Erbil, Kurdistan-Iraq, 11 April -
The Ministry of Culture of the Kurdistan Regional Government in
Erbil has announced its aim to build a media city on an area of
250,000 square meters in Erbil city.
Regarding the aim of this project, the Minister for Culture Sami
Shorish said the media city will help provide a suitable environment
and facilities for journalists and training in areas such as
building TV and radio stations.
Shorish also spoke about the importance of the project in broadening
the process of freedom of expression in Kurdistan.
He then added: “However, there is a need to introduce new laws
regarding media freedom and the protection of human rights”.
The ministry will set up a supervisory body to look into
requirements and will also visit a number of countries to see
similar projects.
The KRG’s Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism had a meeting April
5th to discuss plans to develop Erbil city centre. Proposals
included constructing shopping centers, building modern residential
areas and landscaping the area with greenery.
At present dilapidated housing and shops surround the ancient
citadel at the heart of Erbil city.
“Three preliminary plans to develop the city center were put
forward today. These plans are subject to discussions with all
relevant sides following which the plan that is seen as best for
the purpose will be chosen,” the KRG minister of Municipalities and
Tourism Mr. Barzan Dizayee told Iraq Voices news agency.
“The development plan is to cover areas lacking basic services
where the regional government has not been able to help due to the
alleys being too narrow or the houses too old” added the minister.
“The new project will keep the balance between the ancient
monuments in the area with newly built commercial and residential
buildings capable of lasting at least for the next 25 years,” said
Mr. Nabil Haddad, the regional director of the Lebanese company
that designed the project.
Meanwhile, voicing his concern about the new planned project, Mr. Nawzad
Hadi, the governor of the city said ”The plan should take into
consideration the archeological sites in the area and the business
reality that has taken shape in that part of the city. One can
predict that turning the commercial site into a green area will be
difficult.
The plan to turn the market into a green area will involve the
destruction of thousands of stores and that will definitely affect
the market's status in the city.”
www.hewlerglobe.net Top |
® 