The Italian Ambassador to Syria, Stefano Raffaean, inspected several historical and archaeological sites in Aleppo Governorate on Sunday, observing ongoing restoration and rehabilitation works, while emphasizing the importance of protecting and preserving Syria's cultural heritage.
The Italian Ambassador and his accompanying delegation began their tour with a visit to the Aleppo National Museum to review its collections and archaeological value, followed by a visit to the Great Umayyad Mosque in Old Aleppo to assess its condition after its reopening. The tour concluded with a visit to the St. Simeon Citadel archaeological site in the countryside of Aleppo, in the presence of representatives from the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, site administrators, and local officials.
Praise for Syrian Heritage and Support for Its Restoration
Ambassador Raffaean expressed his great admiration for the globally renowned St. Simeon Citadel archaeological site in a statement to SANA correspondents, stressing the importance of its reopening to the public and its return to the map of religious and general tourism.
Raffaean also expressed his great joy at visiting the Great Umayyad Mosque and witnessing this historical landmark, praising the significant efforts made to restore it to its former historical glory and beauty after the damage it sustained, which constitutes a qualitative achievement.
The Italian Ambassador confirmed that his country works and cooperates with various entities to care for and preserve Syria's cultural heritage, noting that his visit aims to gain direct field insight and assess needs to provide possible support in future maintenance and restoration works.
Opening Avenues for Joint Cooperation
St. Simeon Citadel Director Abdul Karim Abdul Rahman confirmed that this visit falls within the framework of the Italian Ambassador's tours to several archaeological sites and museums in Syria, explaining that it sends a message of reassurance to all countries that Syria enjoys security and safety.
He expressed hope that this step would contribute to opening wide avenues for joint cooperation with the Italian side in the fields of protecting and preserving cultural and civilizational heritage.
The Italian Ambassador had previously inspected, on Saturday, several projects implemented with support from the Italian government in Idlib Governorate, during an official tour that included service, educational, and heritage sites, under the patronage and supervision of the Idlib Governorate and the Directorate of International Cooperation.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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