MUSCAT, 16 December (BelTA) – Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko has arrived at the National Museum of Oman, BelTA has learned.
The National Museum is located opposite Al Alam Palace. The decree to build the new museum building was issued on 20 November 2013. It was officially opened on 30 July 2016.
The total area of the museum is 13,700 square meters, including 4,000 square meters allocated for 14 permanent galleries: the Land and the People, Splendors of Islam, Oman and the World, Maritime History, Arms and Armour, Prehistory and Ancient History, Intangible Heritage, Aflaj (irrigation systems of Oman) and others. A further 400 square meters are allocated for temporary exhibitions.
In 2018, the National History Museum of Belarus and the National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman signed a memorandum of understanding, exchanged exhibitions. “I am confident that the practice of exchanging exhibitions between the National Museums of our countries will open new horizons for strengthening ties between Belarus and Oman, expanding opportunities for the exchange of experience of researchers and specialists in the fields of science, culture and museum business. May your grateful work help to open new unexplored chapters of the past, continue to inspire future generations to preserve and study the rich heritage of Oman,” Aleksandr Lukashenko wrote in the Book of Distinguished Guests of the museum.
The head of state was taken on a tour of the museum by Secretary General of the museum Jamal al-Moosawi. “They say we have a Belarusian here!” Aleksandr Lukashenko said greeting Jamal al-Moosawi at the entrance to the museum.
The matter is that Jamal al-Moosawi’s mother is a native of Belarus, and he speaks fluent Russian.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Minsk is building a new building of the National Museum of History. Therefore it's important to see how such museums are arranged in other countries and study the experience. “Maybe when you come, you can share some best practices with us,” the head of state suggested. Jamal al-Moosawi said he was ready to assist in this matter.
“This is important to us as well,” the president affirmed.
Jamal al-Moosawi shared some details of his family history with journalists. “According to the archival data, our family connection with Belarus dates back to the early 18th century. This is the earlier we were able to track down. We are proud that our grandfather was a veteran of the Great Patriotic War and contributed to the victory over fascism. A very relevant topic, by the way, today. My grandmother and other relatives were war veterans too. We are proud that we still have relatives in Belarus, we have good and warm relationships.
He said that he feels at home in Belarus too. He misses the natural beauties most of all: “Forests, lakes, rivers. My ancestors came from Rechitsa, the town on the bank of the Dnieper.”
The National Museum is located opposite Al Alam Palace. The decree to build the new museum building was issued on 20 November 2013. It was officially opened on 30 July 2016.
The total area of the museum is 13,700 square meters, including 4,000 square meters allocated for 14 permanent galleries: the Land and the People, Splendors of Islam, Oman and the World, Maritime History, Arms and Armour, Prehistory and Ancient History, Intangible Heritage, Aflaj (irrigation systems of Oman) and others. A further 400 square meters are allocated for temporary exhibitions.
In 2018, the National History Museum of Belarus and the National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman signed a memorandum of understanding, exchanged exhibitions. “I am confident that the practice of exchanging exhibitions between the National Museums of our countries will open new horizons for strengthening ties between Belarus and Oman, expanding opportunities for the exchange of experience of researchers and specialists in the fields of science, culture and museum business. May your grateful work help to open new unexplored chapters of the past, continue to inspire future generations to preserve and study the rich heritage of Oman,” Aleksandr Lukashenko wrote in the Book of Distinguished Guests of the museum.
The head of state was taken on a tour of the museum by Secretary General of the museum Jamal al-Moosawi. “They say we have a Belarusian here!” Aleksandr Lukashenko said greeting Jamal al-Moosawi at the entrance to the museum.
The matter is that Jamal al-Moosawi’s mother is a native of Belarus, and he speaks fluent Russian.
Aleksandr Lukashenko noted that Minsk is building a new building of the National Museum of History. Therefore it's important to see how such museums are arranged in other countries and study the experience. “Maybe when you come, you can share some best practices with us,” the head of state suggested. Jamal al-Moosawi said he was ready to assist in this matter.
The National Museum is the Oman's flagship cultural institution. “We deal with questions of national identity. Questions of who we are in the global world,” the head of the museum revealed.
“This is important to us as well,” the president affirmed.
Jamal al-Moosawi shared some details of his family history with journalists. “According to the archival data, our family connection with Belarus dates back to the early 18th century. This is the earlier we were able to track down. We are proud that our grandfather was a veteran of the Great Patriotic War and contributed to the victory over fascism. A very relevant topic, by the way, today. My grandmother and other relatives were war veterans too. We are proud that we still have relatives in Belarus, we have good and warm relationships.
He said that he feels at home in Belarus too. He misses the natural beauties most of all: “Forests, lakes, rivers. My ancestors came from Rechitsa, the town on the bank of the Dnieper.”
During his visit to Oman in October 2024, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko visited the Royal Opera House Muscat and the National Museum. He presented the museum with the Francysk Skaryna facsimile edition which contains all the famous works by the Belarusian first printer.
In the autumn of 2019, the National Art Museum of Belarus hosted the exhibition “Oman: the Jewel of the East. Crafts Heritage” from the holdings of the National Museum of the Sultanate. In 2020-2021, the National Museum of Oman ran the exposition “Patterns and Symbols: Belarusian Ornament Heritage” displaying a variety of traditional folk customs shown in symbols, decorative patterns and woven prints.
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