Syrian-Iraqi talks to enhance cultural and tourism cooperation

Damascus, SANA- Minister of Culture, Dr. Lubana Mushawah, and Minister of Tourism, Muhammad Rami Martini, discussed with the Iraqi Minister of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Hasan Nazim, means of enhancing bilateral cooperation in the cultural and tourism fields.

Meeting at the Ministry of Culture building in Damascus, Minister Mushawah gave a detailed explanation of the efforts exerted to restore antiquities damaged as a result of the terrorist war on Syria and work to develop laws that protect and preserve the tangible and intangible heritage and benefit from the experiences of the two countries, particularly as they shared the calamities and barbaric terrorist attacks that targeted humans , stones, Civilization, thought and identity .

Minister Mushawah indicated the possibility of exchanging musical and heritage troupes, book fairs, plastic art, theatrical and cinematic performances between the two countries.

In turn, Minister Martini pointed out to 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.

The Minister of Tourism called for revitalizing joint tourism, exchanging experiences and training, and restoring archaeological sites and old markets that were vandalized by terrorists during the war years.

For his part, 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.

Nazim spoke 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.

Bushra Dabin / Mazen Eyon