UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

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1 UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NUBIA MUSEUM IN ASWAN AND THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION IN CAIRO EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TWELFH SESSION ASWAN/ CAIRO, EGYPT, January 2002 FINAL REPORT INTRODUCTION 1. The Executive Committee of the International Campaign for the Establishment of the Nubia Museum in Aswan and the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Cairo held its twelfth session in Aswan and Cairo (Egypt) from 14 to 17 January 2002 at the kind invitation of the Egyptian Government. 2. The representatives of fourteen countries (see Annex 1), elected by the General Conference of UNESCO at its 31st Session, participated in the meeting. Representatives of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) attended the meeting as observers. 3. On behalf of the Minister of Culture, H.E. Mr Farouk Hosni, the representative of the Egyptian Government, Prof Gaballa Ali Gaballa, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, welcomed the participants and wished them every success. He presented his congratulation to the newly elected members of the Executive Committee and praised the serious work undertaken by the Committee since the convening of the 11 th Session. He also expressed his particular satisfaction for the work undertaken by the Secretariat in cooperation with the UNESCO Cairo office for the follow up and implementation and of the recommendations adopted by the 11 th Session. 4. Mr Mohamed El-Deek, Director of the of the UNESCO Office in Cairo and UNESCO s Representative in Egypt, extended his warm welcome to the participants and notably to the newcomers in the Committee. He reviewed the recommendations adopted at the 11 th Session as far as the Nubia museum is concerned related to training, publication of the Catalogue of the Museum, documentation on the Nubia Campaign and others. He then expressed the wish that the laying of the foundation stone of the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, Cairo could take place in the near future. He furthermore expressed his satisfaction for the progress of work accomplished during the past year and praised the close collaboration and cooperation between the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the Division of Cultural Heritage at UNESCO Headquarters and the UNESCO Cairo office which has greatly contributed to the achievements made so far. 1

2 5. Mr Azedine Beschaouch, Advisor to the ADG for Culture and Representative of Mr Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, first thanked the Egyptian authorities for their warm welcome and hospitality extended to the participants of the meeting. He then recalled that the United Nations proclaimed the year 2002 as International Year of Cultural Heritage and particularly praised the fact that this Session represented the first official event in this field held by UNESCO. He furthermore presented his congratulation to H. E. Mr. Ahmad Jalali, elected president of the 31 st General Conference of UNESCO and welcomed the newly elected members to the Committee: Belgium, Dominican Republic, India, Mauritius, Portugal and Slovenia. He also expressed his appreciation for having among the participants as representative of Senegal, Prof. Iba Der Thiam, Vice-President of the National Assembly of Senegal, recalling his long experience in UNESCO activities. Finally, on behalf of Mr. Mounir Bouchenaki, Assistant Director-General for Culture, as well as the members of the Executive Committee, he congratulated Prof. Michel Valloggia for his wise action and efficient commitment as Chairman of the Committee, pointing out his contribution to the success of the works of the Committee. 6. In his capacity as Chairman of the 11 th Session of the Executive Committee, Prof. Michel Valloggia, representative of Switzerland declared open the 12 th Session of the Executive Committee. He recalled with pride that the Nubia Museum in Aswan was awarded a remarkable distinction: the Aga Khan Prize for Architecture. He also reminded the participants that the Bureau meeting of the Committee held in Paris last June was attended by eleven representatives which has made possible the considerable progress achieved by the Committee. He then mentioned the recommendations adopted by the Bureau and stated that the report of the UNESCO Secretariat will be discussed during the present meeting. He further recalled that the Committee had elected him as Chairman at the ninth and tenth sessions and therefore considered it his duty to propose the election of a new chairman. 7. The Agenda was adopted as follow: i. Opening of the session ii. iii. iv. Adoption of the agenda Election of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Rapporteur Review of progress of work and of implementation of the recommendations of the Executive Committee v. Draft programme, recommendations and budgetary estimates vi. vii. The Nubia Museum The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization 8. H. E. Mr. David Stanton, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the United Kingdom to UNESCO was unanimously elected as Chairman of the Executive Committee. The newly elected Chairman thanked Professor Valloggia, on behalf of the Committee, for the excellent way in which he had served the Committee as Chairman through the completion of the Nubia Museum and the reinvigoration of the project for the Cairo Museum. 2

