Culture Minister inspects restoration works at Al-Mina Mosque and the Latin Church in Lattakia

Lattakia – Minister of Culture Lubana Mshaweh on Saturday inspected the restoration works in the archeological Al-Mina mosque as well as in the Latin Church (The Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) in Lattakia, which were exposed to damage due to the earthquake that hit several Syrian areas last February.

Director of Antiquities and Museums in Lattakia Ibrahim Kheir Beik and Director of Lattakia Endowments Mahmoud Aliu explained to the minister the damage caused to the mosque and the church and the restoration works which have been implemented so far in the two sites.

For his part, father Fadi Azar, a Latin Church pastor, briefed the minister on the preliminary restoration works that were conducted in the church after the earthquake with the aim of providing a place for worshippers and evading any danger that may face anyone due to the cracks in the walls.

The minister was accompanied in her tour by member of the Executive Bureau for Culture, Antiquates and Information Husam Khoury and Director of Culture in Lattakia Majd Sarem.

In a statement to reporters, Mshaweh affirmed that the two sites are unique archaeological landmarks with special historical and archaeological importance in the governorate. She explained that Al-Mina Mosque is unique in the world in terms of its own architectural style, indicating that the Ministry has expressed its full readiness to secure the additional expertise necessary for the restoration of the mosque in coordination with Endowments Ministry.

Hamda Mustafa