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DIRECTOR-GENERAL CONDEMNS TALIBAN'S CRIME AGAINST CULTURE

Paris, March 12 (No.2001-38) - UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura has condemned the Taliban’s destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan - which has been confirmed by his Special Envoy, Pierre Lafrance - and described it as a “crime against culture”.

Mr Matsuura declared: “I was distressed to learn from my Special Envoy, Pierre Lafrance, that the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas was confirmed. In so doing, the Taliban have committed a crime against culture. It is abominable to witness the cold and calculated destruction of cultural properties which were the heritage of the Afghan people, and, indeed, of the whole of humanity. The Buddhas of Bamiyan were not inscribed on the World Heritage List but deserved to be and their destruction represents a true cultural crime.”

The Director-General added: “This crime against culture was committed while people throughout the world raised their voices to prevent it. The Taliban heeded neither the unprecedented scope of international mobilisation, nor the advice against their decision, spontaneously issued by the highest religious authorities of Islam.”

Mr Matsuura continued: “This loss is irreversible. Everything possible must be done to stop further destruction. I have asked my Special Envoy to continue his mission and explore all avenues that may allow for the safeguarding of the other treasures of Afghanistan’s pre-Islamic heritage.”

The Director-General concluded: “As inexcusable as this action is, I hope that it will not provide fanatics elsewhere with an excuse for acts of destruction targeting Moslem cultural properties. The senseless violence of a few should not be met with further acts of violence, which would be equally intolerable.”

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