UNWTO Renews Condemnation of Terrorists Groups’ Systematic Destruction of Syrian Antiquities

Syria’s cultural heritage has been the target of the armed terrorist groups’ attacks over the past four years. These attacks have been a source of condemnation by international organizations concerned in tourism and culture.

Within this framework, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has renewed its condemnation of the systematic destruction of the Syrian archeological monuments and cultural heritage by the terrorist organizations operating in the country.

In a phone conversation, Chief of the tourism organization Taleb al-Rifa’i told the Syrian Minister of Tourism Bisher Yaziji that on behalf of the world tourism community the tourism organization join UNESCO in its condemnation of the terrorist groups’ systematic destruction of the Syrian historical places, stressing the necessity of adopting immediate procedures to protect the world cultural heritage.

Al-Rifa’i called on the international community to be united in condemning of the terrorist groups’ acts, asserting that the world’s diverse cultural heritage tells the story of mankind and makes local communities feel proud and self-confidence. It also encourages millions of people to travel and discover the world, he said, adding that the targeted artifacts have been a source of understanding and tolerance among peoples of the world.

The two officials discussed methods of cooperation between the organization and the ministry in the field of building the abilities of the tourism sector’s workers. Both focused on cooperation in providing consultative expertise that helps bring Syria back to the world tourism map in consistent with its distinguished cultural identity and its diverse natural and archeological elements and that upgrades the national income and economy and actively supports efforts aiming to push the reconstruction process forward.

Earlier on its website, the international Tourism Organization condemned the destruction of the Syrian tourism and archeological sites.

Also, during his visit to a photo exhibition held in the Syrian Cultural Center in Madrid in July of last year to document the Syrian heritage sites before and after the terrorist attacks, Chief of the organization stressed that the destruction caused to the Syrian heritage including the mosques, churches, palaces and other historical places by the attacks of the armed terrorist groups was unjustified.

Rawaa Ghanam