Tammam Salam
Opening of the underground gallery was scheduled for November 2010, but was delayed for technical and financial difficulties. Restoration works for the floor were begun in 2014 under the initiative of Lebanese culture minister Rony Araiji and were carried out with financial and technical support from the Italian government who provided €1.2million for the project through the Italian Development Cooperation. The basement was finally reopened on October 7, 2016 with an official ceremony presided by Tammam Salam, the Lebanese prime minister and the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Paolo Gentiloni.