Head of Syria’ GDAM honored in Italy in recogntion of his role in confronting the danger that faced Syrian cultural heritage
In an official ceremony and in the presence of influential scientific personalities, including authors, writers, historians, archaeologists and managers of Italian archaeological sites, a prestigious award was delivered to Mohammad Nazir Awad, Director General of Antiquities and Museums in Syria, for his role in confronting the challenges and dangers the Syrian cultural heritage has faced during the war.
The ceremony was held in the Nixos Archaeological Park in Sicily. The award is a prominent prize presented by an Italian scientific committee that includes in its membership important Italian cultural figures.
Awad said: “The decision of the scientific committee to give the award came after Professor Paulo Mattaieh had nominated the workers in the Syrian Ministry of Culture – the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, headed by its general Director, for their role in facing the tragedy of war and earthquakes, which affected the Syrian antiquities.”
Awad added: “The President of the Prize, Professor Fluvia Tuscano, contacted the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, and invited us to receive the award in the presence of important cultural and scientific figures. In her speech, she emphasized during the honoring ceremony the importance of cultural relations between Syria and Italy.
Awad continued: “The Italian missions operating in Syria today have reached 5 missions and are still headed by Professor Mattae in the Kingdom of Ebla and Tel Touqan, and one of the workers in his mission is the archaeologist Francis Pinock.”
Awad concluded his speech by saying: “This award is presented to all workers in the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums and in the Ministry of Culture, and it is a tribute to the lives of the martyrs who defended cultural heritage.”
O.M