Bucharest Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of Syriac and Christian Arabic Heritage

adopted at the

14th World Congress of Syriac Studies (Symposium Syriacum) and the 12th International Conference on Christian Arabic Studies

Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest, August 7 2026

In the context of geopolitical transformations in the Middle East, new opportunities for international cooperation, and developments that may facilitate the resumption of research, conservation, and restoration programmes, we, the participants in the 14th World Congress of Syriac Studies and the 12th International Conference on Christian Arabic Studies, gathered in Bucharest, adopt the following Declaration:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. The conservation of cultural heritage contributes to strengthening the resilience of communities, promoting religious freedom, and developing a culture of peace based on respect for diversity.
4. We welcome the efforts undertaken by international organizations, particularly UNESCO and ICCROM, as well as by numerous universities, libraries, research institutes, museums, ecclesiastical organizations, and scholarly associations around the world, which have initiated and continue to develop programmes for the documentation, digitization, conservation, and restoration of Syriac and Christian Arabic heritage.
5. We welcome Romania’s role in promoting research into Christian heritage and acknowledge its contribution to the development of an active cultural diplomacy.
6. Recognizing our responsibility to support the documentation, conservation, restoration, and promotion of Syriac and Christian Arabic heritage, thereby contributing to the preservation of historical memory and cultural diversity, we call upon the international community to strengthen cooperation, to prioritize joint projects, and to promote best practices for the conservation of cultural heritage in the Middle East.
7. We emphasize that the protection of cultural heritage cannot depend exclusively on the initiatives of a limited number of states or institutions. It requires shared responsibility.
8. We therefore adopt the Bucharest Declaration, today, 7 August 2026, as an expression of our common commitment.

Beyond the words themselves, the spirit of this Declaration will remain with us. I hope it 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.