Sept armées vont prendre part au défilé du cinquantenaire du Mali
230 words
21 September 2010
APANEWS
APASENF
French
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APA-Bamako (Mali) Des militaires de six pays d’Afrique de l’ouest et de la Libye prendront part, mercredi à Bamako, à un imposant défilé devant marquer le point d’orgue des festivités de commémoration du cinquantenaire de l’indépendance du Mali, selon des sources officielles lundi dans la capitale malienne.
Le Burkina Faso, la Guinée, le Ghana, le Niger, le Nigeria et le Sénégal sont les six pays de l’Afrique de l’ouest dont des détachements militaires ont été conviés à défiler aux côtés des troupes de la Grande Jamahiriya libyenne et du Mali.
L’évènement réunira, pendant près de deux heures, sous différentes tribunes dressées le long de l’Avenue du Mali, des chefs d’Etat et hôtes de marque dont le Prince Aga Khan, arrivé dès lundi après-midi dans la capitale malienne.
Un autre défilé, civil celui-là, devrait avoir lieu jeudi au stade Modibo Keîta de la capitale malienne. Il sera marqué notamment par la parade de délégations de différentes régions et de représentants des communautés africaines vivant dans le pays.
Ce défilé civil sera précédé d’une chorale qui tendra à rappeler ce que fut le parcours de la musique malienne de ces 50 dernières années, a indiqué le président de la Commission nationale d’organisation du cinquantenaire, M. Hammadoun Dicko.
Document APASENF020100921e69l0002w
Aga Khan iv in Mali for the 50 year independence celebration
His Highness the Aga Khan arrives in Republic of Mali West Africa, to mark 50th anniversary of independence and the opening of National Park
September 21, 2010
AKDN News: Bamako, Mali, September 2010: 20th September 2010: His Highness the Aga Khan was today received by President Amadou Toumani Touré of Mali, upon his arrival in Bamako. His Highness, who was accompanied by his son Prince Hussain and daughter-in-law Princess Khaliya, will join Heads of State from across West Africa for events to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Mali’s Independence on 22nd September. Amongst the events to mark this occasion will be the official opening of the National Park of Mali which was developed under a public-private partnership between the Government of Mali and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
More photos here
http://www.akdn.org/photos_show.asp?Sid=166
Press Release: http://www.akdn.org
September 21, 2010
AKDN News: Bamako, Mali, September 2010: 20th September 2010: His Highness the Aga Khan was today received by President Amadou Toumani Touré of Mali, upon his arrival in Bamako. His Highness, who was accompanied by his son Prince Hussain and daughter-in-law Princess Khaliya, will join Heads of State from across West Africa for events to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Mali’s Independence on 22nd September. Amongst the events to mark this occasion will be the official opening of the National Park of Mali which was developed under a public-private partnership between the Government of Mali and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.
More photos here
http://www.akdn.org/photos_show.asp?Sid=166
Press Release: http://www.akdn.org
inauguré hier l'échangeur multiple, le Parc national du Mali et la Cité Administrative
L'Indépendant, 21/09/2010
Jour (J-1). C'est, en effet, demain que le peuple malien dans sa grande diversité fêtera le cinquantenaire de l'accession de notre pays à la souveraineté nationale et internationale. Cette année, la fête du 22 septembre revêt un cachet particulier. Car, elle sera l'occasion pour le Président de la République de procéder à l'inauguration d'ouvrages qui vont changer la physionomie de notre capitale. Il s'agit de l'échangeur multiple, du parc national du Mali et de la Cité administrative.
Notre pays s'apprête à vivre un événement majeur de son histoire. Pour ce faire, le président de la République a invité certains de ses homologues de la sous-région.
Selon des indiscrétions obtenues dans les coulisses de la Commission du Cinquantenaire, au moins une dizaine de chefs d'Etat dont le Guide de la Révolution libyenne, Mouhamar Kadhafi, invité d'honneur, prendront part à cette fête mémorable. Dans la foulée, le chef de l'Etat a inauguré, le lundi 20 septembre, l'un des imposants ouvrages qui feront date dans les annales de l'histoire de notre pays.
