International Plan to Protect Syrian Cultural Heritage
DAMASCUS, (ST) – At the invitation of UNESCO and the contribution from the Swiss government, an international workshop was held recently in Jordan entitled “Regional Training on Syrian Cultural Heritage, Treating the Issue of Illicit Trafficking”. Present at the workshop were the Director-General of Antiquities and Museums in Syria, Dr. Maumoon Abdul Karim, and members of the accompanying delegation.
A report by the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums said that the workshop conducted an objective discussion of the phenomenon of illicit trafficking of cultural property in general, and regional training on the protection of Syrian cultural heritage particularly it is threatened by serious risks because of the acts of vandalism and theft.
The axes of the workshop included the international and legal framework to combat illicit trafficking and the current reality of the Syrian antiques in addition to the regional and international cooperation for the protection of Syrian cultural property in Syria.
In the axis of the international legal framework to combat illicit trafficking, representatives of UNESCO offered a comprehensive review of the international legal framework for the protection of cultural heritage around the world and dealing with the phenomenon of illegal trade. The international legal norms, contained by the UNESCO Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Events of Armed Conflict, were introduced. The conferees emphasized that the damage to cultural property of any people means damage to the cultural heritage of all humanity.
The UNESCO Convention of 1970 was reviewed concerning the measures that must be taken to prohibit and prevent the import, export, transfer and ownership of the cultural property in an illegal way and the obligation of States concerned to protect cultural property, existing within their territories, of thefts and excavation work contrary to the law, export illegally and work to expand the frameworks of international cooperation in this domain because the protection of cultural property can not be viable only if it is organized at the national and international levels.
The UNDRWA Convention of 1995also was reviewed, which is an important tool for the protection of cultural heritage and defining a mechanism to restore cultural property sold illegally. The convention also emphasizes the return of stolen cultural property and exported illegally and inciting international society to combat the phenomenon of illicit trafficking in cultural property.
About the current reality of the Syrian antiques “damages and protection”, the Director General of Antiquities and Museums in Syria offered a comprehensive presentation entitled ” Reality of antiquities in Syria since the beginning of the crisis until now and strategic protection”.
He underlined that all Syrian museums’ possessions are intact and safe, and drew underlined the need to distinguish between the damage in museums and the situation of archaeological sites that some suffer from abuse. He pointing out to the great efforts made by the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in co-operation with the official authorities and local community to alleviate the damage as much as possible for cultural property.
The Director General reviewed precautionary measures in the Syrian museums to ensure the protection of these museums and the damages that hit some archaeological sites in the governorates. He noted the importance of cooperation with all the parties and international organizations working in the cultural affairs for the protection and recovery of cultural heritage “taken out of Syria illegally”.
He also spoke about the success of the national campaign launched by the Ministry of Culture and the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums. The campaign entitled “Syria my home” that contributed to alert citizens to the importance of cultural heritage and the need to protect and preserve it as a “major component of national identity and a source of pride.”
In the area of regional and international cooperation for the protection of Syrian cultural property, the Director General of Antiquities and Museums talked about the impact of regional and international cooperation in the protection of cultural and humanitarian heritage and the importance of effective international and regional cooperation to contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage in Syria.
Mr. Abdul Karim talked about the delay of international organizations of performing their duties in communicating with the Ministry of Culture and General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in Syria. He pointed out to the facts about the damage and threats that hit the Syrian heritage.
He stressed the importance of addressing an appeal to the United Nations and governments to exclude the Syrian cultural heritage of the unfair international sanctions imposed on Syria and demanded to issue an international resolution of the Security Council to assist in the protection of Syrian cultural heritage and prevent illicit trafficking.
Mr. Abdul Karim talked about the need and importance of foreign missions licensed to operate in Syria to hold activities and workshops with Syrian archaeologists to evaluate the damage hit the archaeological sites and search for ways to fix them. He also stressed the need to provide scientific and technical support to his directorate being the authorized official government body to protect and manage the Syrian cultural heritage.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants stressed their keenness to continue cooperation with the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums and willingness to provide assistance by all possible means to protect Syrian cultural property from the dangers that threaten it. Representatives of international organizations participating in the workshop appreciated the efforts exerted by the bodies concerned in the cultural affairs in Syria and precautionary procedures contributed to maintaining the treasures in museums.
During the workshop, discussions focused on the measures that can be taken to combat illicit trafficking and the current needs and threats to the protection of cultural heritage in Syria and the role that could be played by the international community represented by the international cultural organizations such as Interpol, international customs, procedures that can be carried out by neighboring countries to help ease the risk to the Syrian cultural heritage, how to assess the damage, recovery mechanisms and prospects of regional and international cooperation in this regard.
At the end of the workshop a set of proposals and recommendations were provided including the preparation of an international plan by all parties involved in the workshop to work with the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums to defend and protect the Syrian cultural heritage. A plan was prepared including two levels of action and mechanisms of action , medium-range and long-range. Asking the Security Council to adopt an international resolution to prevent trafficking in stolen Syrian cultural property during the current crisis and the work to recover the Syrian cultural property.
Present at the workshop were representatives of most the international institutions and bodies working on the protection of cultural heritage around the world including UNESCO, ICOM, International Council of Monuments and Sites, International Center for the Study, Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, the International Committee of the Blue Shield, Interpol, International Customs, French and Italian police to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property, most important foreign archaeologists licensed exploration in Syria and representatives of a number of neighboring countries.
The participation of the Syrian delegation was the first international meeting since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, where the delegation discussed the threats and risks that face the Syrian cultural heritage, ways and mechanisms of activating international cooperation to reduce their effects.
Sh. Kh