The inscription of Rabat on the World Heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a "new label" to enhance the cultural, architectural and historical jewel that is the capital of the Kingdom, affirmed Eric Falt, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO.

Secured thanks to the "significant involvement" of HM King Mohammed VI, who encouraged local officials and the Ministry of Culture to present a "high-quality application file", this distinction, awarded unanimously by the World Heritage Committee, should encourage the authorities of Rabat to preserve this heritage for the benefit of its inhabitants and future generations.

In an interview with MAP, Mr. Falt highlighted the "exemplary" nature of Rabat's application file to obtain the status of a World Heritage city. UNESCO is convinced that Morocco "takes this inscription very seriously", the UNESCO official welcomed.

"I have seen that the authorities at all levels are working in concert to guarantee the necessary conditions for the preservation of this heritage and so that the local population is proud of this new label", continued Mr. Falt, who was recently invited to Morocco to participate in the official launch of the festivities marking the inscription of Rabat as a World Heritage site.

UNESCO, he added, intends to support the city of Rabat with a promotional effort to preserve its cultural heritage, through concerted actions, paying tribute to the "high degree of competence" of the capital's authorities in cultural matters.

Mr. Falt cited, as an example, the choice of Rabat by the American Association "Earth Day Network" to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day in 2010.

The inscription of Rabat is the culmination of several decades of efforts deployed by its authorities, who have adopted a "gratifying" approach by focusing on the theme of diversity and a successful marriage between modernity and authenticity.

The Rabat site appealed to international bodies and UNESCO in particular, because the chosen slogan focused on Rabat as a "modern capital, historic city and a shared heritage".

In Mr. Falt's view, this is a revealing theme that highlighted a heritage shared by all, which made Rabat's file an "exemplary, original and well-structured application" that successfully associated the testimonies of the various eras the city has experienced, the values these eras conveyed, and the traces of a whole history, beliefs and traditions that have intersected in the city over the centuries.

UNESCO ardently hopes that this inscription will translate into an increase in tourist flows to Rabat, without compromising the quality of the sites visited.

Although the massive influx of tourists could cause problems in certain communities, the UNESCO official warned, "the Moroccan authorities are well aware of this and they will know how to take the necessary measures" to preserve the riches of the capital.

"I am not too worried about this, because Morocco has so many inscribed sites (9 in total) that Rabat will inevitably benefit from a tourist influx, but in a national context" rich in sites registered as World Heritage, Mr. Falt stressed, noting that "Morocco is the country in the Arab world richest in inscribed sites and this clearly demonstrates the willingness of the Moroccan authorities to respect the commitments made to the heritage convention, which include rights regarding international solidarity and recognition, but also duties in terms of conservation and protection".

Mr. Falt did not fail to pay tribute to Morocco's efforts to protect its World Heritage sites. "Morocco, he said, is undeniably one of the most active countries in the region in the protection and promotion of heritage. It is in a position to lead the other Maghreb countries in its wake" in a context of strengthening regional cooperation in the cultural field.

Addressing other areas of UNESCO's collaboration with Morocco, Mr. Falt cited, among others, education, science, communication and information, and freedom of expression.

Regarding education, the UN official praised the action of HRH Lalla Meryem, who, in her capacity as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, successfully leads projects for women and children.

Morocco, he insisted, has made many efforts in the field of the fight against illiteracy and has made notable progress in terms of development and human rights.

"Beyond all these efforts in the fields of culture, education and science, it is important to say that Morocco and UNESCO work in excellent intelligence and harmony and share the same vision of the world, that of a new humanism" based on true human and sustainable development.