Historic Cairo

• Earthquake in 1992 (issue resolved)   
• Restoration work (destruction and total reconstruction)

• Rehabilitation of Islamic Cairo

Summary of previous deliberations: Based on the strategy guidelines prepared by the brainstorming session at UNESCO Headquarters in June 1998, a mission visited Cairo in October 1998 to make concrete proposals to address rehabilitation and development issues. The Egyptian authorities examined the proposals and formulated a three-year rehabilitation programme together with an international assistance request. The Bureau, at its twenty-second session took note of the report of the Secretariat and thanked the Egyptian authorities for their co-operation with the Centre and requested the Secretariat to do its utmost in the implementation of the co-operation programme in favour of Islamic Cairo.

New information: In May 1999, preparations were completed for the launching of pilot projects for the rehabilitation programme and for the organisation of the meeting to be held in October– November with potential partners in Cairo. The result of the mission will be presented to the Bureau at its twenty-third session. Furthermore, a junior co-ordinator was posted to the UNESCO Office in Cairo.

• Al Azhar Mosque

Summary of previous deliberations: The Secretariat received a technical report containing the architectural standards applied for the work on the monument from the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt. The Centre transmitted the report to ICOMOS and ICCROM on 23 November 1998. At its twenty-second session, after having taken note of the report of the Secretariat, the Bureau requested ICOMOS to undertake an in-depth evaluation of the report for examination by the Bureau at its twenty-third session.

New information: The Secretariat has received the evaluation from ICOMOS. It pointed out that:

- Documentation and diagnostic analysis of the problems are very briefly described as are some conservation practices related to them: These are difficult to comment on unless the original reports and the monuments can be seen.

- However, some conservation practice procedures are given in considerable detail, which call into question the selection criteria, side effects and long-term behaviour (e.g., marble columns and non-coloured plaster are commented).

- Otherwise, the report carries a positive concept.

- Since a databank of the project has been established, a better evaluation of the project can be carried out by comparing the data with the monument. This will also be very helpful in designing the periodical maintenance programme and monitoring studies of the monument for its long-term conservation.

The Bureau may wish to examine information that will be provided at the time of its session and take the appropriate decision thereupon

The Bureau, having examined the evaluation, thanks ICOMOS for its in-depth report. The Bureau appreciates the establishment of the databank of the project and recommends that the Egyptian authorities continue applying such databank methods shared by all concerned institutions to any large-scale preservation works in Cairo for its long-term conservation. The Bureau finally requests the authorities to co-operate with ICOMOS in the analysis of information in the databank.

Previous deliberations:

1.         Rehabilitation of Islamic Cairo

At its twenty-third session, the Bureau took note of the support of the international community for this project and encouraged its continuation.  It requested the Secretariat to provide the Committee with a detailed report on the actions undertaken in 1999.

2.         Al-Azhar Mosque

At its twenty-third session, the Bureau requested the State Party to invite an ICOMOS mission to evaluate the state of conservation of the monument.

New information

1.                  Rehabilitation of Islamic Cairo (documentation available at the twenty-third session).

In 1999, the co-operation programme for the revitalization of Islamic Cairo was initiated.  It was carried out throughout the year along three principal themes:

1.1       Co-ordination of interventions:

This co-ordination must operate through the intermediary of structures  already set up by the State:

- a Ministerial Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, responsible for planning and decision-making,

- an Executive Committee chaired by the Governor of Cairo, responsible for the supervision of all the interventions at the site.

Provision has been made for an advisor to be attached to the Ministerial Committee and a technical co-ordinator to the Executive Committee.  The latter, Mr T. Abdallah, Director of the Engineering Centre for Archaeology and Environment (University of Cairo), was chosen in agreement with the national authorities. Since May 1999, he participates on a regular basis in the meetings of the Executive Committee, where he ensures a coherence of ongoing actions and their complementarity.

An Adviser – a post for which several Egyptian candidates have been identified - will soon be nominated to the Interministerial Committee.  His role will be to pilot the planification unit of the Committee and to ensure smooth co-ordination, at the highest level, between the international and national partners.  He will also contribute his expertise to the evaluation of the revitalization policy and the harmonious planning of the projects.

1.2       Identification of pilot projects

Beforehand, an identification of the different kinds and origins of interventions was successfully carried out.  This provided a better knowledge of the site and an understanding of the needs and possibilities.

Taking into account the ongoing infrastructural projects and the different ongoing and future activities for rehabilitation, three priority areas have been identified, the north, the centre and the south of the site, all three being urban zones (excluding the City of the Dead and the Citadelle).  Infrastructural work and the rehabilitation of monuments has already occurred or is ongoing in each of these areas to the optimal benefit of the chosen areas.

Therefore, the first pilot project to begin is the south part of the site, where France, co-financing with the World Heritage Fund, has undertaken the restoration of the Beit Sinnari.  Preliminary studies to extend of the rehabiliation process to the public spaces of the area (roads, cables, tertiary waters) facades and its other monuments, began in August.  Beit Sinnari will be rehabilitated during 2000 and the work will begin in the area with the participation of the inhabitants.

A second pilot project could be rapidly initiated in the northern part of the site, very close to the wall, between the first one and the rehabilitation project of Beit Suhaymi, undertaken with funding from the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.  This second pilot project will be more difficult to implement due to the complexity of the area: high density of monuments in an area inhabited by migrants whose artisanal activities have greatly degraded the buildings.

1.3       Legal aspects and regulations for protection - Information

In spite of the existence of a law on antiquities and the presence of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, no firm legal and regulatory framework exists for the protection of historic areas.  This lacune renders the protection of the site of Islamic Cairo particularly difficult. The situation is all the more complex because of an obsolescent rent law with its consequent effects upon the maintenance of the houses.  The ownership of a certain  number of buildings used for housing or commercial purposes by the religious authorities limits the possibility of intervention.  All these aspects were the subject of working sessions in which the UNESCO mission and the Technical Co-ordinator have participated.  Improved protection measures around the monuments and stricter regulations concerning the foundations, infrastructure, electricity and facades have been approved by the Governor of Cairo.

Furthermore, this work will continue and be strengthened by the development of restoration and renovation modalities for religious property and the re-use of monuments.  An information campaign on the site will also be initiated.

2.         Al-Azhar Mosque

ICOMOS has foreseen a monitoring mission on the state of conservation of the monument which should be carried out in November and December 1999.  The State Party has been informed but, at the date of the preparation of this report, no response has been received.  Additional information will be provided orally.