All governments should be concerned about “cultural heritage”

The researcher of history and anthropology said that the Minister of Heritage, Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts, not only in the new government but also in all governments and even the government itself, should be concerned about the protection and preservation of historical and cultural heritage and make the ministry a “cultural heritage”.

According to IRNA’s cultural correspondent, Seyyed Ezatullah Zarghami has been introduced to the Islamic Consultative Assembly by Ayatollah Seyyed Ibrahim Raisi, President of the Republic, as a proposed option for the Ministry of Heritage, Culture and Handicrafts; From Saturday (August 13th), he will present and explain his plans for the management of this ministry by attending the cultural commission as a specialized commission and other parliamentary commissions.

If the members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly vote in favor of Zarghami, he will become the head of the ministries that, although 26 tangible cultural heritage works and 16 intangible cultural heritage works in the UNESCO World Heritage List, as well as 11 cities and 3 handicraft villages in the World Handicrafts Organization will be inherited. However, tourism, as one of its most important sectors, has suffered a loss of about 30,000 billion tomans in the last 18 months in the wake of the corona outbreak. Traditional art workshops and craft shops have closed and many business owners have become completely unemployed.

The Ministry of Cultural Heritage is now waiting for a director who has a degree in civil engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology, a master’s degree in industrial management and is currently a PhD student in communications; He is a member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. Experts and experts on registration, protection, maintenance, restoration and determination and observance of the boundaries of cultural heritage works will be faced.

Ahmad Abu Hamza, professor of history and faculty member of Farhangian University, in an interview with IRNA cultural correspondent about the approach of the 13th government and the proposed Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, said: “His approach and focus should be on preserving cultural heritage; If the cultural heritage is not preserved, in Iran, which is the origin of historical and cultural tourism and the world knows Iran with the same titles and components, the tourism industry will have no meaning; If the infrastructure is planned and implemented for the tourism industry, it should be done with priority and based on cultural and historical tourism and attention to archeological and historical monuments.

The first priority should be the preservation of cultural heritage, then the development of tourism and the revival and export of handicrafts; The Minister of Heritage, Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts should, as a first step, have a general overview of the status of tangible and intangible national and world cultural heritage works.

The researcher of history and anthropology pointed to the importance and role of tourism industry in the socio-economic development of the country and added: I also believe that if we want to save the country from these difficult economic conditions, the only way is to develop tourism industry, oil and other resources and industries can not The solution and problem-solving of Iran’s economic situation is contemporary, and only tourism can help Iran’s present and future.

He said: “On the other hand, the handicrafts and traditional arts of Iran, with its diversity and quality, if not seen and protected and its artists and craftsmen are not supported and removed from the two sections of heritage, culture and tourism, in terms of artistic taste.” And the cultural content in the future of Iran will not remain something that the children of Iran will be proud of.

Using Iranologists and heritage-cultural consultants

Abu Hamza stated: “Tourism industry is very important for the country, handicrafts and traditional arts are also very valuable for creating employment, exports and currency, but I think the Minister of Heritage, Culture and Handicrafts not only in the new government, but in all governments and even all Government organs and components should be concerned with the protection and preservation of historical and cultural heritage, and should prioritize the relevant ministry of cultural heritage.

The researcher of history and anthropology pointed out: The new minister, in addition to being aware of and concerned about cultural heritage, should have experienced specialists in this field who are fully acquainted with both the works and heritage of Iran and the cultural civilization of Iran. In this field, they studied, researched and carried out executive work, both at the level of consulting and in executive responsibility.

Global registration creates global responsibility

Referring to the registration of 26 tangible cultural heritage of Iran in the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Abu Hamza said: “The world registration of historical monuments is an honor, but it also creates a global responsibility; Although the Ministry of Heritage, Culture, Tourism and Handicrafts has an inherent duty and responsibility for the protection and preservation of these works before the world registration, but with the globalization of a work, this responsibility becomes heavier and certainly the budget and funds for the preservation of these works should be increased. Be more active beforehand.

The faculty member of Farhangian University stated: The ratio of the number of unregistered cultural heritage works to the world monuments of Iran is much higher, different countries of the world from China, France to the United States have registered most of their cultural heritage works in the UNESCO World Heritage List. And the history of cultural heritage has recorded only 26 works, and year by year the process of world registration is becoming more difficult and limited, and the quota is decreasing.

Strengthen people’s concern and participation for the protection of world monuments

Abu Hamza said: “Currently, only one case can be submitted to the World Heritage Committee annually, and if there are no technical problems and lack of documentation, only one work can be registered annually in the World Heritage List, the registration of Iran’s national railway with all historical value.” And industry, but in my opinion, there are other ancient historical monuments such as the ancient hills and inscriptions of Cheshmeh Ali or Rashkan Fortress in the historical city of Rey or many historical sites and monuments in the country that could have a higher priority than this industrial heritage. Have.

The professor of history emphasized: the status and importance of a cultural work that has been registered globally should be introduced to the people of the region where the work is located and other parts of the country, and of course their care and participation should be strengthened for its protection and preservation. In addition, there should be more international publicity to promote global works, in which the media and non-governmental organizations have an effective role to play.

The media should visit the plan to clean up the Cheshmeh Ali inscription in Rey

Abu Hamza said about the plan to clean the Cheshmeh Ali inscription in the city of Rey: “This is a plan to clean and it is different from the restoration and it is being completed. It takes three weeks to a month according to the schedule. It is good that the media, specialists and experts Visit and talk to the person in charge of the project, so that the difference and the results are clear after a month. To prevent destruction.

He emphasized: the people and the local community should supervise the plans for cleaning or restoring historical and ancient monuments. As a resident of Rey and because of my constant concern for Rey, I follow the plan to clean the Cheshmeh Ali inscription every day.

The professor of history and rhetoric stated: Although there are inscriptions such as Vashi Strait in Tehran province, but in the city of Tehran there is only the 195-year-old Cheshmeh Ali inscription, this inscription was made in 1248 AH and not only for Rey and Tehran And it is very valuable for Iran, because these kinds of works are very limited and rare and they should be protected and preserved more and better.