In keeping with the latest resolution, as well as to implement in “very concrete terms” an earlier Security Council resolution to counter financing of terrorism from the illegal trade of Iraqi cultural property, Ms. Bokova announced that she is planning to go to The Louvre Museum in Paris next week on June 1 to update the list of objects not to be exported or traded from Iraq.
The UNESCO chief was joined at the press conference by Maria Böhmer, Minister of State of Germany, and Mohamed Ali Alhakim, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations, as the two countries that presented the resolution to the General Assembly, which was adopted with more than 70 co-sponsors.
She also said the passage of the resolution today “deeply resonates” with UNESCO’s mandate and its efforts to preserve cultural heritage in other countries of conflict like Syria, Libya, Mali and Yemen.
The General Assembly resolution focuses on the fight against the destruction of cultural heritage and the attacks against cultural diversity in Iraq and includes a set of measures to end the destruction and looting of archaeological sites and cultural artefacts in Iraq.
The four-page text calls for “an immediate halt to the wanton destruction of the cultural heritage of Iraq, including religious sites or objects, emphasizes that no such acts committed by ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) or other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida will be tolerated, and also calls for the preservation of the cultural heritage of Iraq by protecting cultural and religious properties and sites consistent with international humanitarian law.”
It also “stresses the importance of holding accountable perpetrators of attacks intentionally directed against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, or historic monuments.”
(Source: United Nations News Centre)
Comments are closed.