UNESCO condemns the damage to World Heritage in Syria

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, has expressed deep shock at news of further destruction to cultural heritage in Syria, and particularly following the publication of media reports and images depicting damage to the Crac des Chevaliers, one of Syria’s World Heritage sites. These two castles are outstanding examples of the region’s fortified architecture developed during the Crusades between the 11th and 13th centuries. Irina Bokova called upon the perpetrators to cease the destruction immediately and urged all the parties to the conflict to take the necessary measures to ensure the safeguarding of this World Heritage site along with all of Syria’s cultural property. At the recent session of the World Heritage Committee in Cambodia, the six World Heritage sites in Syria were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, demonstrating the serious concern of the international community over the threats facing the heritage of the country, during the current period of civil strife and turmoil. The members of the World Heritage Committee “urged all parties associated with the situation in Syria to refrain from any action that would cause further damage to cultural heritage of the country and to fulfill their obligations under international law by taking all possible measures to protect such heritage”.