Salt, Nov. 5 (Petra) -- Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Emad Hijazeen and Greater Salt Municipality Committee Chairman Ali Bataineh discussed ways to advance cooperation on heritage preservation and development projects in Salt's historic center, with a focus on safeguarding the city's status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and enhancing its appeal as a cultural tourism destination.

During the meeting, attended by Ministry Secretary-General Mohammad Majali, Director-General of the Department of Antiquities Fawzi Abu Danneh, and representatives of the Balqa Tourism Directorate and the Salt Development Corporation, Hijazeen reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to working closely with the municipality to protect Salt's heritage and preserve its distinctive architectural character.

He stressed the importance of revitalizing the historic center while ensuring that development projects respect the city's architectural identity. He also praised the municipality's efforts, particularly its initiative to establish a specialized training center for the maintenance and restoration of heritage buildings.

Hijazeen said the proposed center would help strengthen national expertise, build local capacities and equip professionals with the skills needed to preserve historic buildings in line with internationally recognized standards and best practices.

For his part, Bataineh said protecting Salt's cultural and architectural heritage remains a key priority in the municipality's development plans, emphasizing the importance of continued coordination with the ministry and relevant institutions to move forward with joint projects.

He outlined several ongoing initiatives, including the establishment of the specialized training center, the rehabilitation of Al-Hammam Street, the removal of buildings surrounding the Latin Church, and improvements to public facilities and tourism services in the historic center to enhance the visitor experience.

The two sides agreed to translate their discussions into practical action through cooperation agreements and joint working teams tasked with overseeing implementation, setting priorities and establishing clear timelines. They also agreed to address obstacles facing the projects to ensure sustained efforts to protect and preserve Salt's heritage.

//Petra// WH