“Syrian archaeological heritage under threat of sanctions”…a symposium within the activities of the Damascene Rose in Sanremo 2024 project
Rome (ST) – As part of the activities of the Damascene Rose Project in Sanremo 2024, Italy, which is being held by the Syrian Trust for Development in cooperation with the Santagata Organization for the Economics of Culture, the Villa Ormond Institute, and the Italian International Institute of Humanitarian Law, a symposium entitled “Syrian archaeological heritage under the threat of sanctions” was held in the presence of academic staff at the Genoa university, excavation experts in the city of Genoa, students of archeology, history and excavation at the university and some Italian journalists.
Dr. Hammam Saad, Assistant Director General of the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, reviewed the importance and richness of the Syrian archaeological heritage and the projects that were promoting this heritage before the war on Syria.
Saad noted that the war on Syria stopped all works and most of the archaeological missions stopped their cooperation with the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums due to the sanctions, adding that “With the efforts of the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums and the Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with government institutions and civil organizations such as the Syrian Trust for Development, we have been able to rehabilitate many buildings and rescue and recover many artifacts.”
Saad stressed that the greatest threat today to the Syrian archaeological heritage comes from the sanctions imposed on Syria and the unjust siege on its people, which increase the risk of destruction of the Syrian archaeological heritage, especially the sites registered on the World Heritage List.
Najla Khoury