Damascus, SANA- The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) announced Syria’s return to full membership after years of hiatus.
This announcement came during a virtual meeting that brought together Dr. Anas Haj Zeidan, Director-General of Antiquities and Museums in Syria, with representatives from ISESCO, including Dr. Weber Ndoro, Director of the Islamic World Heritage Center, experts Bilal Al-Shabi and Mohammed Al-Absi, as well as Engineer Lina Qatifan, Director of World Heritage Sites at the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums.
Bilal al-Shabi, a program expert at ISESCO, emphasized the importance of Syria’s return to the organization, noting that this step reflects the organization’s commitment to supporting member states in protecting their cultural and scientific heritage.
Al-Shabi pointed out that a technical mission will soon visit Syria to review a number of archaeological sites and museums. This mission will develop a joint action plan aimed at supporting efforts to preserve Syrian cultural heritage and assess the technical and logistical needs of the Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, with the aim of strengthening its capacities in the fields of heritage conservation and museum management.
For his part, Dr. Anas Haj Zidan welcomed this step, considering that Syria’s return to ISESCO will open new horizons for cooperation in the fields of heritage and culture. He added that the technical mission’s visit will contribute to supporting efforts to preserve Syrian heritage, especially in light of the challenges facing the country as a result of the war.
It is worth noting that ISESCO is an international organization operating under the umbrella of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and aims to enhance cooperation among Member States in the fields of education, science, and culture.
MHD Ibrahim