The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, warned today about the intentional destruction and looting of Iraqi heritage, in what seems clearly a form of cultural cleansing, she stated.
Bokova called on states members of the organization, as well as the main museums of the world and the markets of art, Interpol and other institutions to be vigilant to any objects that may arise from the looting in that Arab country.
Iraq, a cultural mosaic and cradle of civilization, is today the victim of a war against its heritage and the very idea that originating communities of different faiths can live in peace, affirmed the head of Unesco during a symposium on the subject, carried out at the headquarters of that entity.
Bokova called the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution of preventive ban of all kind of trade of Iraqi and Syrian cultural objects, to combat the illicit trade.
The event was sponsored by the permanent delegations of Iraq and France to UNESCO and brought together numerous experts, curators and representatives of international organizations.
In 1972, the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the Convention on the protection of heritage, which has been ratified by 191 countries. (PL)