The Director-General
of UNESCO launches an appeal for the protection of historic,
cultural and religious heritage in the Palestinian autonomous
towns
Paris, 11 April
2002
Alarmed by the threats to which historic, cultural and religious
heritage is being exposed through the violent ongoing fighting
in the main Palestinian autonomous towns, the Director-General
has written to the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Shimon
Peres, and to the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr
Yasser Arafat.
In his two letters,
the Director-General appeals for every effort to be made “to
respect the sacred character of religious sites, not only those
known as the ‘Holy Places’, but also all those built
around them in this region, which was the cradle of civilizations
and which is (…) the symbol of our shared humanity”.
Recalling that “these
monuments - churches, monasteries, synagogues and mosques -
were built by men and women of good faith, who were convinced
of the possibility of a better life for all”, Mr Matsuura
urges that every possible measure be taken not to “kill
this age-old hope”. He calls on the State of Israel, as
a party to the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural
Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, to do everything within
its power to ensure compliance with this Convention in all the
Palestinian autonomous territories. “This cultural heritage
is the most striking symbol of the fruitful interaction between
peoples, cultures and religions. In destroying it, we jeopardize
the future”.
Emphasizing that
“the choice today is between a headlong descent into the
abyss and what may be the last chance for peace in the region”,
the Director-General expressed his readiness to lend his services
to “any mediation that might help to save lives and irreplaceable
monuments and create the conditions for the resumption of a
dialogue based on mutual respect”.
*** *** ***
Executive Office of the Director-General
Spokeswoman
Telephone : (33.1) 45.68.13.26
Fax : (33.1) 45.68.55.66
E-mail: m.de-pierrebourg@unesco.org
