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17�Թ�was honored to welcome our Libyan colleagues, Dr. Mohammed Faraj Mohammed Al-Fallos (Chairman, Board of Directors, Department of Antiquities), Ambassador Ashraf Mohammed Eletaeb (Director, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Mr. Rabi’i Yousef Milad (Advisor, Department of International Law and Treaties, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and Dr. Ahmad Emrage (University of Benghazi and Member, Board of Directors, Department of Antiquities) to our office in Alexandria on April 14 for a presentation on ASOR’s Cultural Heritage Initiatives and a productive discussion on past and future collaborations to protect, preserve, and promote Libyan cultural heritage.

For many, the name Tatooine evokes the arid landscape of the desert planet that plays such an important role in the “Star Wars” universe. However, the iconic places and landscapes of this fictional world are built upon the very real history, culture, and environment of Tunisia’s Tataouine Governorate. Since October 2024, 17�Թ�and its partners at the Douiret Women’s Association (Wakry Association) have been working to preserve Ksar Douiret, one of the most iconic ksars, or fortified villages, in Tataouine Governorate, with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.