Eritrean Ambassador Hanna Simon held reception at UNESCO Head office in Paris, France

By Eritrea EmbassyMedia | 20 June Paris France

On the occasion of the candidature of the city of Asmara-capital of Eritrea- for inscription in UNESCO’s World Heritage List H. Exc. Mrs Hanna SIMON, Ambassador of the State of Eritrea to France/ Permanent Delegate of the State of Eritrea to UNESCO, held a reception yesterday at UNESCO Head office in Paris France.

Ambassadors of the government of Poland, Finland, Portugal, Cuba, Turkey, Kuwait, Serbia, Iran, Italy, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Peru, Tanzania, Tunisia, Angola, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea, and Embassy Staff attended the reception.

Ambassador Hanna Simon opened the reception, indicated that the reception & exhibition is being staged under the theme "Asmara: City of Dreams". she said is part of the campaign underway in Paris and in London at the Royal Institution British Architect RIBA with a view to placing Asmara in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Eng.Medhanie Teclemariam, Asmara Heritage Project (AHP) Coordinator gave briefing on Eritrean history during which he pointed out that Eritrea is endowed with yet untapped historical, cultural and natural heritages. He reiterated that Eritrea societal values based on living in harmony and respect to one other is a unique asset. Eng.Medhanie said that "Asmara: City of Dreams" is a gem of world inheritance and has an excellent choice of becoming UNESCO's world heritage site.

Eritrea has submitted the candidature of Asmara -capital of Eritrea- for inscription in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The exhibition 'Asmara : City of Dreams' is intended to support this candidature and to draw international attention to this heritage of world value. Asmara reflects urbanism and architecture inherited from fascism and Italy’s expansionist policies against what was then Abyssinia (Ethiopia). It echoes the ambivalence of modernism as well on the African continent.

Asmara has developed into a unique modernist city with a mix of European-Italian and African Eritrean cultures of tolerance and cohabitation among various religions and ethnic groups.