A US-funded regional museum in Marib [Archives:2004/751/Local News]

Hassan Al-Zaidi
A memorandum of understanding was signed at the Social Fund for Development on June 27 between the US and Yemeni governments to construct the Yemeni Civilization Museum in Marib at a total cost of approximately US $3 million. The agreement comes within the framework of cooperation and the development assistance provided by the US government to the Republic of Yemen.
The US government will cover the cost of the construction and equipment of the museum and support the training and capacity building required. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism will provide capabilities, manpower and the running costs and the Social Fund for Development will be responsible for the follow-up, design and implementation of the project. The museum will help preserve the thousands of artifacts that now lay scattered at makeshift warehouses in Marib.
The US Ambassador in a statement following the signing of the memorandum said that this project would play a vital role in explaining Yemeni civilization not only to Yemeni citizens but also to tourists and visitors to Yemen. It will also assist in the promotion of tourism in Yemen and in creating new job opportunities for local citizens in Marib governorate. The project constitutes an example of cultural partnership between the peoples of Yemen and America. He cited that this support came as part of the US support to remote governorates such as Saddah, Marib and Al-Jouf. He also announced that the medical equipment for “The President” Hospital, funded by the US Government, would arrive soon.
The deputy governor of Marib, Sheikh Mohamed Al-Fatemy expressed astonishment at naming the agreement as a memorandum of understanding, since the designs of the project were already prepared and established at a cost to the governorate of nearly 2 million Yemeni Riyals.
The minister of social affairs and labor, on his part, valued the efforts being exerted by the US government to support Yemen. He confirmed that the Social Fund would do what it could to accomplish the project.
The memorandum was signed by the US ambassador in Sana'a Edmund J. Hull, the minister of social affairs and labor, the executive director of the Social Fund for Development Abdulkarim Al-Arhabi, the director of Yemeni antiquities Dr. Yousef Abdullah and the deputy governor of Marib.
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