EPDC cooperation with ALIPH – 2

On Friday, April 25, 2025, a delegation from the International Alliance for the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage (#ALIPH), headed by the Executive Director, Dr. Valérie Freland, and accompanied by the project directors from the Middle East, visited to review the results of the first phase of the “Emergency Restoration Work Following the February 6, 2023 Earthquake at Krak des Chevaliers” project.

ALIPH funds the project in collaboration with the Hungarian Helps Agency (HHA), represented by Dr. Balage Majore, the Director of the Hungarian side of the Syrian-Hungarian mission on site. The visit also aimed to assess the status of the planned projects for the second phase and future stages.

The visit was attended by Dr. Anas Haj Zidan, the Director-General of Antiquities and Museums, the Director of Engineering at the Directorate, and the Director of the Krak des Chevaliers Antiquities Department.

Engineer Hisham Saad, Executive Director of St. Ephrem Patriarchal Development Committee #EPDC, which is implementing this project with ALIPH’s support, along with an administrative team from EPDC, also participated in the visit.

Engineer Edmond Aji, the project manager, provided an overview of the steps taken and the progress made.

The Director of the Alliance praised the achievements accomplished during the project’s first phase. He also emphasized the importance of this unique and effective tripartite partnership, under the patronage of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the Ministry of Culture, and the Director-General of the Hungarian Aid Agency.

All attendees expressed hope for the continued collaborative work between governmental, non-governmental institutions, and local communities to preserve, protect, and promote this shared cultural and humanitarian heritage. Krak des Chevaliers stands as a unique gem adorning the crown that brings together nations from around the world.

It is worth noting that EPDC is committed to heritage preservation projects, having previously carried out a restoration project on part of Krak des Chevaliers in cooperation with the Hungarian mission.