3 9. Professor Gaballa Ali Gaballa, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, was unanimously elected Vice-President, and H.E. Ms Lil Despradel, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of the Dominican Republic to UNESCO, was elected Rapporteur. 10. Progress of work and implementation of recommendations: i. Participants to the meeting undertook a visit to the site of the future National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Fustat, Cairo prior to the opening of the session, in order familiarize the new members of the committee with the site. They expressed their appreciation for the selection of the site which was found appropriate. ii. iii. iv. On arrival in Aswan, the participants were received by H.E. Mr Samir Yousef, Governor of Aswan, who expressed his satisfaction with the achievements of UNESCO and notably the establishment of Nubia Museum. He expressed his willingness to further develop cooperation with the Organization. The Chairman congratulated the Governor on the Nubia Museum and thanked him, on behalf of the Committee, for his welcome and hospitality. The members of the Executive Committee visited the site of Abu Simbel at the kind invitation of the Egyptian government. They expressed their appreciation for the new site management and landscaping of the area as well as the visitors center recently inaugurated by H. E. Hosni Mubarak, President of the Republic. The Executive Committee members visited the site of Philae to attend the Sound and Light performance in the temple. They expressed their satisfaction with the improvements to the site. They also visited the site of Kalabsheh Temples where also Sound and Light is foreseen and they expressed their particular appreciation for the works of management and restoration very well carried out. v. A comprehensive visit of the Nubia Museum led by Mr Osama Abdel Wareth, Director of the museum took place before the holding of the session. The participants particularly appreciated the modern conservation laboratories, the landscape of the area and the premises of the future documentation center. vi. vii Ms Anna Paolini, Secretariat of the Committee, presented the results of the UNESCO experts mission to Cairo carried out in April 2001, which had been previously presented to the Bureau. Following a discussion of the presentation of the budget and financial control, the Chairman said that he would raise these matters with the Secretariat, with a view to achieving improved presentation and control at future meetings of the Committee. 3

4 NUBIA MUSEUM OF ASWAN RECOMMENDATION 1 1. Recalling recommendation 1 adopted at its eleventh session, 2. Taking note of the need to assess the outcome of the ten year-training programme already undertaken so far, and in view of determining the future training needs for the next biennium, that a needs assessment mission focusing on conservation and research be undertaken during the year that an amount of US$ 17,000 to be drawn from the Trust Fund of the Campaign, for this purpose. that based upon the results of the museum survey and the museum needs assessment, further regional training will be decided by the Committee during its 13 th Session. RECOMMENDATION 2 1. Recalling recommendation 1 adopted at its eleventh Session, 2. Having noted the needs to further upgrade the education level of the senior staff of the museum, 3. In view of the future role of senior staff as trainers in the Nubia museum regional training and research center, that two scholarships be awarded to staff of the museum for obtaining a Masters and a PhD degree abroad in the field of museum studies; that an estimated budget of US$ 40,000 be allocated for this purpose from the Trust Fund of the Campaign. 4

5 RECOMMENDATION 3 1. Recalling Recommendation 2 of the 11 th Session, 2. Considering the importance of scientific and technical documentation relating to the International Campaign for Nubia for the establishment of a documentation center in the Nubia Museum, that the amount of US$ 25,000 previously approved for the establishment of the Documentation Fund should initially be used to prepare a detailed survey of materials (photos, documents, manuscripts, etc..) already existing in the country. RECOMMENDATION 4 1. Recalling Recommendation 3 adopted at the Bureau meeting held in UNESCO in June 2001 concerning the publication of the catalogue of the Nubia museum in three languages: Arabic, English and French, 2. Having noted that a preliminary copy of the translated text in English and French has been presented to the Committee, that an additional amount of US$ 30,500 be allocated from the Trust Fund for Nubia held at UNESCO, for the finalization of the printing of the catalogue. RECOMMENDATION 5 1. Recalling recommendation 5 adopted at the 11 th session, 2. Having noted the considerable progress made in the compilation of the archaeological bibliography concerning Nubia, the donation made by scholars and institutions and foreseen acquisitions of publications, that further research be undertaken on available documentations and also contacts be established with institutions/persons dealing with Egyptology worldwide. 5

