On 2 May 2023, a meeting of the United Nations Security Council was held in Arria format on "Protection of Cultural Heritage in Armed Conflict". The meeting was convened by France and the United Arab Emirates, and co-convened by the Republic of Cyprus and Italy. In order to brief the Security Council, the meeting was attended by Ms Audrey Azouley, Director-General of UNESCO, General Vincenzo Molinese, Commander of the Italian Carabinieri responsible for the protection of cultural heritage, and Mr Omar Al Taweel, UNESCO site coordinator for the "Revive the Spirit of Mosul" project. Mr Al Taweel participated online from Iraq.
In his intervention, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the UN, Ambassador Andreas Hadjichrysanthou, noted that the deliberate targeting or looting of religious, historical and cultural sites is prohibited in times of war, under international law and indicated that the intentional destruction of cultural heritage is a war crime under the Rome Statute, violates human rights and has a detrimental and irreversible impact on the enjoyment of cultural rights. He stressed in particular that, through attacks on cultural heritage, the perpetrators aim to eliminate the cultural and ethnological connection of local populations with their land.
Mr. Hadjichrysanthou noted that the protection of cultural heritage is a priority for the Republic of Cyprus, since it is itself a victim of destruction and desecration of its cultural heritage as a result of foreign invasions during its long and painful history. Therefore, the Republic of Cyprus actively contributes to the efforts of the international community to combat illicit trafficking and ensure the repatriation of cultural property. In this context, the Republic of Cyprus welcomes important developments, such as the adoption of Resolution 2347/2017 by the Security Council, which for the first time focused on the protection of cultural heritage as a factor of peace and stability. He noted that other resolutions, both of the Security Council and the General Assembly, have underlined the link between the destruction of cultural heritage, trafficking in cultural property and the financing of terrorism.
The Permanent Representative referred to the initiatives of the Republic of Cyprus for the protection of cultural heritage at the international level, such as the adoption of the triennial resolution of the Human Rights Council on cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage.
The Permanent Representative referred to the initiatives of the Republic of Cyprus for the protection of cultural heritage at the international level, such as the adoption of the triennial resolution of the Human Rights Council on cultural rights and the protection of cultural property.
The Permanent Representative referred to the initiatives of the Republic of Cyprus for the protection of cultural heritage at the international level, such as the adoption of the triennial resolution of the Human Rights Council on cultural rights and the protection of cultural property. Special mention was also made of the Council of Europe Convention on offences concerning cultural property, also known as the "Nicosia Convention", which was opened for signature during the Cyprus Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2017. The Permanent Representative stressed that the Nicosia Convention is the first and only international convention that criminalizes offences against cultural property, calling on all UN member states to accede to it.
In conclusion, the Permanent Representative stressed that the protection of cultural heritage in armed conflicts must be seen in the light of an integrated approach that takes into account the gender dimension. Finally, the Permanent Representative informed that Cyprus, which co-chairs with Italy the Friendship Group for the Protection of Cultural Heritage at the UN, would aim to revitalize the Group in order to contribute to efforts to integrate the protection of cultural heritage at the heart of the UN system.
For the full text of Mr. Hadjichrysanthou's intervention in English click here.
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