Syria and Oman sign an agreement and memorandum of understanding in the field of archeology and museums

Syria and the Sultanate of Oman signed an agreement and a memorandum of understanding in the field of archeology and museums on the preservation of Syrian antiquities and their restoration, plus organizing a temporary exhibition in Amman after the completion of the restoration.

The memorandum of understanding, which was signed during the visit of the Minister of Culture Mohammed Al-Ahmad to the Sultanate of Oman, included mechanisms to activate cooperation between the Directorate of Antiquities in Syria and the Omani National Museum, while the agreement included provisions for the loan of Syrian artifacts for restoration.

In a statement to SANA today, Director of Antiquities and Museums Dr. Mahmoud Hammoud said that the agreement includes the loan of 75 Syrian artifacts which belong to various historical eras and were affected by terrorism, including 12 sculptures from Palmyra to the National Museum in the Sultanate of Oman for restoration, maintenance and display.

The Director pointed to the participation of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia in the restoration work.

The possibility of Oman’s contribution to the restoration of some ruined archaeological buildings in Old Aleppo and the development of cultural cooperation between the two sides were discussed, Hammoud said.

During the visit, Al-Ahmad and the Omani Minister of Heritage and Culture and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum Haytham bin Tariq Al-Saeed discussed the general cultural scene and the exchange of invitations for activities, events, festivals and cultural exhibitions which are held in both countries. Also, cooperation between the two sides in the field of exchange of publications and research studies related to literature in national libraries, universities and programs in the field of manuscripts, libraries and theatrical arts was discussed.

On the heritage aspect, cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in cultural property, exchange of publications and scientific studies in the field of archeology and museums and capacity building through training courses in heritage management in related fields were touched upon.

Inas Abdulkareem