BEIRUT, July 28: Lebanese Minister of Culture Ghassan Salameh emphasized on Monday the vital importance of preserving and reviving heritage sites in Arab cities, stating that restoration alone is insufficient to maintain their relevance and vitality.

His remarks came during the opening session of the 9th Regional Forum of the Architectural and Urban Heritage Observatory in Arab Countries, organized by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and held in Beirut.

In his address, Salameh highlighted that heritage preservation in Arab cities is both a long-standing and necessary pursuit. “It is not enough to restore historical buildings,” he stated. “We must also revive them by reintegrating them into daily life—be it through housing, workplaces, or social activities—so that they remain living elements of our communities.”

He stressed that the true challenge lies not merely in conserving stone structures, but in ensuring these historic areas continue to serve people and society. Salameh further praised ALECSO’s efforts and called for more Arab heritage sites to be documented, protected, and revitalized, encouraging active use and community engagement rather than passive restoration.

Speaking at the same event, Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director General of ALECSO, noted that the forum brings together leading experts and academics to explore strategies for preserving architectural and urban heritage in the face of rapid urbanization, uncontrolled development, and economic pressures.

Dr. Ould Amar emphasized the importance of effective tools for documentation, monitoring, and protection. He said the observatory serves not only as a technical instrument for tracking heritage sites, but also as a cultural platform for launching initiatives and encouraging public participation.

“We must establish a new cultural outlook on heritage,” he stated, “one that acknowledges how preserving our past enriches both our present and future.” He underscored the necessity of building strong partnerships between government, civil society, and academic institutions to support heritage preservation.

The ALECSO chief also underscored the value of regional cooperation in the face of shared challenges, such as conflict and natural disasters, and praised the growing number of Arab heritage sites recognized by UNESCO’s World Heritage List. He reaffirmed ALECSO’s readiness to support Arab nations in preparing nomination files for additional sites.

Representing Kuwait at the forum, Mahmoud Al-Rabiah, an engineer from the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (Historic Buildings Restoration Department), told KUNA that the forum annually discusses each Arab country's contributions to preserving historic buildings and urban heritage. He noted that participating countries submit documentation files for evaluation by the observatory in preparation for their inclusion in the Arab Heritage List.

The forum serves as a platform for countries to present heritage sites of significant architectural and historical value. It also provides an opportunity to share experiences, assess preservation methods, and coordinate regional efforts to safeguard urban heritage.

The event is set to conclude on Wednesday, at which point ALECSO will announce the selected sites to be added to the registry of architectural and urban heritage, a list maintained by the Economic and Social Council of the League of Arab States.