Il s'agit de l'échangeur multiple de Bamako. Cette infrastructure est d'autant plus utile qu'elle va apporter plus de fluidité dans la circulation. Car, avec ses deux millions d'habitants, la capitale connaît un taux de croissance démographique exponentiel. D'un coût de réalisation de 20 milliards de nos francs dont huit financés par le Budget national et les douze autres par les partenaires, le nouvel échangeur, en plus de la décongestion du trafic, contribuera à garantir la sécurité des usagers de la route et à la mise en place d'ouvrages modernes permettant l'amélioration de la qualité de vie des citoyens. Toute chose qui confère une double utilité à cet échangeur : la fluidité du trafic et l'embellissement de la capitale. Le 22 septembre, le Président ATT inaugurera le parc national du Mali dont les travaux d'aménagement ont été entièrement financés par la fondation du Prince Aghan Khan. D'ailleurs, ce dernier, venu pour participer à cette fête et témoigner davantage son amitié pour notre pays, a atteri, hier lundi, à l'aéroport de Bamako. Le parc national du Mali est un vrai lieu de villégiature. Sur le continent africain, il n'en existe pareil qu'en Egypte. Ceux qui ont visité ce pays, soutiennent que celui du Mali est le plus beau. Car, situé nettement au flanc de la colline de Koulouba, ce beau paysage en a rajouté au caractère attrayant du Parc national du Mali.
Le 23 septembre, le président ATT, accompagné de certains de ses invités de marque, procèdera à l'inauguration tant attendue de la Cité administrative, qui portera le nom de Mouhamar Kadhafi. La Cité administrative est un ensemble de bâtiments destinés à abriter les services de la Primature, les ministères et les plus grandes administrations centrales de notre pays.
Commencé en 1993, le chantier a connu plusieurs arrêts avec l'entreprise libyenne GCC qui a fini, seize longues années après l'amorce des travaux, par sous-traiter le marché à deux entreprises chinoises, notamment Chetec et Covec. Le coût de la réalisation est estimé à environ 50 millions de dollars, soit environ 25 milliards de FCFA. Sur ce montant, 43 millions de dollars proviennent d'un prêt de la "Libyan Foreign Bank".
La cité administrative de Bamako améliorera, à n'en pas douter, les conditions de travail et les services rendus aux usagers. Le troisième pont qui est en chantier, a également été initié dans le cadre du Cinquantenaire. Malheureusement, il ne pourra pas être inauguré durant le clou de l'événement, mais ses travaux sont suffisamment avancés. Appelé "Pont de l'amitié", le troisième pont est le symbole de l'excellente coopération entre notre pays et la Chine. Avec1627 mètres de long et 24 mètres de large, c'est le plus grand ouvrage qui va relier les deux côtés de la capitale sur les rives du fleuve Djoliba.
Au regard de toutes ces réalisations, il n'est pas exagéré de dire que le Cinquantenaire est un véritable projet de développement.
Aujourd'hui, c'est tout un peuple qui est fier des infrastructures ainsi réalisées. Les invités du président ATT, pour ceux qui ne sont pas venus dans notre pays depuis un an, seront agréablement surpris du nouveau visage affiché par Bamako.
Ce Cinquantenaire constitue ainsi un défi pour les générations futures. Alors, à elles aussi, au moment venu, soit le Centenaire, de poser des actes pour lesquels ceux qui viendront après elles en seront fiers.
Diakaridia YOSSI
L'Indépendant, 21/09/2010
Jour (J-1). C'est, en effet, demain que le peuple malien dans sa grande diversité fêtera le cinquantenaire de l'accession de notre pays à la souveraineté nationale et internationale. Cette année, la fête du 22 septembre revêt un cachet particulier. Car, elle sera l'occasion pour le Président de la République de procéder à l'inauguration d'ouvrages qui vont changer la physionomie de notre capitale. Il s'agit de l'échangeur multiple, du parc national du Mali et de la Cité administrative.
Notre pays s'apprête à vivre un événement majeur de son histoire. Pour ce faire, le président de la République a invité certains de ses homologues de la sous-région.
Selon des indiscrétions obtenues dans les coulisses de la Commission du Cinquantenaire, au moins une dizaine de chefs d'Etat dont le Guide de la Révolution libyenne, Mouhamar Kadhafi, invité d'honneur, prendront part à cette fête mémorable. Dans la foulée, le chef de l'Etat a inauguré, le lundi 20 septembre, l'un des imposants ouvrages qui feront date dans les annales de l'histoire de notre pays.
