Italian ambassador: Italy is very proud of archeological co-op with Iran

Tehran, Dec 7, IRNA - Italian Ambassador to Iran Mauro Conchatori said on Tuesday that Iran’s call on Italy for implementation of the project for restoration, protection and maintenance of historical monuments is a great honor for Italy, Research Institute of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism (RICHT) reported. According to the Public Relations Office of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Conchatori was speaking in a meeting on three-year joint Iran-Italy cooperation in the area of study and protection of Pasargad world heritage. He further noted that his observation of the joint cooperation projects between the two countries was indicative of the spirit of cooperation and mutual understanding that exist between the two sides. The ambassador stressed that the spirit of cooperation between Iran and Italy was traditional and said that in addition to the activities that are underway in Pasargad, Italy is also engaged in cooperation in the Persepolis site, which will further increase thanks to the support of Dr. (Mohammad Hossein) Talebian (deputy director of Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization) . In the meantime, he added, Firouzabad site in Shiraz is another important area for which efforts are underway by Talebian to be registered as a UNESCO global heritage. Another speaker of the session was Mohammad Hossein Talebian who referred to Pasargad as the founder of classic architecture and urban development. Underlining the issue of protection, he said in the area of cultural heritage attention should be paid to historical experience and lessons should be taken from architecture and urban development in the past and no intervention should be made in the issue of protection as it would ruin the past achievements. Meanwhile, it was announced at the session that the protection roof for the “Winged Man” motif, the only complete motif remaining in Pasargad, which has been made in Italy in the course of Iran-Italy cooperation will be prepared for installation in coming days. 1378/IRNA