Heads of State and Governments from over 40 countries, on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirate (UAE) endorsed the creation of an International Fund for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage in Conflict Zones.
The decision was reached at the conclusion of an international conference on “Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage’’.
It was organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) with the support of French and UAE governments.
In a Declaration after the conference, the leaders endorsed that the headquarters of the Fund would be located in Switzerland with 10 million dollars contributions as seed funds.
They also endorsed the domestication and implementation of various international statutes which declare the destruction of cultural heritage as war crime.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the Conference.
Addressing the conference, the minister commended the conveners for their very laudable initiative aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage.
“This conference could not have come at a more auspicious time, considering the growing effects of armed conflicts and terrorism on not just human beings, but on our timeless and irreplaceable cultural heritage.
“Not only do extremists attack people mindlessly, they also do not spare the cultures of affected countries, thus destroying our heritage, our history and our future, since this is what this destruction amounts to,’’ he said
The minister called for the sensitisation of local communities across Africa in order to raise their consciousness about the importance of protecting cultural heritage against marauders.
He said that the 100 million dollar Fund to be established should make provision for the sensitisation campaign
“For us in Africa, the pivotal position of the local people cannot be over emphasised. Therefore, the international fund to be established should also cater for the sensitisation of local people.
“Another point linked to the issue of funding is that in Africa, we lag behind in electronic preservation of heritage monuments, sites and manuscripts. The fund should also cater for this in the Internet age,’’ he said.
The minister stressed the need for political will in order to sustain the efforts to protect cultural heritage in times of conflict.
According to him, Nigeria has joined all the Conventions aimed at dealing with the threat to and destruction of cultural property, and that the country is now in the process of domesticating them.
He said Nigeria, like many other countries in the world, including Mali and Afghanistan, had recorded attacks on its cultural heritage.
The minister stressed the need to check the activities of those involved in the art trade as well as the universal or encyclopedic museums.
President Francois Hollande said the country is championing the cause because of the increasing trend of extremists launching deliberate and calculated violent attacks on the people and their cultural symbols and heritage in conflict areas.
He said the French government would contribute 30 million dollars to the proposed Fund and would give all its support to it.
Sheikh Mohammed bi Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces said the destruction of cultural heritage was an attempt to obliterate humanity.
He said the perpetrators of the evil were using the name of religion and there was the urgent need to crack down on them.
The UAE leader pledged the support of his country to the establishment of the Fund.
The Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras underscored the need to set up and strengthen international network for saving and protection of cultural heritage and property.
He said the world was witnessing escalation crisis with deliberate resultant to cultural resultant to cultural cleansing which had devastating effects.
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia said his country was at the receiving end of trafficking in cultural heritage.
He condemned the unprecedented wanton destruction of cultural heritage in conflict zones and pledged the support of his country to the Fund. (NAN)