Al-Hayek Addressing the St. Petersburg Forum for United Cultures Emphasizes the Importance and Necessity of Protecting Material Heritage in Palestine

Bethlehem - Afaq News - The Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of the State of Palestine, Mr. Hani Hayek, participated in the 12th session of the St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum 2026, which was inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in the city of St. Petersburg, Russia, under the slogan "United Cultures.. Shared Values," with the participation of representatives from about 70 countries.

Minister Hayek's participation came within a specialized session that discussed the urgent challenges facing the protection and preservation of cultural heritage in conflict and disaster areas, with the participation of several ministers, officials, leaders of international organizations, and directors of museums and cultural institutions.

During his speech at the forum, Minister Hayek emphasized the importance of placing Palestinian cultural heritage at the heart of international efforts aimed at protecting heritage in times of conflict, in light of the damages and threats faced by Palestinian heritage sites, buildings, and collections. He stressed the need to enhance scientific and digital documentation processes and to protect the cultural memory of the Palestinian people.

Hayek addressed what he described as the deliberate destruction that has affected several Palestinian tangible cultural heritage sites by the occupation and settlers, as well as the obstacles imposed on efforts to protect, maintain, and restore these sites, specifically pointing to the extent of the damage inflicted on archaeological and heritage sites in the Gaza Strip as a result of the aggression, and the significant losses that have affected Palestinian cultural heritage.

The minister emphasized the importance of urgent and systematic documentation of the damage inflicted on heritage, and the preservation of evidence and scientific materials necessary for future restoration, recovery, and rehabilitation processes, affirming that documentation forms the basis for protecting cultural memory and ensuring that information related to damaged heritage sites and elements does not get lost.

Al-Hayek confirmed that Palestine, with its diverse historical, cultural, and religious heritage spanning thousands of years, looks forward to expanding cooperation with all relevant international bodies and institutions concerned with heritage protection, which contributes to documenting and safeguarding Palestinian heritage and enhancing its presence on the international level.

He also emphasized the important role that the Russian Federation can play, pointing to the depth of historical and cultural relations, and the importance of restoring and revitalizing Russian tourism to Palestine, especially religious tourism and pilgrimage to holy sites.

The minister indicated that the development of Palestinian-Russian cooperation could include areas such as tourism, heritage, museums, the exchange of expertise and knowledge, and enhancing communication between specialized institutions in both countries.

Meetings to enhance cooperation and protect heritage On the sidelines of his participation in the forum, Minister Al-Hayek held a number of meetings and discussions with officials and international and Russian institutions, addressing ways to develop cooperation in the fields of protecting tangible cultural heritage, museums, documentation, tourism, and culture.

In this context, Minister Al-Hayek met with Mr. Mikhail Piotrovsky, the director general of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, where both sides discussed prospects for joint cooperation in the cultural and heritage fields, and ways to benefit from international expertise in the field of museums and the protection of heritage collections.

The cooperation and assistance in establishing the Palestinian National Museum were also discussed, which would serve as a national platform for preserving and showcasing Palestinian heritage and enhancing its presence at the international level, in addition to exploring possibilities for scientific and artistic collaboration and exchanging expertise in the field of museums and managing heritage collections and artifacts.

Minister Hayek also held a meeting with Dr. Salem bin Mohammed Al-Malik, the Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), during which they discussed prospects for enhancing cooperation in the field of protecting Palestinian heritage, documentation, damage assessment, capacity building, and benefiting from the initiatives and programs implemented by the organization in the field of protecting endangered heritage.

Minister Hayek met with Mr. Yevgeny Grigoryev, a member of the St. Petersburg government and head of the Foreign Relations Committee, where both sides discussed prospects for developing tourism and religious exchanges, cultural cooperation, and enhancing twinning relations between St. Petersburg and Bethlehem.

Both parties expressed their interest in developing a joint activity plan for the last quarter of 2026 and the year 2027. Among the main topics is the participation of Palestinian representatives in the tourism forum to be held in St. Petersburg from December 9 to 12. The forum will include meetings with tour operators and discussions about the possibility of creating joint tourism and religious routes.

Particular emphasis was placed on cooperation in the cultural field and the preservation of historical and cultural heritage. The city of St. Petersburg has immense cultural potential, as it includes museums, theaters, libraries, educational institutions, and other organizations, and preserving, developing, and promoting heritage sites is a top priority in the city's policy.

The prospects for cooperation in the fields of archaeology, museums, and heritage preservation were discussed, including the establishment of a pilgrimage center in Bethlehem.

The minister's participation in the forum and the meetings held on its sidelines provided an opportunity to enhance communication with international institutions and organizations specialized in heritage, and to explore cooperation in the areas of documentation, protection, risk management, recovery, and rehabilitation, as well as the use of modern technology in documenting, preserving, and making heritage accessible to future generations.

The minister's participation in the forum is part of the efforts made by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to enhance the Palestinian presence in international forums, defend Palestinian cultural heritage, and develop international partnerships aimed at protecting, preserving, and highlighting it as an integral part of the global human heritage.