Syrian tourism minister Bishir Yazigi is categorical: the destruction of Syria's cultural and archaeological heritage is the work of terrorists. We are shown several videos shot by the enemy in which they are skipped human heritage. In the final images, from the ground or from satellite, the result almost always translates into huge craters on the ground.
We allow ourselves to disagree with the minister: in a conflict that has been going on for five years, it is the war itself that is the cause of the devastation. And when there is a fight - let's say - even the destruction of monuments (but also of hospitals or churches) can legitimately be implemented. The international law of armed conflicts provides for this. For example, if bastards bombard troops or people with a mortar placed in a mosque, it is legitimate (minimizing collateral damage as much as possible) to hit the structure. It is possible but certainly not "popular". And terrorists often play on this aspect. The minister knows this and consequently denies: "all the army operations are and have been surgical".
It must not be easy to be tourism ministers in a war. Therefore we do not insist. The tourism item up to 5 years ago represented the 16% of the Syrian GDP. So far 1200 sites of artistic interest in the country have been destroyed or seriously damaged.
Perhaps the detail is unknown to many but Italians have been protagonists in the discovery and enhancement of cultural heritage from Syria.
Last year we met prof. Paolo Matthiae, an archaeologist who has a half-century experience in the land where we are now.
We offer it as a testimony of one of the most authoritative compatriots about the country. A long conversation last August with a "prophetic" ending ...
Good vision!
