The STC Secretariat Organizes Awareness-Raising Lecture 'The South’s Heritage is Global' in the Capital, Aden

The Media and Cultural Department (MCD) of the General Secretariat of the Presidium of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) organized, on Sunday, in the capital, Aden, an awareness-raising lecture titled “The South's Heritage is Global: Protecting Cultural Heritage is a National Duty.” The event coincided with the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day, and was held under the patronage of STC President Aidarous Qassem Al-Zubaidi.

Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Haidara al-Shaqqi, Assistant Secretary-General of the Secretariat for Governorates and Coordination Affairs, delivered a speech in which he lauded the efforts of the MCD and emphasized the importance of such initiatives in reviving the national identity, preserving the history of the South, and raising public awareness about the heritage.

In turn, Dr. Bassem Mansour Al-Hawshabi, head of the MCD and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Southern Media Authority (NSMA), welcomed all attendees and highlighted the lecture's significance in promoting awareness to protect the South's cultural heritage. He noted that the event coincides not only with World Heritage Day but also with the grim anniversary of the declaration of the 1994 war against the South, which deliberately obliterated its national identity and destroyed its historical landmarks. Moreover, Dr. Al-Hawshabi outlined the civilizations, monuments, and antiquities of the South and urged attendees to capitalize on the lecture's enriching benefits, given its valuable insights into safeguarding and promoting the protection of the South's heritage.

The attendees listened to a comprehensive briefing from Mr. Amr Aqeel, Deputy Head of the MCD, on the significance of cultural heritage, its various forms, and the threats facing the South's heritage, and he outlined key strategies for its preservation. Mr. Aqeel cited international, regional, and local conventions and responsibilities pertaining to safeguarding the South's cultural heritage. Furthermore, the lecture incorporated a reportage showcasing many historical landmarks, archaeological sites, traditional industries, and local factories of the South.