NNA - Under the patronage of Prime Minister Najib Mikati, a ceremony was held at the Rashid Karami International Fair in Tripoli to unveil a commemorative plaque, marking the inclusion of the fair on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In his address, Mikati stated, "It is an honor for me to be with you this morning in Tripoli to participate in and confirm UNESCO's announcement of the inclusion of the Rashid Karami International Fair in Tripoli on the World Heritage List. This is a source of joy for me and for all of us, as we affirm that this landmark is important, and we will preserve and maintain it to serve as a catalyst for further investment in this unique facility on Lebanese soil."

"I thank everyone who contributed to this matter, the Ministry of Culture for its follow-up, the Ministry of Economy for its interest in this landmark under its supervision, and I must thank the UNESCO representation office in Lebanon for its efforts. A special thanks to Lebanon's Ambassador to UNESCO, Sahar Baasiri, who has made great efforts since her first day in office. I remember vividly the day this landmark was inscribed on the World Heritage List and her joy in contacting me about it,” Mikati added.

"Lebanon values art and appreciates architectural engineering, which is why it was chosen this year as a member of UNESCO's Executive Board to select key landmarks worldwide. This is evidence that we are not newcomers to this matter, but rather fundamental to it. We appreciate art, culture, and architectural engineering, which is why Lebanon was chosen to play a major role in selecting other landmarks. It is up to all of us to do what is necessary to invest in this facility to make it a reality worthy of bearing the name of President Rashid Karami, who gave so much to this country and was a role model in patriotism and Arabism,” Mikati concluded.

==================R.H.