6 (d) (e) (f) (g) that bibliography of existing documents and reports at the Supreme Council of Antiquities or at the Nubia museum be made available. that the balance of budget for the US$70,000 already approved for be used for the purchase and duplication of bibliographic material and continue its further updating. that further budget of US$ 5,000 be allocated for the duplication of the documents on the Campaign existing at UNESCO, according to the list prepared by the consultant. that donations made available by scholars and institutions be recognized in a commemorative plaque to be placed at the documentation center. that the editing of the bibliography be completed preferably by the end of 2002 under the overall supervision of Prof Valloggia. An amount of US$ 10,000 from the Trust Fund be used for this purpose. that following the results of the editing and publication on the internet in the year 2002 of the bibliography, complementing the volume of the already published Christopher bibliography, be effected. The Committee will decide at the next Session, the desirability of printing the bibliography as a UNESCO publication. RECOMMENDATION 6 Having noted the need to establish a database on Nubian archaeological artifacts in the Nubia Museum, that a compilation of a database of archaeological objects existing in the abovementioned museum, according to standards already in use in other museums in Egypt or in the Arab world, be completed. that an initial amount of US$ 50,000 be used for this purpose from the Trust Fund. RECOMMENDATION 7 Having noted the importance of establishing museum web sites to promote the exchange of information among professionals around the world, 6

7 (d) the establishment of a web site for the Museum. that a specialized training course on the preparation of web sites for museums representing the first step towards this end, be organized in the near future. that an initial budget of US$ 60,000 be made available from the Trust Fund for this purpose that a further study for the holding of training courses at Regional level on this topic be made. RECOMMENDATION 8 1. Considering the importance of the Salvage of the Nubia Monuments Campaign launched by UNESCO and all the efforts done by the International community for the achievement of the above, 2. Following recommendation 2 of the 11 th session of the Committee, that a study for the preparation of a GIS (Geographic Information System) on the Nubia region recording all the changes that occurred to the landscape and sites during the construction of the High Dam, be made in close cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquites, where the establishment of a GIS center for all Egypt is in progress. that an initial budget of US$ 8,000 be made available from the Trust Fund for this purpose. RECOMMENDATION 9 1. Having noted the excellent work carried out by the Ministry of Culture in the management of the area of Abu Simbel and Philae temples, 2. Recognizing the continuing efforts carried out by the SCA in landscaping and presenting archaeological sites in the Nubia region, 7

8 that a workshop targeting the management of sites in the Nubia region be organized during the year that further training courses on the same subject be offered at a regional level to archaeologists and sites inspectors. that an initial budget of US$ 30,000 be made available from the Trust Fund for the organization of the Nubia sites management workshop and that additional budget for the organization of regional courses be discussed during the next Committee Session. NATIONAL MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION (NMEC) The Executive Committee RECOMMENDATION 1 1. Recalling recommendations 1 and 2 of the 11 th Session of the Executive Committee, 2. Recalling further recommendations 1 and 3 of the Bureau meeting which were adopted by the Committee by written procedure, and in particular the need for a timetable (critical path), 3. Stressing the need to complete the work on the museological programme and the architectural design brief, 4. Welcoming the decision of the Egyptian authorities to appoint a project manager, who will also be the focal point to ensure close collaboration between, the work of the experts group and that of the Architect and the Egyptian authorities, 5. Noting that the museological programme needs to be finalized so as to determine the appropriate adaptation of the architectural project, that a meeting be convened in March/April 2002, of the key members of the group of experts and the Egyptian authorities together with Architect G. Kosseiba, to agree to the museological programme and, in light of that programme, to determine the necessary modifications to the architectural design. that this meeting should have available to it, relevant information about the site and all preparatory work undertaken on the future policies of the museum, including public services and the development of the display. 8

9 (d) that the timetable be adjusted so that the modifications to the architectural design are in sufficient time before the finalization of the tender document. that a report on the museological programme and the modification to the architectural design should be submitted to the 13 th meeting of the Executive Committee. RECOMMENDATION 2 Recalling that the architectural project of Dr. El-Ghazali Kosseiba is being developed in the light of the suggestions made by the UNESCO Expert mission (April 2001) and subsequent experts meetings, that the next meeting of the Executive Committee be held once these revisions are effectively made. that the said meeting be held at UNESCO Headquarters and that its agenda focuses on the examination of the documents produced. that these documents include, in particular, a site model of the future museum as well as relevant graphic documents. SECRETARIAT RECOMMENDATION 1 The Executive Committee 1. Having noted the considerable work load and time needed to implement the recommendations of the Committee, 2. Considering that the above-mentioned work needs the services of a full time employee, 9

10 that a junior consultant be contracted for an initial period of one year to work under the supervision of the programme specialist presently in charge of carrying out all the activities related to the Committee. that an annual amount of US$ 24,000 be drawn from the Trust Fund of the Campaign for this purpose. 10