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Sevilay Tuncer, head of Environmental Policy and Urban Planning in Türkiye’s ruling Justice and Development Party, said cooperation between Türkiye and Syria to restore historic buildings damaged during the war aims to revive shared cultural heritage and raise international awareness of its destruction.
Tuncer, speaking in an interview with the Anadolu Agency, said that the aim of this cooperation is not limited to restoring historic buildings.
“It also seeks to raise international awareness of the damage caused by the war and to invite the global community to participate in safeguarding this shared cultural heritage,” she added.
She emphasized that the war not only harmed people but also caused deep wounds to cities and the cultural identity they carry.
“Our work focuses on how to bring back what the war destroyed and to ensure these historic sites once again become symbols of coexistence and shared history,” she said.
Tuncer explained that a delegation from the government's Department of Environmental Policy and Urban Planning visited Aleppo last week, accompanied by officials and experts in architecture and urban restoration.
The delegation met with local authorities and technical staff to evaluate the condition of heritage sites severely damaged by years of conflict.
During the visit, the Turkish delegation met with Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib, and both sides agreed to form a joint technical team to draft restoration plans, provide methodological guidance, and supervise rehabilitation work on prominent heritage landmarks, including mosques, schools, and Ottoman-era public buildings.
She said the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) will play a leading role in restoring antiquities in Aleppo and Damascus, providing equipment, expertise, and technical assessments.
Türkiye, she added, will also organize training sessions and host Syrian professionals in specialized workshops to align restoration methods with internationally recognized standards.
Tuncer noted that the initiative reflects Türkiye’s broader commitment to protecting cultural heritage beyond its borders and supporting regional recovery after conflict.
“We are determined to preserve the architectural and historical identity that connects our nations. This cooperation is both a humanitarian and cultural responsibility,” she said.
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