Il s'agit de l'échangeur multiple de Bamako. Cette infrastructure est d'autant plus utile qu'elle va apporter plus de fluidité dans la circulation. Car, avec ses deux millions d'habitants, la capitale connaît un taux de croissance démographique exponentiel. D'un coût de réalisation de 20 milliards de nos francs dont huit financés par le Budget national et les douze autres par les partenaires, le nouvel échangeur, en plus de la décongestion du trafic, contribuera à garantir la sécurité des usagers de la route et à la mise en place d'ouvrages modernes permettant l'amélioration de la qualité de vie des citoyens. Toute chose qui confère une double utilité à cet échangeur : la fluidité du trafic et l'embellissement de la capitale. Le 22 septembre, le Président ATT inaugurera le parc national du Mali dont les travaux d'aménagement ont été entièrement financés par la fondation du Prince Aghan Khan. D'ailleurs, ce dernier, venu pour participer à cette fête et témoigner davantage son amitié pour notre pays, a atteri, hier lundi, à l'aéroport de Bamako. Le parc national du Mali est un vrai lieu de villégiature. Sur le continent africain, il n'en existe pareil qu'en Egypte. Ceux qui ont visité ce pays, soutiennent que celui du Mali est le plus beau. Car, situé nettement au flanc de la colline de Koulouba, ce beau paysage en a rajouté au caractère attrayant du Parc national du Mali.
Le 23 septembre, le président ATT, accompagné de certains de ses invités de marque, procèdera à l'inauguration tant attendue de la Cité administrative, qui portera le nom de Mouhamar Kadhafi. La Cité administrative est un ensemble de bâtiments destinés à abriter les services de la Primature, les ministères et les plus grandes administrations centrales de notre pays.
Commencé en 1993, le chantier a connu plusieurs arrêts avec l'entreprise libyenne GCC qui a fini, seize longues années après l'amorce des travaux, par sous-traiter le marché à deux entreprises chinoises, notamment Chetec et Covec. Le coût de la réalisation est estimé à environ 50 millions de dollars, soit environ 25 milliards de FCFA. Sur ce montant, 43 millions de dollars proviennent d'un prêt de la "Libyan Foreign Bank".
La cité administrative de Bamako améliorera, à n'en pas douter, les conditions de travail et les services rendus aux usagers. Le troisième pont qui est en chantier, a également été initié dans le cadre du Cinquantenaire. Malheureusement, il ne pourra pas être inauguré durant le clou de l'événement, mais ses travaux sont suffisamment avancés. Appelé "Pont de l'amitié", le troisième pont est le symbole de l'excellente coopération entre notre pays et la Chine. Avec1627 mètres de long et 24 mètres de large, c'est le plus grand ouvrage qui va relier les deux côtés de la capitale sur les rives du fleuve Djoliba.
Au regard de toutes ces réalisations, il n'est pas exagéré de dire que le Cinquantenaire est un véritable projet de développement.
Aujourd'hui, c'est tout un peuple qui est fier des infrastructures ainsi réalisées. Les invités du président ATT, pour ceux qui ne sont pas venus dans notre pays depuis un an, seront agréablement surpris du nouveau visage affiché par Bamako.
Ce Cinquantenaire constitue ainsi un défi pour les générations futures. Alors, à elles aussi, au moment venu, soit le Centenaire, de poser des actes pour lesquels ceux qui viendront après elles en seront fiers.
Diakaridia YOSSI
Environnement : Le parc national prend un nouveau visage
Le Républicain, 29/09/2010
Sur la route de Koulouba, entre le musée national et le jardin zoologique de Bamako, un imposant espace vert s’est dressé et porte la marque de l’AKTC (Trust Aga Khan pour la culture). Le parc national, inauguré le 22 septembre dernier, porte désormais le nom de son altesse l’Aga Khan.
Selon les estimations, la capitale malienne est actuellement la ville africaine dont l’expansion démographique est la plus rapide. Sa population est appelée à doubler en l’espace de 15 ans et les exigences d’une vie moderne imposent des efforts considérables en matière d’infrastructures et d’équipements collectifs. «Ce sont des espaces de loisirs et de rencontres pour tous les âges et toutes les catégories sociales qui favorisent la mixité et l’intégration des différentes couches de la population. Et il s’est avéré qu’il s’agit de catalyseurs de l’activité économique et d’une source d’emplois directs et indirects, notamment par les services mis à la disposition des visiteurs», a apprécié son altesse l’Aga Khan.
C’est un projet exceptionnel, a-t-il dit. L’organisation caritative a signé avec le gouvernement malien, à travers le ministère de la culture et celui de l’environnement et de l’assainissement, un accord d’une durée de 25 ans pour la construction, la gestion, l’entretien et le développement du parc. C’est un espace de 103 hectares qui est visé au sein de l’immense réserve forestière protégée de 2100 hectares sur le flanc de la colline de Koulouba. La première phase dont les réalisations viennent d’être inaugurées comprend la réhabilitation de 17 hectares. La valeur des réalisations n’a pas été officiellement annoncée mais des informations font état d’un investissement d’environ 8 milliards de F Cfa pour cette première phase. Et il s’agit bien d’un don que l’AKTC a fait au Mali. Comme reconnaissance à son œuvre, le chef de l’Etat, le président Amadou Toumani Touré a décidé de baptiser le parc «Parc national son Altesse l’Aga Khan».
