US signs deal to document Syria's heritage sites

The US State Department and the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) signed a USD 600,000 agreement to comprehensively document the current condition of cultural heritage sites in Syria and assess the future restoration, preservation and protection needs for those areas.
"ASOR's documentation and planning will raise global awareness of the threats to Syria's cultural heritage and identify immediate or future projects and assistance that can be carried out and provided inside Syria," the State Department said in a statement on Monday.
"The US is committed to protecting the world's cultural heritage from pillage, looting, and illicit trafficking. This grant award is part of the United States' larger effort to preserve Syria's historic sites and treasures." The State Department reiterated, "The destruction of Syria's rich heritage risks losing a cultural legacy of universal importance and jeopardizes the role it can play in post-conflict reconciliation and economic revitalization efforts."