H.E. Mr. Mohammad Yassin Saleh, Minister of Culture of the Syrian Arab Republic, received, on 14 January 2026 at the Ministry’s headquarters, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, who was accompanied by a high-level delegation consisting of directors of technical departments and subsidiary institutions of the Organization.

The Minister welcomed the Director-General and the accompanying delegation, commending the visit as a significant opportunity for consultation and exchange of views on cultural affairs in the Arab world. He highlighted the future-oriented vision for culture in Syria, emphasizing the importance he places on restoring the active role of culture in serving Syria’s promising national project.  He hailed ALECSO’s role as a platform of expertise in the Arab world, having launched numerous initiatives aimed at preserving Arab identity and safeguarding Arab cultural heritage. 

The Minister took this opportunity to extend an official invitation to ALECSO to participate in the First Syrian International Book Fair, scheduled to be held in September 2026.

For his part, the Director-General of ALECSO expressed his thanks to the Syrian Culture Minister for providing this valuable opportunity to enhance consultation and exchange of views on issues of shared interest, including the joint heritage inscription files overseen by the Organization. In this regard, he commended the joint Arab file on “Henna,” inscribed on the list of intangible cultural heritage, and welcomed the initiatives proposed by the Ministry in this field, affirming ALECSO’s readiness to support them to ensure their successful implementation.

Both sides agreed to pursue coordination and cooperation to make sure Syria’s needs remain among the priorities of ALECSO’s future programs.

The Syrian Minister invited the Director-General and his accompanying delegation to visit the Umayyad Mosque, a distinguished historical monument and a cultural beacon that reflects Syria’s rich heritage across the centuries.

Accompanied by the Minister and the delegation, the Director-General visited the Umayyad Mosque, where he explored its remarkable architectural features, an enduring artistic masterpiece that has retained its original architectural identity throughout history.