Le chef-d’œuvre apporte une contribution substantielle à l’amélioration de l’environnement urbain de Bamako, la préservation de l’écosystème des années 1930, une nouvelle architecture paysagère, un jardin de plantes médicinales, une crèche, un salon de thé, un restaurant, des boutiques, des toilettes publiques. Le parc national offre aujourd’hui un extraordinaire paysage forestier urbain où il comptera parmi les meilleurs d’Afrique. L’architecture des bâtiments et du centre sportif offre un mariage de paysage contemporain puisé des racines africaines. Selon l’altesse l’Aga Khan, il a pour vocation de perpétuer une tradition de rencontres et d’échanges tout en préservant le patrimoine naturel et les écosystèmes.
Seydou Coulibaly
Le Républicain, 29/09/2010
Sur la route de Koulouba, entre le musée national et le jardin zoologique de Bamako, un imposant espace vert s’est dressé et porte la marque de l’AKTC (Trust Aga Khan pour la culture). Le parc national, inauguré le 22 septembre dernier, porte désormais le nom de son altesse l’Aga Khan.
Selon les estimations, la capitale malienne est actuellement la ville africaine dont l’expansion démographique est la plus rapide. Sa population est appelée à doubler en l’espace de 15 ans et les exigences d’une vie moderne imposent des efforts considérables en matière d’infrastructures et d’équipements collectifs. «Ce sont des espaces de loisirs et de rencontres pour tous les âges et toutes les catégories sociales qui favorisent la mixité et l’intégration des différentes couches de la population. Et il s’est avéré qu’il s’agit de catalyseurs de l’activité économique et d’une source d’emplois directs et indirects, notamment par les services mis à la disposition des visiteurs», a apprécié son altesse l’Aga Khan.
C’est un projet exceptionnel, a-t-il dit. L’organisation caritative a signé avec le gouvernement malien, à travers le ministère de la culture et celui de l’environnement et de l’assainissement, un accord d’une durée de 25 ans pour la construction, la gestion, l’entretien et le développement du parc. C’est un espace de 103 hectares qui est visé au sein de l’immense réserve forestière protégée de 2100 hectares sur le flanc de la colline de Koulouba. La première phase dont les réalisations viennent d’être inaugurées comprend la réhabilitation de 17 hectares. La valeur des réalisations n’a pas été officiellement annoncée mais des informations font état d’un investissement d’environ 8 milliards de F Cfa pour cette première phase. Et il s’agit bien d’un don que l’AKTC a fait au Mali. Comme reconnaissance à son œuvre, le chef de l’Etat, le président Amadou Toumani Touré a décidé de baptiser le parc «Parc national son Altesse l’Aga Khan».
Le chef-d’œuvre apporte une contribution substantielle à l’amélioration de l’environnement urbain de Bamako, la préservation de l’écosystème des années 1930, une nouvelle architecture paysagère, un jardin de plantes médicinales, une crèche, un salon de thé, un restaurant, des boutiques, des toilettes publiques. Le parc national offre aujourd’hui un extraordinaire paysage forestier urbain où il comptera parmi les meilleurs d’Afrique. L’architecture des bâtiments et du centre sportif offre un mariage de paysage contemporain puisé des racines africaines. Selon l’altesse l’Aga Khan, il a pour vocation de perpétuer une tradition de rencontres et d’échanges tout en préservant le patrimoine naturel et les écosystèmes.
Seydou Coulibaly
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/New ... /9rdl8l/-/
New park changes face of Mali capital
PHOTO | AKDN: His Highness the Aga Khan (left) and President Amadou Toumani Toure of Mali (second left) review tapestry work being restored in a new conservation lab built under an agreement between the National Museum of Mali and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The lab is dedicated to organising the museum’s reserve collections of and expanding the its restoration capabilities.
By AKDN
Posted Saturday, October 2 2010 at 20:18
In Summary
* It creates a permanent green space in one of Africa’s fastest growing cities
Bamako, Saturday
Mali marked its 50th independence celebrations a week ago and one of the events lined up was the inauguration of a new park in its capital, Bamako.
The 250-acre National Park of Mali was created under a public-private partnership between the government of Mali and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).
And on hand during its inauguration were Mali’s President Amadou Toumani Toure and His Highness the Aga Khan, who were also joined by visiting heads of state from across Africa.
The park creates a permanent green space in one of the fastest growing cities in Africa.
