Iran, UNESCO step up cooperation on protection of damaged heritage sites
Iran and UNESCO have agreed to expand technical and international cooperation to assess, document, restore and protect heritage sites damaged in Iran, with UNESCO planning to send representatives to conduct field assessments.
According to Mehr News Agency, the agreement was discussed at a meeting between Farhad Azizi Zallani, Director General of Iran’s World Heritage Sites, and Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity, organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Hanoi, Vietnam.
During the meeting, Azizi Zallani presented an update on the condition of Iran’s cultural heritage sites and complexes, particularly properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List that were damaged during the recent war. He also outlined the prospects for expanding cooperation between Iran and the World Heritage Centre, as well as the Iranian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts’ expectations regarding the organization’s technical, specialist and international capacities.
The report outlined the extent of the damage, as well as ongoing expert assessments, documentation efforts and emergency measures taken to protect, restore and safeguard the affected sites.
The discussions focused on expanding expert cooperation, exchanging technical knowledge and experience, supporting conservation programs, and facilitating the participation of international experts in assessing the condition of damaged heritage sites.
Eloundou Assomo, for his part, reaffirmed the World Heritage Centre’s support for cultural heritage sites and properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. He said plans were underway to dispatch UNESCO representatives to conduct field assessments, determine the extent of the damage, and identify potential forms and areas of support and cooperation.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining expert-level communication and coordination among relevant institutions, saying continued professional engagement could help strengthen conservation efforts and facilitate more effective approaches to safeguarding Iran’s World Heritage.
The two sides emphasized Iran’s historical, civilizational and international significance in the field of cultural heritage and underscored the need to strengthen and expand cooperation between Iran and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, while making targeted use of existing capacities to protect shared human heritage.