Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO: The Authenticity of Some Damaged Historical Monuments Cannot Be Restored
| In an exclusive interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP), the Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO highlighted the extensive damage inflicted on the country’s cultural heritage during recent attacks, stressing that even if historical monuments are restored, the original authenticity of some of these structures cannot be fully recovered and that the restoration process faces significant challenges. |
Dr. Hassan Fartousi, Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, said that the current unstable conditions have made it difficult to plan the restoration and reconstruction of damaged historical monuments. He noted that at least 140 sites of cultural and historical significance in Iran had been damaged during the recent attacks, including several properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Referring to the importance of the concept of “authenticity” in cultural heritage, he added: “Even if the country’s finest artists and restoration specialists step in, the question remains: to what extent can the authenticity of a monument be restored?”
The Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO also warned of limited financial resources for the reconstruction of these sites, stating that UNESCO and other international organizations have limited budgets and that negotiations to secure additional support are ongoing.
Responding to a question about the estimated cost of restoring the damaged historical monuments, Fartousi said that all of them are invaluable and cannot be assigned a monetary value. He stressed that even when historical monuments are restored, the original authenticity of some structures cannot be fully recovered and that the restoration process faces significant challenges.
