Abdulkarim: Contents of Syrian museums are in good condition

Over the past three years, the Syrian archeological sites and artifacts have been one of the targets of the foreign-backed terrorist groups’ attacks. Many historical and archeological places were vandalized and destroyed and many precious artifacts were smuggled causing a big loss to the thousands years old Syrian archeological heritage.

On the other hand, the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums has spared no effort to maintain the safety of the Syrian museums and historical monuments.

Interviewed by SANA, Director of the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums Mamoun Abdulkarim, who was recently awarded the Cultural Heritage Rescue Prize in Italy, talked about the efforts exerted by the directorate in cooperation with other concerned government parties to rescue the Syrian archeological heritage.

He said thanks to the swift and effective measures taken by the directorate over the past three years and a half, the directorate managed to save around 99% of the contents of Syria’s museums.

The official didn’t deny the crimes of vandalism committed by the terrorists against archeological places particularly in Aleppo and Homs, stressing that historical buildings with medium and slight damage are the target of the directorate’s renovation and restoration activities.

“What happened in Aleppo is a disaster to the archeological heritage of humanity, Abdulkarim said.

He added that Syria has more than ten thousand archeological sites and thanks to the protective procedures adopted by the directorate and the cooperation of the local communities many of these sites were protected, but unfortunately, many others have been seriously damaged in Raqqa, Deir Ezzour, Hassaka, Hama and Daraa.

He asserted that the hundreds of mercenaries and antiquities mafia agents, who crossed the borders into Syria from neighboring countries, are a serious threat to the world cultural heritage, so the international community should move and back efforts aiming to control the acts of smuggling Syrian antiquities and recover the stolen artifacts which carry the Syrian identity.

Talking about the Syrian museums, Abdulkarim said they are in a good condition. Some damage was caused to the buildings, but the contents are completely fine, except in Raqqa and Deir Attieh.

Abdulkarim hailed the efforts of the locals in most Syrian provinces to protect the archeological sites particularly from thieves and gangs.

Regarding the artifacts stolen and smuggled by organized mafia gangs, the official said that the directorate was keen to cooperate with UNECSO to alarm the international police about this issue and a bulletin was issued in all languages to draw the world attention to the Syrian artifacts.

He pointed out that more than 93 important artifacts were recovered in coordination with the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in Lebanon.

“We hide no information about the situation of our archeological places and artifacts. We publish all the data we have on the directorate’s website and we inform the international organizations about every stolen artifact so as to act immediately to recover them or at least document the violation,” he concluded.

Rawaa Ghanam