Damascus, July 7 (SANA)Syria has recovered 23 archaeological artifacts that had been on loan to an exhibition of Syrian antiquities at the Arab World Institute in Paris since 2010, the Ministry ofForeign Affairsand Expatriates announced on Tuesday.

The ministry said in a statement on Telegram that the artifacts, which belong to the museums of Damascus, Aleppo, Latakia and Palmyra, had remained in France after diplomatic relations between Syria and France were severed during the era of the ousted regime.

The recovery comes as part of Syria’s national and diplomatic efforts to reclaim its cultural property and strengthen international cooperation to protect cultural heritage and preserve the country’s civilizational identity, the statement said.

The ministry said the repatriation was the result of constructive coordination between Syria and France, supported by legal and technical cooperation that enabled the completion of all necessary procedures for the artifacts’ return, reflecting the two countries’ shared commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage and advancing international cooperation in this field.

On the sidelines of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Damascus, it was decided that the artifacts would be transported to Syria aboard the French presidential aircraft, in a gesture underscoring the level of bilateral cooperation.

The ministry noted that France has become the first country to cooperate with Syria under the national campaign to recover Syrian antiquities held abroad.

Syria affirmed that the return of the artifacts marks the beginning of a continued effort to recover its cultural heritage and expressed its deep appreciation to the French authorities for their cooperation and for facilitating the return of these valuable antiquities to their homeland.H.H