Kuwait City: Despite the Israeli occupation forces' aggression in the first half of 2024, Lebanon witnessed significant cultural activities, highlighted by the designation of "Tripoli as the Capital of Arab Culture for 2024." Fully organized by Lebanon's Ministry of Culture and society, this event was initiated following a recommendation from the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).
According to Kuwait News Agency, Tripoli transformed into a vibrant cultural hub, attracting guests and visitors worldwide. The event was graced by the presence of former premier Najib Mikati, former culture minister Mohammad Mortada, ALECSO chief Mohamed Ould Omar, along with several Arab culture ministers, ambassadors, and diplomatic delegations. The city, also known as Al Fayhaa, showcased a variety of theatrical, literary, urban, and heritage activities, creating a mosaic of cultural movement.
Mikati lauded the event as an outstanding Arab cultural scene, while Mortada emphasized Tripoli's potential to reclaim its position on the sustainable development map, thanks to its economic and cultural capabilities. In the course of organizing the event, the Ministry of Culture achieved milestones, such as adding certain temples to the local list and initiating a project to rehabilitate an archaeological site in Batroun, supported by a grant from Japan. Furthermore, protocols were signed with various societies and cultural institutions to enhance cultural development.
Additionally, the activities included efforts to explore 13 shipwrecks in the Lebanese Sea, containing valuable antiquities from the Hellenistic to Ottoman eras, located in Lebanon's exclusive economic zone. These cultural strides were accomplished amid ongoing conflict and an exacerbating economic crisis in Lebanon.