busan conference at the Lebanese government's request. Salameh emphasized that "this decision reaffirms the international community's determination, not only to preserve the exceptional universal value of this heritage but also to support efforts to protect, restore, and ensure its continuation for future generations." He praised UNESCO's ongoing support for Lebanon in various sectors, particularly cultural.
During the meeting, Salameh and El-Anany discussed key projects of mutual interest supported by UNESCO, including the rehabilitation and activation of the national network of public libraries, the Mar Mikhael Train Station cultural center project, bringing in international experts to conduct a technical assessment of the Rashid Karami International Exhibition Center, in-depth studies of heritage sites in South Lebanon, especially those damaged and endangered, and updating safe storage facilities in Byblos to preserve artifacts.
Dr. El-Anany is scheduled to meet with President Michael Aoun, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Judge Nawaf Salam, where a cooperation agreement will be signed between UNESCO, represented by Dr. El-Anany, and the Lebanese government, represented by Minister Salameh. This agreement will cover areas of education, science, culture, communication, and information.
Minister Salameh and Dr. El-Anany, along with the accompanying delegation, will conduct inspection tours of Khan Al-Askar and the Rashid Karami International Exhibition Center in Tripoli, as well as the archaeological site of Al-Bass in Tyre.