2005 press releases

U.S. Ambassador Awards $30,000 to Ministry of Culture to Restore and Conserve Archeological Site in the Beqaa

September 14, 2005

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffrey D. Feltman and Minister of Culture Dr. Tarek Mitri signed a grant agreement providing $30,000 to the Ministry of Culture, Directorate of Antiquities, to restore and conserve a Roman-era temple in the Beqaa Valley. The signing ceremony took place at the National Museum of Beirut, Wednesday, September 14, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. Funding for the project comes from the U.S. Department of State Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, an initiative established by the U.S. Congress in 2001.

Through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation, the U.S. aims to demonstrate respect for other cultures and their rich cultural traditions. The $30,000 grant will restore the Nymphaeum of Temnin in the Beqaa Valley, a small Roman-era temple at what was considered a holy spring. In his remarks, Ambassador Feltman noted, “What connects that site to us today is the universality of the importance of water to all peoples and cultures. Water gives and sustains life. Similarly, we hope that this project will sustain—in a small way—the people in the villages around it, by encouraging respect for their cultural heritage and pride in their historic roots. More importantly for today, we hope that the restoration of this site will advance efforts to regenerate the area economically through tourism projects. Such efforts are vital in ensuring a more promising future for the people of the Bekaa—particularly the young.”

This is the third year Lebanon has been awarded monies from the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. In 2003, the U.S. Government provided $30,640 to conserve and improve the presentation of the Funerary Complex at al Bass Necropolis Site in Tyre.
Last year, funds from the Ambassador’s Fund were used to restore the Hermitage of Mar Bichay at the Mar Antonios Monastery. Located in the Kozhaya Valley, Ehden, the hermitage underscores the importance of spiritual life and reflection in Lebanon’s history and now.

In his remarks, Ambassador Feltman said, “ It is particularly appropriate that we are signing the grant here, in the beautiful National Museum of Beirut. This museum is proof of the importance the Lebanese accord to their cultural heritage. The dramatic story of efforts taken to protect the museum’s collection during the civil war is a testament to Lebanese pride in the ancient civilizations that once inhabited their lands. And, the museum embodies the determination of the Lebanese to rebuild their country and institutions after a tragic civil war.”

Ambassador Feltman noted that, in addition to funds from the Ambassador’s Fund for Culture Preservation, the U.S. Government also helped promote Lebanon’s many cultural and archeological treasures through the USAID-funded “Discover Lebanon” project. He noted that USAID contractor SRI, with the cooperation of the Ministries of Tourism, Culture and Environment, is launching a new series of promotional materials for tourists. These materials, “Archeological Promenade” “Nature Reserve Promenade” and “Discover Lebanon” will encourage Lebanese and foreign tourists to discover the full diversity Lebanon.