Under the terms of the public-private partnership, the government asked AKTC to concentrate on the park’s 250 acres, a large, semi-circular canyon of protected forest that lies beneath the Koulouba plateau, between the National Museum and the Presidential Palace Complex.
The park is part of a larger protected forest reserve of 5,180 acres.
In keeping with AKTC’s philosophy that a park without a long-range plan for maintenance and development could simply become a burden on the city, AKTC earlier signed a 25-year agreement with Mali’s Minister of Culture and Minister of the Environment and Sanitation for the maintenance and further development of the park.
AKTC’s park projects, notably in Delhi, Cairo and Zanzibar, all have provisions for the long-term sustainability of the parks.
The park is designed to offer large open spaces for leisure and educational activities for the general public, school groups and tourists.
Bringing together the National Museum and the existing Botanical Garden and Zoo into a single cultural/ecological park, the park features a comprehensive pedestrian circulation network and formal promenades.
It contains jogging tracks
It contains fitness, jogging, cycling and mountaineering tracks of varying difficulty and diverse interpretive awareness trails for botany, birds and nature.
The garden spaces feature indigenous flora in varied settings, from open lawn areas to flower gardens, wooded areas and a medicinal garden.
Interpretive educational signs and displays and the development of trained guides are expected to offer new educational experiences for visitors.
Phase 1 included the rehabilitation of 17 hectares of open spaces and the redevelopment and integration of eight existing facilities.
The architect, Diébédo Francis Kéré, an Aga Khan Award for Architecture recipient in 2004, was commissioned to design a primary and secondary gate, an entry building, a youth and sports centre, a restaurant, public toilets and several kiosks.
The park development is part of a broader programme of urban revitalisation efforts undertaken by AKTC at World Heritage sites within the country.
As part of its Earthen Architecture Programme, AKTC has also undertaken large cultural, social and economic projects in Mopti, Timbuktu and Djenné.
The programme began in 2006 with the restoration of the Great Mosque of Mopti, which had been at risk of collapse.
AKTC then implemented an urban regeneration programme that aimed to raise the standard of living for residents in the Komoguel area.
Following the work in Mopti, AKTC initiated comprehensive conservation works on the Djingereyber Mosque in Timbuktu at the end of 2006.
The mosque, built in the 14th century, is the oldest earth construction building in sub-Saharan Africa. Officially listed as part of the Mali’s cultural heritage, it was designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1988.
AKTC’s work in Djenné began in 2006, when a preliminary study of the Great Mosque revealed that despite its well-known annual maintenance process, the Great Mosque of Djenné was at risk of collapsing.
New park changes face of Mali capital
PHOTO | AKDN: His Highness the Aga Khan (left) and President Amadou Toumani Toure of Mali (second left) review tapestry work being restored in a new conservation lab built under an agreement between the National Museum of Mali and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The lab is dedicated to organising the museum’s reserve collections of and expanding the its restoration capabilities.
By AKDN
Posted Saturday, October 2 2010 at 20:18
In Summary
* It creates a permanent green space in one of Africa’s fastest growing cities
Bamako, Saturday
Mali marked its 50th independence celebrations a week ago and one of the events lined up was the inauguration of a new park in its capital, Bamako.
The 250-acre National Park of Mali was created under a public-private partnership between the government of Mali and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).
And on hand during its inauguration were Mali’s President Amadou Toumani Toure and His Highness the Aga Khan, who were also joined by visiting heads of state from across Africa.
The park creates a permanent green space in one of the fastest growing cities in Africa.
Under the terms of the public-private partnership, the government asked AKTC to concentrate on the park’s 250 acres, a large, semi-circular canyon of protected forest that lies beneath the Koulouba plateau, between the National Museum and the Presidential Palace Complex.
The park is part of a larger protected forest reserve of 5,180 acres.
In keeping with AKTC’s philosophy that a park without a long-range plan for maintenance and development could simply become a burden on the city, AKTC earlier signed a 25-year agreement with Mali’s Minister of Culture and Minister of the Environment and Sanitation for the maintenance and further development of the park.
AKTC’s park projects, notably in Delhi, Cairo and Zanzibar, all have provisions for the long-term sustainability of the parks.
The park is designed to offer large open spaces for leisure and educational activities for the general public, school groups and tourists.
Bringing together the National Museum and the existing Botanical Garden and Zoo into a single cultural/ecological park, the park features a comprehensive pedestrian circulation network and formal promenades.
It contains jogging tracks
It contains fitness, jogging, cycling and mountaineering tracks of varying difficulty and diverse interpretive awareness trails for botany, birds and nature.
The garden spaces feature indigenous flora in varied settings, from open lawn areas to flower gardens, wooded areas and a medicinal garden.
