UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, on Thursday urged the international community to do everything in its power to halt the destruction of Iraq’s cultural heritage.
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He also charged the community to ensure that any perpetrator of such destruction was held accountable.
Ki-Moon made the call in a speech presented on his behalf by UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, at the General Assembly Resolution on “Saving the Cultural Heritage of Iraq” in New York.
He said that destruction of cultural heritage bore witness to a form of violent extremism that sought to destroy the present, past and future of human civilisation.
”That this is taking place today in Iraq, the cradle of Mesopotamian civilisation, represents a loss not only for the Iraqi people, but truly for all of humanity.
”This type of cultural destruction does not stop in Iraq; other countries in the region and beyond have seen similar crimes. We have seen it in Afghanistan, Syria and Mali.
”The destruction of cultural heritage worldwide has reached unprecedented scale.
”It is being used as a tactic of war to terrify populations, to finance criminal activities and to spread fear and hatred.
”To respond, we need coordinated action, improved information sharing and strengthened legal bases, both in affected countries, neighbouring states and the international community,” he said.
Ki-Moon commended UNESCO and its partners for assisting member states in those efforts.
He also urged the 193 UN member states, in cooperation with Interpol and other relevant authorities, to step up efforts to prevent trade in items of cultural, scientific and religious importance illegally removed from Iraq.
He urged that “as they adopt the resolution in the General Assembly, they must send a strong message of worldwide support for the people and government of Iraq”.
He assured that the UN would support member-states in that regard. (NAN)
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