Program for Visit to Syria by Princess Zahra Aga Khan
Version 13 (updated 9 Dec)
Arrival: Thursday, 10 December 2009
Departure: Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Note: All times are local; Sunset is at 16:30
Thursday, 10 December 2009 – Aleppo
10.00Take-off from Le Bourget (Flight time: 4h30, Time difference: +1hr)
Aircraft: Global 5000 LX-ZAK
Passengers: Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Sara, Iliyan, Dawn Russell, Céline Sellier-Boimard, Paul Dhalla
Crew members:Jean-Yves Cosquer, Henri Labarga, Sarah Lesourd
Note: lunch on board
15.30Arrive at Aleppo International Airport
Received by:
-Governor of Aleppo, Mr. Ali Ahmad Mansoura (will accompany in the car)
-Protocol Officer, Mr. Hussein Sabbagh
Handling Agent: United Aviation Services
Tel:+963 11 513 5349
16.00Arrive at Sheraton Hotel
Evening:
Free time or optional visit to Aleppo Bazaar and Khan Al-Shuneh
Dinner: Private or at a Local Restaurant in Old Town of Aleppo
Overnight at Sheraton Hotel, Aleppo
Friday, 11 December 2009 – Aleppo and Lattakia
Morning:
09.30Visit AKDN Projects in the Old City of Aleppo
Visit is planned to include: Serena sites (Aleppo Serai and Yalbugha Hammam), AKTC social program, Aleppo Citadel, and proposed Bab QinessrinePark site
Optional visit to the Grand Umayyad Mosque in the morning
13.00Lunch: Private or at a Local Restaurant in Old Town of Aleppo
Afternoon:
14.30Free time or optional visit the ancient Roman St Simeon Monastery
19.00Take-off from Aleppo (Flight time: 40 mins)
Aircraft: Global 5000 LX-ZAK
Passengers: Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Sara, Iliyan, Dawn Russell, Céline Sellier-Boimard, Paul Dhalla
Crew members:Jean-Yves Cosquer, Henri Labarga, Sarah Lesourd
19:40Arrive Lattakia
Handling Agent: United Aviation Services
Tel:+963 11 513 5349
Private Dinner and Overnight at Rotana Hotel, Lattakia
Saturday, 12 December 2009 -- Lattakia
Morning:
09.30Visit to Saladin’s Citadel (AKTC restoration project) near Lattakia
Note: Princess Zahra’s children could return to hotel after Saladin’s Citadel
11.00Visit to FIRDOS (Fund for the Integrated Rural Development of Syria) in the village of Ain al-Tina (a project sponsored by H.E. the First Lady)
13.00Lunch: Private or at View Restaurant in Lattakia
Afternoon:
14.30Visit to FMFI (microfinance bank)branch (AKAM) in Lattakia
15.30Visit to Amwaj Massar and Massar-e centers (a project sponsored by H.E. the First Lady)
Private Dinner and Overnight at Rotana Hotel, Lattakia
Sunday, 13 December 2009 – Lattakia, Hama, Salamieh and Homs
09.00Take-off from Lattakia (Flight time: 40 mins)
Aircraft: Global 5000 LX-ZAK
Passengers: Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Sara, Iliyan, Dawn Russell, Céline Sellier-Boimard, Paul Dhalla
Crew members:Jean-Yves Cosquer, Henri Labarga, Sarah Lesourd
09.40Arrive Hama
Received by:
-Governor of Hama, Mr Abd-el-Razak Qutainy (will accompany in the car)
Handling Agent: United Aviation Services
Tel:+963 11 513 5349
Note: Passengers disembark at Hama; LX-ZAK continues to Paris Le Bourget
Note: Princess Zahra’s children proceed directly to Safir Hotel in Homs by car
10.00Visit the Nursing Faculty at the National Hospital in Hama (30-45 mins)
Received by: Dr. Shahira Deebeh, Liaison in Syria for AKU School of Nursing
The Nursing Faculty is collaborating with AKU on nursing training; the new Head of Nursing at the hospital is an AKU graduate.
10.45Travel from Hama to Salamieh by car (accompanied by AKF CEO – TBC)
11.30Visit AKF-related projects in Salamieh (3-4 hours); note: packed lunch en route
Visit is planned to include:
-Salamieh Hospital, incl. AKF Women’s Health Unit (45 mins); AKF Health Program Manager (Dr Maher Aboumayaleh) + Hospital Director + WHU team
-Pass by new hospital site and FMFI Salamieh Branch (no stop)
-AKF Veterinary Services Laboratory (20 mins); AKF VSL team
-Tal Al-Tout village: Women’s Federation ECD site (25 mins); AKF managers Tamam Nassar + Tehama Al Massarani + AKF ECD team
-Abou Heybelat village: AKF Health Promotion site (15 mins); AKF Health team
-Taldara village: AKF Health Facility + Olive Project farm visit (35 mins): AKF Health team; AKF RSP Manager Ali Zein + Olive Project Officer Rasha Faraj
-Meet with AKF CEO + Health Program Manager; note: could occur in Homs
15.00Travel from Salamieh to Homs by car
16.00Arrive Homs
Private Dinner and Overnight at Safir Hotel in Homs
Monday, 14 December 2009 -- Homs and Damascus
Morning:
09.00Travel from Homs to Krak de Chevalier by car (30 mins)
09.30Visit Krak de Chevalier
11.00Travel from Krak de Chevalier to Damascus by car (2 hrs)
13.00Arrive at the Four Seasons Hotel, Damascus
Lunch (private)
Afternoon:
14.30Visit to site of future Aga Khan Academy in Damascus
15.30Visit to site of future Serena Hotel in Old Damascus
20:30Private Dinner with H.E. the First Lady at Tishreen Palace
Overnight at Four Seasons Hotel, Damascus
Tuesday, 15 December 2009 – Damascus
Morning:
09.30Visit to the National Museum, including briefing on a new cultural project involving the Louvre and H.E. the First Lady
11.30Syrian Organization for the Disabled – AAMAL (a project sponsored by H.E. the First Lady)
13.00Lunch: Private
14.00Free time or optional visit to Ma’aloula (ancient Christian village in rural Damascus where Aramaic is still widely spoken)
20.00Attend concert by Al-Farah Choir at the National Opera House
(the choir recently toured the US and has been honored by H.E. the First Lady)
Private Dinner and Overnight at Four Seasons Hotel, Damascus
Wednesday, 16 December 2009 – Damascus, Sweida, and Departure
Morning:
10.00Free time or visit to the FMFI (microfinance bank)branch (AKAM) in Sweida
11.30Optional visit to the Roman amphitheatre in Bosra
Note: LX-PAK departs Le Bourget at 08.30 andarrives in Damascusat 14.00
14.00Return to Damascus
Arrival at Damascus International Airport, departure formalities
15:00Departure from Damascus International Airport (Flight time: 4h30, Time difference: -1hr)
Aircraft:Global XRS LX-PAK
Passengers: Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Sara, Iliyan, Dawn Russell, Céline Sellier-Boimard, Paul Dhalla
Crew members: Hervé Brongniart, Jérôme Brun, Sarah Lesourd
18:30Arrive at Le Bourget
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