Interpretive educational signs and displays and the development of trained guides are expected to offer new educational experiences for visitors.
Phase 1 included the rehabilitation of 17 hectares of open spaces and the redevelopment and integration of eight existing facilities.
The architect, Diébédo Francis Kéré, an Aga Khan Award for Architecture recipient in 2004, was commissioned to design a primary and secondary gate, an entry building, a youth and sports centre, a restaurant, public toilets and several kiosks.
The park development is part of a broader programme of urban revitalisation efforts undertaken by AKTC at World Heritage sites within the country.
As part of its Earthen Architecture Programme, AKTC has also undertaken large cultural, social and economic projects in Mopti, Timbuktu and Djenné.
The programme began in 2006 with the restoration of the Great Mosque of Mopti, which had been at risk of collapse.
AKTC then implemented an urban regeneration programme that aimed to raise the standard of living for residents in the Komoguel area.
Following the work in Mopti, AKTC initiated comprehensive conservation works on the Djingereyber Mosque in Timbuktu at the end of 2006.
The mosque, built in the 14th century, is the oldest earth construction building in sub-Saharan Africa. Officially listed as part of the Mali’s cultural heritage, it was designated a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1988.
AKTC’s work in Djenné began in 2006, when a preliminary study of the Great Mosque revealed that despite its well-known annual maintenance process, the Great Mosque of Djenné was at risk of collapsing.
Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the inauguration ceremony of the National Park of Mali (Bamako, Mali)
22 September 2010
Please also see: Related Material, Discours en français
http://www.akdn.org/Content/1014/Inaugu ... rk-of-Mali
Bismillah-hir-Rahmanir-Rahim,
Your Excellency, President of the Republic,
Prime Minister,
Presidents of the Institutions of the Republic,
Minister of the Environment and Sanitation,
Minister of Culture,
Ministers,
Your Excellencies, ambassadors, representatives of the diplomatic corps and of accredited international organisations in Mali,
Governor of the District of Bamako,
Mayor of the District of Bamako,
Mayor of Commune III,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we say,
Asalaam-o-aleikum,
First of all I would like to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Mali for the very warm welcome extended to me by the government and by himself personally during this visit – a visit which has particular significance on this anniversary of the independence of your magnificent country.
I would also like to thank the Government of the Republic of Mali and in particular the Minister of the Environment and Sanitation and the Minister of Culture for their exemplary partnership with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and for the trust they have placed in us.
I would like to say how happy and proud we are to be involved in the creation of the National Park of Mali, the inauguration of which takes place as part of the festivities celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the country’s independence. This gives me a welcome opportunity to convey my warmest congratulations to the government and people of Mali for these fifty years dedicated to the construction of a democratic nation, which you have rightly observed, Mr President, should be “inspired by its history and confident of its future in Africa and on the world stage”.
Bamako currently has the fastest-growing population of any African city: it has nearly 2 million inhabitants today and at this rate its population is set to double in 15 years. Growth on this scale requires a considerable effort on the Government’s part to create the infrastructure and public facilities commensurate with this expansion. The National Park of Mali, which we are inaugurating today, comes therefore at a highly opportune moment because, in parallel to the Government’s efforts, the project makes a substantial contribution to improving the urban environment of Bamako.
Indeed the importance of green spaces in fast-growing mega-cities cannot be underestimated, and here I would like to pay homage to the vision of President Amadou Toumani Touré and to the remarkable initiative taken by the Government of Mali.
Like Mali itself, this Park has the mission of upholding the country’s tradition of encounters and dialogue, while preserving the natural heritage and ecosystems of which man has stewardship, as the Holy Qur’an instructs us.
Inspired by this vision, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s Historic Cities Programme has created and manages urban park projects in locations as diverse as Cairo, Kabul, Delhi, Khorog, Zanzibar – and, today, Bamako.
Creating green spaces in urban areas constitutes a significant improvement in the quality of the environment and people’s living conditions. They are leisure spaces and meeting places for all ages and all social categories, encouraging different sectors of the population to mix and integrate. And they have proved to be catalysts for economic activity and a source of employment, both directly and indirectly, particularly through the services provided for visitors.
The National Park of Mali is an exceptional project and once again, Mr President, I express my thanks to you. The AKTC’s approach to the development and realisation of the Park follows two principles which previous projects have shown to be effective:
-on the one hand, ensuring the maintenance and development of this public facility, whilst anticipating its users’ future needs;
-on the other hand, ensuring that the operation is financially viable by re-investing the revenues generated by the Park itself. Thanks to the creation of an independent management organisation which will work in partnership with the local administration, the revenues generated by entrance fees and services offered to visitors will cover the costs of operating, maintaining and developing the site.
