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脡ric Chevalier, French Ambassador to Iraq, visits UNESCO sites in Mosul
脡ric Chevalier, French Ambassador to Iraq, visited Our Lady of the Hour, Dominican Convent, to witness the progress that has taken place on site, in the framework of the UNESCO project to Revive the Spirit of Mosul, supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). France will also be contributing to the restoration of the church by rehabilitating the house of prayer. H.E. was welcomed by Paolo Fontani, UNESCO Representative to Iraq, Fr. Olivier Poquillon O.P., in charge of Our Lady of the Hour.
During his tour in Our Lady of the Hour, Dominican Convent, being rehabilitated by UNESCO, Fr. Olivier Poquillon O.P., in charge of Our Lady of the Hour, gave the French Ambassador details about the church and convent built in the 19th century.
The conflict in Mosul left behind millions of tons of rubble and destroyed prominent historical landmarks. Our Lady of the Hour, Dominican Convent, was damaged. His Excellency, 脡ric Chevalier, could witness the progress made and get a firsthand briefing of the challenges ahead and expressed appreciation for UNESCO鈥檚 efforts in restoring this church.
At its heart, 鈥淩evive the Spirit of Mosul鈥 is UNESCO's response for the recovery of Mosul by empowering the population as agents of change involved in the process of rebuilding their city through three main axes: heritage, education and cultural life. The Initiative was born to carry a strong message of hope and resistance to Iraq and to the world: a message that an inclusive, cohesive and equitable society is the future that Iraqis deserve.
As a first major step towards the recovery of Mosul, UNESCO is working on the rehabilitation of Al-Nouri Mosque and its famous Al Hadba leaning minaret, Al-Tahera Church and Our Lady of the Hour, Dominican Convent, funded by the United Arab Emirates. Other donors of the Initiative include the European Union, the Flanders, The Netherlands, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Italy, Latvia and Germany. Beyond the rehabilitation of architectural landmarks, the initiative includes on the-job training for young professionals, strengthening the capacities of craftspeople, job-creation opportunities and technical and vocational education.
