TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization aims to cement collaboration with the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), in a bid to accelerate preservation of numerous historical sites scattered across the country.

The visiting ICCROM director-general Stefano De Caro and the CHTHO director Zahra Ahmadipour finalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) as they explored every avenues towards enhancing ties during a meeting in Tehran on Wednesday. 

The MOU was inked by De Caro, who is also an archaeologist, author, lecturer, and teacher in several Italian universities and Mohammad-Hassan Talebian, the deputy director of the CHTHO for cultural heritage, IRNA reported on Thursday.

Talebian presides over the national higher education center for cultural heritage, as well.

The agreement sets the basis for implementing further protection of cultural heritage programs, such as technical advice and collaborative visits as well as  organizing professional training activities, workshops and other activities to raise public awareness and support for conservation.

ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide through training, information, research, cooperation and advocacy programs.

PHOTO: ICCROM Director-General Stefano De Caro (L) speaks with CHTHO Director Zahra Ahmadipour during a meeting in Tehran, May 3, 2017.

AFM/MG