UNESCO, Sweden and CCHP restore Dar Hazboun cultural heritage building in Bethlehem – UNESCO press release

29.05.2015 – UNESCO Office in Ramallah

UNESCO, Consulate General of Sweden in Jerusalem and CCHP restored Dar Hazboun cultural heritage building in Bethlehem

Bethlehem, May 25, 2015 – H.E. Rula Ma’ay’a, Palestinian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Ms. Ann-Sofie Nelsson, the Consul General of Sweden in Jerusalem, Dr. Lodovico Folin Calabi, the Head of UNESCO Ramallah Office, Ms. Vira Baboun, the Mayor of Bethlehem, and Mr. Issam Juha, Director of the CCHP, inaugurated the rehabilitated historic building of Dar Hazboun and Al-Anatreh stairs in the old city of Bethlehem.

The Historic building was renovated by the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation (CCHP) under the project “Local Development through the Rehabilitation and Revitalization of Historic Built Environment in Palestine”, funded by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish international development cooperation Agency (Sida) and implemented by UNESCO.

The project coordinated by UNESCO aims at contributing to the improvement of the quality of lives of local communities through the rehabilitation and revitalization of the historic built environment in Palestine.

Dar Hazboun building and Al-Anatreh stairs are situated in Al-Anatreh neighborhood, south of the Church of the Nativity. The building, abandoned for more than 50 years, will now be used to host the premises of the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation CCHP.

“The achievement we are witnessing today is vital for the revitalization of the distinctive cultural heritage in Bethlehem and contributes for the preservation of the Palestinian identity”, said Ms. Vera Baboun, Mayor of Bethlehem.

H.E. Ms. Ann-Sofie Nelsson, General Consul of Sweden in Jerusalem, expressing the pride that’s the Government of Sweden takes in supporting the rehabilitation of cultural heritage in Palestin, culture is a fundamental component of every state building process.

“UNESCO was and still one of the partners who supported CCHP in its professional journey. Through this partnership and with the significant support of the Government of Sweden through Sida our gathering here is made possible”, said Dr. Lodovico Folin Calabi, Head of UNESCO office in Ramallah a.i. “I hope this beautiful traditional Palestinian house, of one of the Bethlehemite families, will record a new era of success and be a venue to produce a fruitful collective work for the benefit of the Palestinian people and heritage", Dr. Calabi added.

“The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities will continue to provide support for the rehabilitation of cultural heritage. I wish to thank the Government of Sweden, UNESCO and the Municipality of Bethlehem for all the collective efforts in the achievement of the rehabilitation projects”, The Palestinian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, H.E. Ms. Rula Ma’ay’a.

For further information, please contact Majd Beltaji, Public Information Officer of the UNESCO Office in Ramallah at m.beltaji(at)unesco.org

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