Wednesday 10 June - His Excellency Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi arrived in Mosul to assess the damage left six years after the war and to voice his commitment to the city ‘s renewal. During his visit, Al Kadhimi toured the Al-Nouri Mosque Complex to witness the progress that has taken place on site, in the framework of the UNESCO project to Revive the Spirit of Mosul, supported by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The battle for Mosul left behind an estimated 8 million tons of rubble and destroyed prominent historical landmarks. Al-Nouri Mosque and its fabled minaret were left destroyed. Prime Minister could witness the progress made and get a first hand briefing of the challenges ahead with the lead architect and project managers. “This visit comes at an important juncture of the project, as we have just completed the first phase and are about to launch an international competition for the architectural design and reconstruction of the mosque”, said Paolo Fontani, Representative of UNESCO in Iraq.
Prime Minister was welcomed by representatives from UNESCO, the local government, Sunni Waqf and the MoC, actively involved in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the historic landmarks of Mosul. His Excellency thanked UNESCO and its partners for their efforts in restoring the emblematic Al-Nouri Mosque.