The National Park of Mali is also one of the largest urban parks on the African continent, and a remarkable achievement in several respects:
-it preserves an ecosystem of priceless value with the arboretum dating from the 1930s, which includes the most beautiful species of trees and is today shown in its full glory once again;
-it expresses a new landscape architecture, harmoniously combining the characteristics of a botanical garden that had fallen into disuse with a contemporary planning concept for public parks in major cities;
-it includes a garden of medicinal plants, reflecting Mali’s ancestral knowledge in this field;
-the architecture of the buildings and entrance gateways, of the restaurant and the sports centre, is distinctively contemporary, while displaying its African roots in the use of traditional materials combined with advanced technologies, especially in the roofs and the technical services. This is the work of Diébédo Francis Kéré, an Aga Khan Award for Architecture recipient in 2004;
-thanks to the renovation of the colonial-era pavilions, the Park also has a crèche, a tea room, a restaurant and shops.
Beyond this, the National Park of Mali is also an institution with an educational mission, aiming to raise awareness among the public as a whole, and among children above all, on the judicious use of environmental resources. With this aim, the Park’s Maison de l’Environnement (environment centre) will be launching a pioneering programme, following on from the programme established several years ago by “Agir”, an NGO devoted to the environment and quality of life in Mali.
Finally, sport has always been popular with the people of Mali and remains one of the Park’s strong points with the building of a huge sports centre, along with fitness trails featuring specialist equipment for gymnastics, running, cycling and climbing.
Today, parks meet the needs of many city-dwellers wanting to relax in a natural environment. This explains the success among local communities of parks already created by AKTC. Experience shows that these urban parks are a vital public facility, frequented by city-dwellers in their hundreds of thousands. The Cairo park, for example, now receives more than 2 million visitors a year.
Our goal was not just to build a major environmental infrastructure and a central attraction for Bamako’s inhabitants and visitors, but also to create a cultural space contributing to the city’s economic and social development.
Creating the park was in itself a means of injecting resources into the local economy. It generated thousands of days of work and 130 permanent professional posts. Moreover, most of the construction materials were of local origin, as were the skilled workers. A stone-carving workshop and a nursery have been set up to train specialists in these fields. The Park therefore represents not just an economic and technical investment, but also a commitment to training and employment.
For all these reasons I hope that the Park will one day be regarded as a model for the rest of Africa.
Today, thanks to the combined efforts of the Government of Mali and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture I believe that we are offering Malians a new quality of life and I hope that over time the National Park of Mali will become an integral part of their daily life. Along with a high-quality natural space and outstanding cultural facilities – the former Botanical Garden and the National Museum – the project may in a later phase extend to include the Zoological Gardens and the protected Koulouba forest.
As the Malian saying goes:
“Even if a tree stays a long time in the water it doesn’t become a crocodile.” So it is important that the trees remain in the park and the crocodiles stay in the zoo – and that both, nonetheless, can be admired!
Thank you.
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22 September 2010
Please also see: Related Material, Discours en français
http://www.akdn.org/Content/1014/Inaugu ... rk-of-Mali
Bismillah-hir-Rahmanir-Rahim,
Your Excellency, President of the Republic,
Prime Minister,
Presidents of the Institutions of the Republic,
Minister of the Environment and Sanitation,
Minister of Culture,
Ministers,
Your Excellencies, ambassadors, representatives of the diplomatic corps and of accredited international organisations in Mali,
Governor of the District of Bamako,
Mayor of the District of Bamako,
Mayor of Commune III,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we say,
Asalaam-o-aleikum,
First of all I would like to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Mali for the very warm welcome extended to me by the government and by himself personally during this visit – a visit which has particular significance on this anniversary of the independence of your magnificent country.
I would also like to thank the Government of the Republic of Mali and in particular the Minister of the Environment and Sanitation and the Minister of Culture for their exemplary partnership with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and for the trust they have placed in us.
I would like to say how happy and proud we are to be involved in the creation of the National Park of Mali, the inauguration of which takes place as part of the festivities celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the country’s independence. This gives me a welcome opportunity to convey my warmest congratulations to the government and people of Mali for these fifty years dedicated to the construction of a democratic nation, which you have rightly observed, Mr President, should be “inspired by its history and confident of its future in Africa and on the world stage”.
Bamako currently has the fastest-growing population of any African city: it has nearly 2 million inhabitants today and at this rate its population is set to double in 15 years. Growth on this scale requires a considerable effort on the Government’s part to create the infrastructure and public facilities commensurate with this expansion. The National Park of Mali, which we are inaugurating today, comes therefore at a highly opportune moment because, in parallel to the Government’s efforts, the project makes a substantial contribution to improving the urban environment of Bamako.
