Invitation: Press conference with guests from the twin city of Timbuktu
Dr Mohamed Diagayété and Abdourahamane Touré, two residents of Timbuktu, are staying in Chemnitz until 27 March. Chemnitz's twin city in Mali was affected by severe war events last year. For a long time, it was not possible for Timbuktu and Chemnitz to leave the country and thus maintain personal contact. With Dr Diagayété and Mr Touré, this has now been possible again for the first time. Next Monday, 24 March 2014, we cordially invite you to a press conference with Dr Mohamed Diagayété and Abdourahamane Touré.
The press conference will take place on Monday, 24 March 2014, 13:00 in the town hall, room 118.
During the discussion, Dr Mohamed Diagayété and Abdourahamane Touré will talk about the current situation in Timbuktu and Mali. They will talk about the living conditions in Chemnitz's twin city, for example about the food and infrastructure situation as well as about destroyed and rescued cultural assets.
The press conference is also the start of an appeal for donations for the destroyed twin city of Timbuktu. In the past, Chemnitz residents have already been able to use their donations to finance projects in Timbuktu, such as sanitary and sewage facilities.
The two Malians have been in Chemnitz since 14 March and will remain there until 27 March. Dr Mohamed Diagayété is completing an internship in the Chemnitz City Library and City Archive, among other things. With the knowledge he has acquired, he wants to ensure that the rich cultural treasures, especially books and writings, in Timbuktu are properly cared for. He will also meet with the Rector of Chemnitz University of Technology, Prof Arnold van Zyl. Abdourahamane Touré is a technician and is in Chemnitz to learn more about the repair and restoration of solar systems in order to channel this knowledge directly into the reconstruction of Timbuktu.