DOHA: The 16th Meeting of Archaeology & Museums Undersecretaries from GCC countries opened yesterday at St Regis Doha.
Addressing the opening session, Mansour bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, Adviser to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and Acting Chief Executive Officer of Qatar Museums conveyed his appreciation to Khalid Al Ghassani, Assistant Secretary General for Cultural and Information Affairs of GCC General Secretariat for the efforts exerted and the coordination of GCC states on the implementation of agreements along the areas of museums and archaeology.
He lauded the efforts on “joint scientific work on museums and archaeology to show the spirit of unity in our history in the GCC and the importance of Arab folklore and archaeology that represents cultural importance for us.”
Al Ghassani expressed gratitude to the Qatari leadership and GCC leaders in general for their wisdom, assistance and perseverance as well as directors of archaeology and museums in the GCC for the achievements as outcomes of their continuous meetings.
Hosted jointly by Qatar Museums and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the two-day conference will see delegates finalise decisions discussed during last year’s meeting held in Kuwait. These decisions constitute significant progress in joint efforts to develop the fields of archaeology and museums, and enhance cooperation between GCC countries and international organisations.
The decisions relate to archaeological survey programmes, exploration, training visits and programmes for specialists working in the fields of archaeology and museums.
They also include a proposal for an archaeology exhibition scheduled in Oman this year, in addition to publications and newsletters for archaeology and museum specialists and guides for people working in these fields.
Delegates will also explore the support available for celebrating social and cultural history and antiquities in GCC countries including the creation of an electronic database for archaeological sites, and efforts to combat illegal trafficking and trade of antiquities.
The meeting will also explore options for closer integration of efforts between GCC countries in these fields and a proposal to construct in Kuwait a museum that contains archaeological collections from across the GCC.
“Preserving our cultural heritage and honouring the traditions of the past whilst also embracing the future is a vitally important part of our work at Qatar Museums. We are delighted to host this prestigious conference and look forward to welcoming our fellow specialists from across the GCC to Doha. The conference provides the opportunity to support continued progress in the fields of archaeology and architectural conservation and enhance engagement and collaboration in our respective projects. It promises to be an exciting and inspiring few days,” said Faisal Abdulla Al Naimi, Head of Archaeology at Qatar Museums.
Private museum owners as well as specialists and researchers in the field of archaeology and museums across the GCC were also honoured at yesterday’s event.
A temporary exhibition also opened at Villaggio featuring photographs of GCC’s historical and cultural landmarks, cultural guides and technical pamphlets.
The Peninsula
