Thursday, 30 December 2004
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has collected $4.5 million in donations for reconstruction of the ancient citadel and other monuments in the quake-stricken city of Bam, UNESCO Assistant Director General for Culture Mounir Bouchenaki was quoted by Mehr News Agency as saying on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference held in the historic Golestan Palace in central Tehran, he added, "UNESCO will spend $2.6 million of the amount in the cultural area and $1.6 will be used for education." He did not say how the remainder of the funds would be used.
Bouchenaki came to Iran to visit Bam on the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake that hit the city in Kerman Province, southern Iran on December 26, 2003. He also inspected the reconstruction work on the Bam Citadel, which was almost entirely destroyed by the earthquake.
This visit shows UNESCO and the world have not forgotten the historical city, Bouchenaki said.
According to reports submitted by Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (CHTO) to UNESCO, the CHTO has removed the rubble in the main passages of the Bam Citadel and some parts of the structure which have remained intact have been buttressed, he added.
Bouchenaki is slated to present the UNESCO certificate adding the Bam Citadel to the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger to the people of Bam during a symbolic ceremony.
He said he hoped Iran's Nowruz (New Year) as a regional festive, and Ta'zieh (Iranian passion play) would soon be registered on the UNESCO List of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
In the final resolution of the Session of Nowruz Celebrating Countries held last August, Iran was appointed as the coordinating country to pursue the issue of registering Nowruz on the list.
Nowruz is a New Year celebration of Zoroastrian origin that occurs on the first day of spring. Afghanistan, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Iran, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan are the countries celebrate Nowruz.
Bouchenaki visited the Golestan Palace at the end of the press conference and described the palace as one of the most unique monuments of Tehran. He said it should be added to the World Heritage List and that he would try to facilitate adding the monument to the list if Iranian officials file an application.
As the oldest monument in Tehran, the Golestan Palace belongs to a group of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of the Tehran Citadel.
The citadel was built during the reign of Shah Tahmasb I (1524-1576) of the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722), and was later renovated by Karim Khan (1750-1779), the first ruler of the Zand dynasty.
Golestan Palace became the official residence of the royal family during the reign of Qajar King Agha Mohammad Khan (1742-1797), when he chose Tehran as his capital.
During the Pahlavi era (1925-1979), Golestan Palace was used for formal royal receptions. Ceremonies for the coronation of Reza Khan and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi were held in the palace.
The Golestan Palace contains a museum of Iranian cultural anthropology and a number other interesting places which are visited by foreign tourists and Iranians every day.
29 December 2004
