(ANSA) – ROMA, 28 GEN – Relaunching cultural relations between Italy and Syria in the light of the new political phase that the tormented Mediterranean country is going through: with this goal in mind, the Heritage International Institute (HII), co-organiser together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Maeci) of the first edition of the Syrian Culture Week, is now working on a written report containing all the initiatives and projects proposed by the Italian universities and associations that took part in the initiative that has just ended.
The Syrian Culture Week came to a close in the evocative setting of the Basilica of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, where a musical concert was held, enlivened, among other things, by the performance of the unreleased song ‘Far Away Yet Close’, composed by Sergio Iovino, HII’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Italy and Syria share a common cultural consciousness that has been stratified over the years,” said the Italian Ambassador to Damascus, Stefano Ravagnan, at the opening, according to whom “the Heritage International Institute’s initiative has started an important path in favour of the revival of cultural and academic cooperation between the two countries”.
As stated in the press release, numerous universities, associations and museums have accepted the HII’s invitation, ‘giving rise to a very rich weekly programme under the banner of culture and diversity. Dozens of events a day all over the peninsula in favour of the reconstruction of Syria starting from culture’: from design to fashion, from music to cultural tourism, from accessibility for people with disabilities to Syria’s cultural heritage to the fight against trafficking in cultural goods, from archaeology in Syria to earthquake and natural disaster prevention.
Hani El Debuch, Director of the Special Task Force for Syria created by HII in the aftermath of 8 December 2024, when the transition of power began, commented on the initiative: “The Syrian Culture Week in Italy has put the word culture back at the centre of the debate on Syria, promoting the heritage of the Levantine country from all points of view as a basis for the reconstruction of the country. It was a unique opportunity,’ said El Debuch, ‘to be able to return to talk about a wonderful country that in recent years has been sadly remembered only for bombs, destruction, and armed conflict. We will continue to work from today and without pause in view of our first mission to Damascus,’ he added. In this sense, the Heritage International Institute is already at work on the final report of the Culture Week. In this document “all the proposals of the Italian universities and associations taking part in the initiative will come together to start activities in Syria, develop relations with local authorities, including the rectors of the Universities of Aleppo and Damascus, also for the relaunch of inter-university relations envisaged by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani”, who recently visited Syria.
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The Syrian Culture Week came to a close in the evocative setting of the Basilica of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, where a musical concert was held, enlivened, among other things, by the performance of the unreleased song ‘Far Away Yet Close’, composed by Sergio Iovino, HII’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Italy and Syria share a common cultural consciousness that has been stratified over the years,” said the Italian Ambassador to Damascus, Stefano Ravagnan, at the opening, according to whom “the Heritage International Institute’s initiative has started an important path in favour of the revival of cultural and academic cooperation between the two countries”.
As stated in the press release, numerous universities, associations and museums have accepted the HII’s invitation, ‘giving rise to a very rich weekly programme under the banner of culture and diversity. Dozens of events a day all over the peninsula in favour of the reconstruction of Syria starting from culture’: from design to fashion, from music to cultural tourism, from accessibility for people with disabilities to Syria’s cultural heritage to the fight against trafficking in cultural goods, from archaeology in Syria to earthquake and natural disaster prevention.
Hani El Debuch, Director of the Special Task Force for Syria created by HII in the aftermath of 8 December 2024, when the transition of power began, commented on the initiative: “The Syrian Culture Week in Italy has put the word culture back at the centre of the debate on Syria, promoting the heritage of the Levantine country from all points of view as a basis for the reconstruction of the country. It was a unique opportunity,’ said El Debuch, ‘to be able to return to talk about a wonderful country that in recent years has been sadly remembered only for bombs, destruction, and armed conflict. We will continue to work from today and without pause in view of our first mission to Damascus,’ he added. In this sense, the Heritage International Institute is already at work on the final report of the Culture Week. In this document “all the proposals of the Italian universities and associations taking part in the initiative will come together to start activities in Syria, develop relations with local authorities, including the rectors of the Universities of Aleppo and Damascus, also for the relaunch of inter-university relations envisaged by Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani”, who recently visited Syria.
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