Participants in the World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference on Arab Christian Studies adopted the “Bucharest Declaration” on Friday, recognising Romania’s contribution to the development of cultural diplomacy.
According to a press release issued by the Levant Institute for Advanced Studies in the Culture of Peace, the declaration was adopted in the context of “the geopolitical transformations in the Middle East, new opportunities for international cooperation, and developments that may facilitate the resumption of research, conservation, and restoration programmes.”
The signatories stressed that “manuscripts, libraries, monasteries, churches, mural paintings, icons, and liturgical objects constitute exceptional testimonies to a tradition that continues to inspire scholarly research and intercultural dialogue.”
“The protection of Syriac and Christian Arabic heritage is not merely an obligation towards the past, but also an investment in the future of dialogue among peoples, peace, and mutual respect,” the declaration states.
The role of cultural institutions
The declaration welcomed the efforts of international organisations, universities, libraries, research institutes, museums, and church organisations engaged in documenting, digitising, conserving, and restoring Syriac and Arab Christian heritage.
A dedicated section recognises Romania for “promoting research into Christian heritage and acknowledge its contribution to the development of an active cultural diplomacy.”
Participants also committed themselves to supporting the documentation, preservation, and promotion of this heritage and appealed to the international community to “strengthen cooperation, to prioritise joint projects, and to promote best practices for the conservation of cultural heritage in the Middle East.”
Promoting tolerance and peace
In the concluding section of the document, the authors expressed hope that the Bucharest Declaration “will become one of the lasting signs of a Congress that gives us confidence that our field of study can contribute to—and become part of—a broader international discourse on cultural diplomacy, promoting greater understanding, tolerance, and peace among communities, confessions, and religions.”
The World Congress of Syriac Studies and the International Conference on Arab Christian Studies were held at Romania’s Palace of Parliament in Bucharest from 3 to 7 August, bringing together researchers from more than 35 countries, who presented over 300 academic papers.
Photo: Levant Institute
