President of Republic: We Must Preserve our Historical Heritage.
On Friday 8 December, his Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, affirmed that our historical heritage, both material and moral, represents, in its richness and diversity, an authentic expression of our civilizational identity and our religious and cultural values. It is the faithful memory that preserves our values, customs, and ways of living, and commemorates our glorious days and our luminous historical eras. .
His Excellency said, at the opening of the twelfth edition of the Cities of Heritage Festival in the city of Walata in the Hodh Charghi, that it is incumbent on all of us to preserve this heritage treasure, and to ensure that the values and meanings that it abounds, and the fragrant history that exudes in it remains always present in our collective conscience, consolidating our cultural identity and strengthening our social cohesion and national unity.
The text of the speech of His Excellency the President of the Republic reads as follow:
“In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and may God’s blessings be upon His Noble Prophet.
Mr. Leader of the Democratic Opposition Foundation,
– Ladies and gentlemen, Ministers,
– Mr. The Walli,
– Dear heads of regional councils,
– Ladies and gentlemen,
representatives and mayors,
– Ladies and gentlemen, members of the diplomatic corps,
– Ladies and gentlemen, heads of political parties,
– Ladies and gentlemen, guests of heritage cities,
– Invited gentlemen and ladies,
– Dear audience,
It gives me great pleasure to extend to you, the inhabitants of the city of Walata, my sincere thanks for the warm reception and the generosity of hospitality that is inherent in the inhabitants of this city, and among Mauritanians in general.
I also thank all those who were not deterred by the distance or the hassle of travel from coming today to participate with us in the activities of this twelfth edition of the Cities Heritage Festival.
Ladies and gentlemen;
Our historical heritage, both material and moral, represents, in its richness and diversity, an authentic expression of our civilizational identity and our religious and cultural values.
It is the faithful memory that preserves our values, customs, and ways of living, and commemorates our glorious days and luminous historical eras.
There is no evidence of that than this city of yours, the historic city of Walata, which, despite the normalities of time, is still steadfast in preserving our cultural identity, through its precious manuscripts, its rich libraries, the monuments of its magnificent architecture, its breathtaking decorative patterns, and the reputation of its scholars who have spread the horizons.
Over successive eras, this city has been the hub of commercial exchanges in its geographical space, and a prominent cultural center that has attracted scholars from various countries.
It also played a distinguished role in spreading the teachings of our tolerant Islamic religion, north and south of the desert. It is truly a unique heritage treasure.
It is incumbent on all of us to preserve this heritage treasure, and to ensure that the values and meanings it abounds, and the fragrant scent of its prosperous history, remain ever-present in our collective conscience, in order to consolidate our cultural identity and strengthen our social cohesion and national unity.
Gentlemen and ladies
Preserving this heritage treasure, in addition to always remembering and celebrating it, requires that we continuously pledge to its physical manifestations, including buildings, manuscripts, and artistic artifacts, with regular restoration and maintenance, to prevent their extinction.
It also requires providing the necessary development conditions to upgrade the city and preserve its heritage.
Therefore, we were keen to make the Cities Heritage Festival a heritage and development event at the same time.
The development component of this version included many programs related to breaking isolation and improving the level of access to basic services, such as water, electricity, health, education, and communications…
As well as supporting citizens’ ability to withstand, by expanding their benefit from the social safety net, and working to upgrade their local production and income-generating activities, in parallel with supporting their capabilities in the field of manuscript preservation and archaeological preservation.
As I hope that this series of programs will contribute to the promotion of the city and strengthen the steadfastness of its people, I announce, with God’s blessing, the opening of this twelfth edition of the Heritage Cities Festival, wishing you all an enjoyable, useful, and contributing festival to strengthening our cultural identity and national unity.
Thank you, and may God’s peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.”