BEIRUT — During a visit to Tripoli on Wednesday, Minister of Culture Ghassan Salameh said that the ministry will "endeavor to the best of its ability to contribute to the restoration of Tripoli's necessities."

Accompanied by the Director General of Cultural Affairs at the ministry, Dr. Ali Samad, and the ministry's staff, the minister toured heritage markets, Hammam Ezzeddine, Hammam al-Nouri, al-Attar Mosque and Khan al-Askar.

Speaking to reporters from Khan al-Askar, the minister said that Tripoli needed security first, followed by investment in heritage and proper infrastructure and superstructure.

Salameh presented to the participants in the tour some proposals for the Khan al-Askar, which would contribute to benefiting from it both in terms of heritage and economically.

Salameh said: “This tour that we are doing today shows interest in the heritage of Tripoli, and I am also here to study proposals and declare interest in this Khan in the hope that things will reach good conclusions."

He also emphasized “the government's interest in the city of Tripoli and the North,” noting “the endeavor to develop a very advanced scanner in the Tripoli port and to operate the Qlayaat Airport, which should contribute to the revitalization of Tripoli's economy.”

Salameh pointed out that “some of the previous sluggishness resulted from the security developments in the country and the coronavirus."

"Stabilizing security and extending the state's [control] over all territories with its own forces ... will contribute to the reassurance of the people, tourists and investors," he added.

Last Thursday, the Cabinet held its first-ever session dedicated to discussing the state’s monopoly over weapons and the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, a small but notable step toward addressing Hezbollah’s disarmament.

Regarding the future of Khan al-Askar, Salameh said: "Khan al-Askar has been excellently restored, but the general circumstances surrounding Tripoli in recent years did not allow this place to be used to revitalize culture, collective work and civil society activity as required. Restored and abandoned heritage needs to be restored again. Only if the heritage comes to life, will there be a complete restoration.”