French delegation voices support to Syria’s efforts to protect cultural heritage

Damascus, SANA – Members of the delegation of French parliamentarians and journalists were briefed on Tuesday on the measures adopted by the Ministry of Culture and the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums for protecting historical treasures and ruins under the terrorism war in the country.

The French figures, who included MPs Gerard Bapt, Jerome Lambert and Christian Hutin, stressed the necessity of providing support to Syria to preserve its cultural heritage.

Director General of the Antiquities and Museums Maamoun Abdul-Karim talked to the delegation about the working teams from the General Directorate’s affiliates in all the provinces, comprising 2500 employees, who are exerting efforts to the effect of protecting the museums’ contents.

Abdul-Karim said the talks focused on means of enhancing international and scientific cooperation and ways of providing support to the Syrian parties concerned to protect the Syrian cultural heritage, which is heavily jeopardized by ISIS and other terrorist organizations within the war raging in the country.

Head of the French delegation MP Gerard Bapt, for his part, underlined the importance of preserving the close scientific relations between Syria and France, affirming the international duties, including of France, to help the Syrian side in overcoming the challenges of the battle of culture facing it.

Providing support to the efforts of the Antiquities and Museums Directorate, Bapt said, is one of the main objectives of the French delegation’s visit to Syria, hailing the sacrifices made by the Directorate’ staff members as some lost their lives in the line of duty.

The delegation later visited the Antiquities Directorate’s team specialized in authenticating and documenting yje Syrian archeological pieces and discussed with its members the techniques applied in the documentation process.

R.J/H. Said

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