Cyprus’ Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, said today he attaches “particular importance to the protection of cultural heritage,” reported CNA English.
The FM added that he’s ready to put the issue “firmly on the human rights agenda.”
The Minister further expressed that he was aiming to strengthen cooperation with EU member states “to protect cultural heritage from wanton destruction and prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural goods.”
Kasoulides, speaking at the Council of Europe, of which Cyprus currently holds the chairmanship, outlined: “Our aim is to explore innovative approaches, to seek synergies and to foster capacity-building to effectively protect cultural property from destruction.”
The Foreign Minister added: “The Council of Europe has a crucial role to play in protecting cultural heritage. The Convention on Offences Related to Cultural Property, which is currently being drafted, will be an important legal tool towards this end.”
The FM recalled during his speech that over the past few years there has been a surge of attacks against monuments of global historical and cultural significance.
Referring to attacks in Iraq and Syria, from Nimrud to Palmyra, Kasoulides commented: “The terrorists of Daesh [Arabiv acronym for so-called Islamic State] have systematically plundered the region’s cultural heritage, deliberately destroying important archaeological sites and profiting from the sale of valuable excavated artefacts.”
Source: CNA English
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