National Museum of Damascus Hosts Photo Exhibition Depicting Most Beautiful Castles in the Czech Republic

DAMASCUS, (ST)- The National Museum of Damascus on Sunday hosted an exhibition depicting most beautiful castles in the Czech Republic and that go back to different ages. The exhibition was held by the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums (GDAM).

On the sidelines of the event, the GDAM signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Museum of the Czech Republic providing for forming a Czech-Syrian archeological mission to carry out excavations in the Syrian coast area.

Dr. Faysal al-Mikdad, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, said in a statement to journalists that the exhibition is important because it reflects the civilization of the Czech and the Syrian peoples, pointing out that the Czech republic has played a role in preserving the Syrian antiquities.

 “The Czech Republic stood against terrorism in Syria and kept its relations with the Syrian Arab Republic unharmed over all the years of the terrorist war on the country and it has spared no effort as to contribute to preserving the Syrian antiquities and heritage,” al-Mikdad made it clear.

On his part, Assistant Culture Minister Tawfik al-Imam  thanked the Czech government for holding the exhibition in the national Museum of Damascus, stressing the ministry’s keenness on enhancing cultural ties with the Czech Republic.

Mahmoud Hammoud, Director General of the GDAM, said that signing several agreements with parties concerned in archeology and Syrian tangible heritage would consolidate cultural cooperation between Syria and the Czech Republic.

He added that an exhibition displaying photos of Syrian archeological sites that were exposed to destruction and vandalism by terrorist organizations was recently held in Prague, pointing out that the exhibitions held in the two countries would contribute to introducing the civilization of the Czech and Syrian peoples and to building fruitful cooperation.

Director of the National Museum of the Czech Republic Michal Lukes, on his part, highly appreciated the efforts exerted by the GDAM to protect and preserve the Syrian antiquities which enrich the world cultural heritage.

He said that holding the exhibition is a new step to further boost cooperation between the two countries.

Hamda Mustafa