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Minister of State Maria Böhmer Condemns Destruction in Iraq

The Chairperson of the 39th World Heritage Commitee calls on the international community concerning the destruction of Iraqi cultural sites by IS terrorists.

 

In a statement released on 9 March, Böhmer pointed to the disastrous consequences of the systematic destruction of ancient artefacts and sites in Mosul and Nimrud. “This ‘cultural cleansing’ is inflicting deep wounds on the culture, history, traditions and souls of the people in Iraq, the entire region and throughout the world. We must not allow IS to wipe out the region’s cultural memory”, Böhmer said.

Underlining her support for the recent appeals of the UN Security Council, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, Böhmer called the international community to take responsibility. “Every state is responsible for protecting its own cultural objects. But protection of cultural property does not stop there. If a state is not able to fulfil this responsibility on its own, the entire international community has a duty to act, particularly in crisis situations and armed conflicts”, she said.

The Minister of State at the German Foreign Office Ms Maria Böhmer was elected as chairperson of the World Heritage Committee during its session last year in Doha, Qatar.

Read more on the website of the Federal Foreign Office

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