Syria, Iraq discuss ways of enhancing cooperation in the fields of culture and tourism

DAMASCUS, Aug.1, (ST)- Today, the Minister of Culture Lubana Mushawah and the Minister of Tourism, Muhammad Rami Martini, discussed with the Iraqi Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Hasan Nazim, the ways of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the cultural and tourism fields.

During the discussion that was held on Monday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture in Damascus,  Mushawah talked in details about the efforts exerted to restore antiquities, which were damaged as a result of the terrorist war on Syria, and to develop laws that preserve the tangible and intangible heritage and benefit from the experiences of the two countries, particularly as they both faced the barbaric terrorist attacks that targeted humans , stones, Civilization, thought and identity .

Mushawah reffered to the possibility of exchanging musical and heritage groups, book fairs, plastic art, theatrical and cinematic performances between the two countries.

For his, the minister of tourism spoke about the importance of promoting cultural tourism as it is the most important experience of the tourism sector in Syria to overcome the circumstances of the unjust blockade, noting the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially since both of them have many historical and cultural monuments and rich heritage.

He also called for reactivating joint tourism, exchanging experiences and training, and restoring archaeological sites and old markets that were vandalized by terrorists during the war years.

While the Iraqi Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities expressed his happiness with this visit to Damascus, which hosted the Iraqi people in their ordeal and was able to establish good friendships with the Syrian people, who have common social and historical ties, expressing his admiration for the work plan of the Ministry of Culture in the field of restoration, digitization and archiving to preserve Syrian antiquities, according to the Syrian Arab New Agency (SANA).

Nazim talked about the Iraqi experience in the file of retrieving antiquities, which was the priority of the Iraqi government, pointing to the importance of cooperation with international organizations and archaeological missions, mainly after Iraq was subjected to a terrorist attack on important archaeological sites.

Basma Qaddour