The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization will take up restorative work on several important Muslim sites in the Old City of Jerusalem, the group’s director-general announced here last week.
The work will be undertaken to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Old City, said UNESCO Director-General Federico Mayor Zaragoza.
Following upon an initiative undertaken by King Hussein of Jordan, restoration of the Dome of the Rock’s cupola has been completed. Other basic work to preserve the mosque will soon be undertaken in line with a technical report drawn up by UNESCO experts who visited Jerusalem in mid-March.
UNESCO has already received numerous contributions for safeguarding the Dome of the Rock and other sites in the Old City. King Fahd of Saudi Arabia has stated that he will provide all additional funding needed to complete the work.
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