Notre Dame cathedral reconstruction can begin at last

Finishing the work to shore up Notre Dame de Paris marks the beginning of the end for the project to rebuild the cathedral.

The medieval edifice survived an inferno on April 15, 2019, but the spire collapsed and much of the roof was destroyed.

“The cathedral stands solid on its pillars, its walls are solid, everything is holding together,” said Jean-Louis Georgelin, head of the public entity tasked with rebuilding the cathedral.

“We are determined to win this battle of 2024, to reopen our cathedral in 2024. It will be France's honour to do so and we will do so because we are all united on this goal.”

Soon after the blaze, President Emmanuel Macron said the cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, would be rebuilt.

He later promised to have it reopened to worshippers by 2024, when France hosts the Olympic Games.

The cathedral will be restored to its previous design, including the 96-metre spire designed by architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc in the mid-1800s and for which new timber has been selected.

Restoration work is expected to start during the coming months after a bidding process to select companies.

Before that, a cleaning operation for the building's interior walls and floor will start this month.

The focus until now had been on making the cathedral safe before restoration work could begin, which included the strenuous task of removing 40,000 pieces of scaffolding that were damaged in the blaze

The final phase of efforts to secure its structure included reinforcing the fire-damaged vaults with giant wooden arch-shaped frames.

Workers on a crane look at the Notre-Dame cathedral site on November 24, 2020 in Paris. AFP
A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 shows the melted scaffolding on the roof of Notre-Dame cathedral during reconstruction works. AFP
A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 in Paris shows the pulpit of Notre-Dame cathedral during reconstruction. AFP
A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 in Paris shows a view of Notre-Dame cathedral, which was devastated by a blaze last year. AFP
Paris Cathedral's rector Patrick Chauvet visits Notre-Dame on November 24, 2020 during reconstruction works. AFP
A photograph taken on November 24, 2020 in Paris shows an inside view of Notre-Dame cathedral. AFP
Paris Cathedral's rector Patrick Chauvet visits Notre-Dame on November 24, 2020. AFP
Last week, the restoration reached a milestone with the removal of the last portions of metal scaffolding on the roof. AP
The roof of Notre-Dame cathedral with Paris city hall and the Beaubourg museum in the background. AFP

Notre Dame's famous Grand Organ is also being restored, with its 8,000 pipes dismantled and sent to organ builders all over France.

A new relationship with the old country

Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates

The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.

ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.

ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.

DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.

Signed

Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed

Notre Dame cathedral reconstruction can begin at last

Work on the famous site in France is expected to start during the coming months

A new relationship with the old country