Indeed the importance of green spaces in fast-growing mega-cities cannot be underestimated, and here I would like to pay homage to the vision of President Amadou Toumani Touré and to the remarkable initiative taken by the Government of Mali.
Like Mali itself, this Park has the mission of upholding the country’s tradition of encounters and dialogue, while preserving the natural heritage and ecosystems of which man has stewardship, as the Holy Qur’an instructs us.
Inspired by this vision, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s Historic Cities Programme has created and manages urban park projects in locations as diverse as Cairo, Kabul, Delhi, Khorog, Zanzibar – and, today, Bamako.
Creating green spaces in urban areas constitutes a significant improvement in the quality of the environment and people’s living conditions. They are leisure spaces and meeting places for all ages and all social categories, encouraging different sectors of the population to mix and integrate. And they have proved to be catalysts for economic activity and a source of employment, both directly and indirectly, particularly through the services provided for visitors.
The National Park of Mali is an exceptional project and once again, Mr President, I express my thanks to you. The AKTC’s approach to the development and realisation of the Park follows two principles which previous projects have shown to be effective:
-on the one hand, ensuring the maintenance and development of this public facility, whilst anticipating its users’ future needs;
-on the other hand, ensuring that the operation is financially viable by re-investing the revenues generated by the Park itself. Thanks to the creation of an independent management organisation which will work in partnership with the local administration, the revenues generated by entrance fees and services offered to visitors will cover the costs of operating, maintaining and developing the site.
The National Park of Mali is also one of the largest urban parks on the African continent, and a remarkable achievement in several respects:
-it preserves an ecosystem of priceless value with the arboretum dating from the 1930s, which includes the most beautiful species of trees and is today shown in its full glory once again;
-it expresses a new landscape architecture, harmoniously combining the characteristics of a botanical garden that had fallen into disuse with a contemporary planning concept for public parks in major cities;
-it includes a garden of medicinal plants, reflecting Mali’s ancestral knowledge in this field;
-the architecture of the buildings and entrance gateways, of the restaurant and the sports centre, is distinctively contemporary, while displaying its African roots in the use of traditional materials combined with advanced technologies, especially in the roofs and the technical services. This is the work of Diébédo Francis Kéré, an Aga Khan Award for Architecture recipient in 2004;
-thanks to the renovation of the colonial-era pavilions, the Park also has a crèche, a tea room, a restaurant and shops.
Beyond this, the National Park of Mali is also an institution with an educational mission, aiming to raise awareness among the public as a whole, and among children above all, on the judicious use of environmental resources. With this aim, the Park’s Maison de l’Environnement (environment centre) will be launching a pioneering programme, following on from the programme established several years ago by “Agir”, an NGO devoted to the environment and quality of life in Mali.
Finally, sport has always been popular with the people of Mali and remains one of the Park’s strong points with the building of a huge sports centre, along with fitness trails featuring specialist equipment for gymnastics, running, cycling and climbing.
Today, parks meet the needs of many city-dwellers wanting to relax in a natural environment. This explains the success among local communities of parks already created by AKTC. Experience shows that these urban parks are a vital public facility, frequented by city-dwellers in their hundreds of thousands. The Cairo park, for example, now receives more than 2 million visitors a year.
Our goal was not just to build a major environmental infrastructure and a central attraction for Bamako’s inhabitants and visitors, but also to create a cultural space contributing to the city’s economic and social development.
Creating the park was in itself a means of injecting resources into the local economy. It generated thousands of days of work and 130 permanent professional posts. Moreover, most of the construction materials were of local origin, as were the skilled workers. A stone-carving workshop and a nursery have been set up to train specialists in these fields. The Park therefore represents not just an economic and technical investment, but also a commitment to training and employment.
For all these reasons I hope that the Park will one day be regarded as a model for the rest of Africa.
Today, thanks to the combined efforts of the Government of Mali and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture I believe that we are offering Malians a new quality of life and I hope that over time the National Park of Mali will become an integral part of their daily life. Along with a high-quality natural space and outstanding cultural facilities – the former Botanical Garden and the National Museum – the project may in a later phase extend to include the Zoological Gardens and the protected Koulouba forest.
As the Malian saying goes:
“Even if a tree stays a long time in the water it doesn’t become a crocodile.” So it is important that the trees remain in the park and the crocodiles stay in the zoo – and that both, nonetheless, can be admired!
Thank you.
Bookmark & Share