Restoration of Syrian antiquities at the Czech National Museum

Prague, SANA- The Czech National Museum has announced its intention to restore about 20 unique Syrian artifacts, most of them from Palmyra, some dating back to 4000 BC, after they were transferred last week from Syria to Prague in cooperation with the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums.

In a press conference held on Wednesday in Prague, the Czech National Museum’s Director, Michal Lukeš said that the artifacts will be restored at the museum’s workshops in the presence of Syrian specialists before returning them to Syria, expecting that the process will take about a year.

Lukeš added that this event is considered to be a fruit of a standing cooperation with the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums in Syria for five years.

He said that before returning the artifacts, an exhibition will be organized at the Czech National Museum to showcase the renovated antiquities.

Lukeš added that the restoration process is carried out within the framework of the Czech government’s program for humanitarian and development assistance in Syria.

In turn, the representative of the Syrian Embassy in Prague, Dr. Samir Massad, said that the Czech Republic was among the first countries to offer assistance to Syria in the field of preserving antiquities and restoring what was destroyed by terrorist groups.

Massad hoped that the cooperation between Syria and the Czech Republic in this field would be an example to follow by other countries to contribute to saving the ancient Syrian cultural heritage.

Nisreen Othman/ Ruaa al-Jazaeri