PRESERVATION OF UNESCO WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE: RESTORATION OF PALMYRA DURING THE WAR IN SYRIA (BASED ON ELECTRONIC EDITIONS)

Abstract

The war in Syria, in addition to a number of military-political, geo-strategic and humanitarian challenges with which the international community faced and directed eff orts, actualized the need to develop more effective mechanisms for the protection of cultural heritage, which is undergoing destruction, damage, theft in the territory where military operations unfold. Middle East region (Syria, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, etc.) are the most vulnerable in this respect. In addition, there are dozens of architectural, sculptural and natural sites were added to the UNESCO list. It is the very organization at the moment, which is responsible for the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration of historical monuments, the financing of restoration work worldwide and the best professionals involvement. Tragic events in Syria and capture Palmyra belonging to six World Heritage sites by the militants of the Islamic State (IDIL), were the real test of the strength and effectiveness for UNESCO. UNESCO experts have to assess the damage, develop a plan of preventive measures, the reconstruction of destroyed ancient city by terrorists. Since all of these problems arose against the backdrop of a series of military and political events, geopolitical confrontation in the Middle East between the US and Russia, the struggle with the powerful terrorist organization, the importance of the subject no doubt requires a comprehensive analysis and research. New media, including online media, efficiently inform the international community on the capture of Palmyra, “the pearl of the desert”, by Syria, the response and actions of UNESCO in connection with the destruction of ancient art by terrorists and about the city liberation. In addition, reports in the media about the CAP attracted the attention of billions people because the fight against global terrorism stronghold — the Islamic state is in progress, that is why electronic and online publications serve as the main source of research. On May 20, 2015 Palmyra was captured by terrorists of «Islamic state» grouping. Soon it became known that they began to destroy the ancient monuments. On June 27, they demolished the statue «Lion Allat». In August, two churches were blown up: on August 23 — Temple of Baalshamina, on August 30 — the temple of Bel. On September 4, three best preserved funerary tower tombs in the Valley were destroyed. Later, Syrian State Agency for the Protection of ancient monuments reported that militants had exploded the famous Arc de Triomphe. According to one version, terrorists began the search for gold and precious things and that is the reason for this vandalism. After almost a year stay in the hands of the terrorist group IDIL, on March 27, 2016 Palmyra was returned to the Syrian people. Military barbaric destruction of architectural and cultural heritage of the I-II century inflicted irreparable damage to the objects included in the list of UNESCO cultural values, but what was destroyed and what is left can be reconstructed. The world community led by UNESCO is ready to help Syria with finances and experts in this urgent matter.