UNESCO Establishes Center to Preserve Cultural Heritage in Syria

DAMASCUS, (ST) “UNESCO” has established a center to monitor and evaluate the cultural heritage in Syria at UNESCO Office in Beirut to implement the decision taken by the International meeting of experts   held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris between 26-28 April   with the participation of experts from the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums.

 In a statement to SANA, Dr. Mamoun Abdul Karim, the general director of antiquities and museums said:” The observatory will weigh and assess the buildings condition, artifacts and heritage to combat trafficking and glean information in order to restore the cultural heritage once the crisis is over. The UNESCO office in Beirut will be in charge of executing the plan of action.

Abdul Karim clarified that the observatory will help those, who are interested inside and outside Syria, to exchange information online about the damaged archaeological sites, stolen archeological pieces, and the endangered heritage.

It is worth mentioning that the meeting which was held with the participation of 120 experts from 22 countries to salvage the Syrian cultural heritage, called upon the UN Security Council to facilitate the  restitution of the Syrian cultural properties that were pillaged and prohibit their sale and removal, as well as training police and customs officers in the region to combat trafficking in cultural heritage.

N.H.khider