UNESCO Urges Syria’s Neighbors to Ban Illicit Trafficking in Country’s Antiquities

DAMASCUS, (ST) – The General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums (GDAM) stressed in a recent statement that the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) had responded to the Directorate’s request to urge Syria’s neighboring countries to prevent illicit trafficking in Syrian antiquities and artifacts. For this purpose, the Organization made necessary coordination with the international police and customs, the ICOMOS Organization and the archaeological missions working in some archeological sites in Syria.

Earlier, the GDAM had addressed concerned International organizations upon receiving information from the Antiquities’ Directorate in Deir EzZour and from social elite and notable figures staying near Doura Europus and Mari archeological sites, revealing that these two sites have recently been exposed to increasing excavation works. The information also reveal that some Lebanese and Iraqi persons are taking part in the excavations and acts of stealing and that the thieves smuggle the antiquities they stole to Turkey across the northern borders, specifically the Tal Abyad area and other bordering points.

UNESCO’s quick response to GDAM’s request comes in harmony with the recommendations of Amman International Conference, which was recently held to tackle the issue of illicit trafficking in the Syrian cultural heritage and in which representatives of concerned international organizations, archeological and custom authorities in the neighboring states, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey, participated.

H.SH