Some 150 Scholars to Attend Int'l Syrian Heritage Forum in Germany

At least 150 international experts are expected to take part in a June conference on Syrian cultural heritage in Germany, the country's Foreign Office said in a statement Monday.

BERLIN (Sputnik) — About 150 experts from a number of countries are expected to attend a June conference dedicated to the preservation of Syrian cultural heritage in Germany, the country's Foreign Office said in a statement Monday.

"On June 2-4, international experts will attend a meeting on protection and preservation of cultural heritage in Syria at the invitation of the UNESCO and Special Representative of the Federal Foreign Office for UNESCO World Heritage, UNESCO Cultural Conventions Maria Boehmer… Among the 150 people, who have been invited by UNESCO and Foreign Office are renowned archaeologists, researchers of the ancient world, architects and urban specialists from all over the world," the statement reads.

It was added in the statement that the international meeting aimed at coordination of activities to assess the damage and to record the level of destruction of country's cultural sites, such as the historic city of Palmyra.

Syria has been mired in civil war since March 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.

During the conflict, a number of country's historical sites have been damaged or destroyed, due to the military operations or to the activities of the jihadists, who consider that ancient relics and temples promote idolatry.