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Russia to help Syria restore cultural heritage after defeating IS

Unfortunately, many monuments have been severely damaged or completely ruined, Executive Secretary of the Russian Commission for UNESCO admits

© Yuri Belinsky/TASS Archive

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Russian museum director says Syrian Palmyra could have been saved from IS militants

MOSCOW, January 22 /TASS/. Russia will help Syria to restore its cultural heritage monuments, Grigory Ordzhonikidze, Executive Secretary of the Russian Commission for UNESCO, said on Friday.

"However, that will happen only after the Islamic State [a terrorist organization which is banned in Russia] has been destroyed," Ordzhonikidze told TASS.

"The United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization [UNESCO] will send a commission to Syria only after the military hostilities have been over and the Syrian territories have been liberated from the terrorists to assess the inflicted damage and plan possible restoration works," Ordzhonikidze went on to say.

"Russia is ready to provide its restoration experts. Naturally, only the monuments that lend themselves to restoration can be restored. Unfortunately, many monuments have been severely damaged or completely ruined," Ordzhonikidze said.

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Syria UNESCO Islamic State Culture

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