Progress in restoring Ethiopia's treasured UNESCO-listed Lalibela heritage site has been the central focus of a committee meeting held on Wednesday. The Lalibela Archaeological Site Maintenance Monitoring Committee, led by Tourism Minister Selamit Kassa and French Ambassador Alexis Lamech, reviewed the status of the project, which is being supported substantially by the French government.
During their review, the committee engaged in detailed discussions covering the international bidding process for the restoration work and the scientific study guiding the overall project.
Minister Selamit Kassa expressed her gratitude for the significant support the French government is providing across Ethiopia's tourism sector. She specifically highlighted France's contributions to the conservation of the Lalibela heritage site, the restoration of the Grand Palace, and ongoing efforts to modernize the National Museum.
Regarding the Lalibela project, which is expected to commence soon, the minister gave assurance that the restoration work will be conducted with utmost care to preserve the site's invaluable heritage. She also noted the formation of an advisory committee, comprising representatives from the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, the Heritage Protection Authority, the Lalibela City Administration, and other relevant stakeholders, to provide guidance. The discussion also set a direction for facilitating a necessary training platform for the work.
French Ambassador Alexis Lamech, for his part, affirmed his commitment to ensuring the timely completion of tasks crucial for preserving Lalibela's heritage, particularly the scientific study that has been initiated.
Attendees at the discussion included His Holiness Abune Ermias, Archbishop of North Wollo Diocese and Patron of the Holy Lalibela Church, the Mayor of Lalibela City, and officials from the Ministry of Tourism.
The Lalibela site, renowned for its 11 medieval monolithic churches located 645km from the capital, Addis Ababa, was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1978.