TEHRAN -- Seyed Asghar Mahmood-Abadi, a professor of history at Isfahan University and also a member of the editorial board of **Farhang-e Isfahan** (Culture of Isfahan) periodical, believes: "We should try to preserve whatever has left from our historical monuments, and we must not try to ruin our own reputation in the history."

Pointing to the destruction process of some of the ancient monuments in Iran, he said that the destruction of the ancient monuments by any institution is an unpleasant deed.

Mahmood-Abadi recalled the bitter memory of the destruction of some ancient monuments of Isfahan, which he said has remained in the minds of the people. He then added, "Still many people remember how the historical and the artistic creations on Hafez, Abdul-Razaq, Hatef and Neshat streets were destroyed. The first Pahlavi king and others destroyed many of the magnificent buildings. We should not act like them; otherwise, the future generation would hold the same opinion about us too."

This university professor further said, "The best possible way to preserve our historical monuments is to raise people's knowledge about their real value. This can begin from schools and continue in universities."

In conclusion, he expressed his approval of the merger of the Cultural Heritage Organization and the Tourism Organization.