PRESS RELEASE


The new armed conflict in the Middle East:

In addition to the human tragedy, a cultural disaster

Appeal for the protection of cultural property in Israel and Lebanon



10 August 2006 – Public opinion worldwide has expressed its consternation at
the extent of the human tragedy inflicted on civil populations in the new
armed conflict in the Middle East. It is also alarmed by the level of
material destruction of the human settlements and infrastructure in the
entire area affected by the conflict.

Moreover, we, the signatory organisations of this appeal, whose “raison
d’être” is to protect the cultural heritage of mankind, find it of the
utmost importance to draw the attention of the public and all political and
military bodies concerned, to the scope and gravity of the current danger to
the survival of cultural heritage of major significance, recognised for the
most part as “World Heritage” by UNESCO. We therefore support earlier
statements by the International Committee of the Blue Shield (21 July 2006)
and the World Archaeological Congress (31 July 2006) concerning the cultural
heritage at risk in the conflict in the Middle East.

In addition to the suffering of the populations and the intensity of
material destruction, it is the memory of mankind - through its
architectural, archaeological and museological wealth - which is being
irreversibly mutilated. The cultural identities throughout the region are
also severely threatened.

We would like to draw particular attention to the fact that numerous World
Heritage Sites are situated within the confrontation zone. Amongst those in
Lebanon, the site of Byblos, one of the most ancient Phoenician cities, has
been affected by an oil slick following the destruction of fuel reservoirs.
However, the sites of Baalbek and Tyre, whose immediate surroundings have
been targeted by bombs, are most at risk. In Baalbek, bombs have fallen only
300 metres from the site renowned for its six Roman columns which are the
tallest in the world. The city of Tyre, where World Heritage-listed
Phoenician and Roman ruins and collections of artefacts are located, has
suffered multiple air strikes. Furthermore, the bombs have damaged the
natural heritage in the protected Forest of the Cedars in the Al Shouf
Biosphere Reserve. 
 
World Heritage Sites in rocket-struck northern Israel are the important
archaeological sites of the tells of Megiddo and Hazor, and their museums,
and the ancient Phoenician city of Acre, which also preserves important
remains from Crusader times beneath the fortified Ottoman town.

In addition to these World Heritage Sites (and the currently proposed World
Heritage Sites such as those in Haïfa), the area affected by the conflict
comprises a number of archaeological sites, monuments and artefacts dating
back to the dawn of mankind and retracing the succession of numerous
civilisations (Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic,…). Many
of these sites have already been inscribed by Israel and Lebanon on their
tentative lists in compliance with the World Heritage Convention. Finally, a
number of sites bear witness to this region being the cradle of the three
great monotheistic religions. 

The signatory organisations of this appeal remind the parties at war of the
provisions of The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property
in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954) and its two Protocols, according to
which the contracting parties “undertake to respect cultural property
situated within their own territory as well as within the territory of other
High Contracting Parties by refraining from any use of the property and its
immediate surroundings or of the appliances in use for its protection for
purposes which are likely to expose it to destruction or damage in the event
of armed conflict; and by refraining from any act of hostility, directed
against such property” (art. 4.1). 

Moreover, the States Parties to the World Heritage Convention (1972) commit
themselves “not to take any deliberate measures which might damage directly
or indirectly the cultural and natural heritage situated on the territory of
other States Parties to this Convention” (art. 6.3).

Whilst recalling that Israel and Lebanon are contracting parties to both
Conventions, the signatory organisations of this appeal urge all parties
involved in the conflict to respect the spirit and the text of these
Conventions, whether or not they are contracting parties to these
Conventions. In addition to this, they urgently request all institutions of
the international community to work rapidly to ensure that diplomatic
negotiations bring the hostilities to an end as soon as possible. They also
demand immediate measures of protection and restoration of the concerned
monuments, sites, museums (and their collections), by providing, amongst
others, national and international experts secure access to the sites.


The signatory organisations:

•	EUROPA NOSTRA, Pan-European Federation for Cultural Heritage
Contact: Mrs Sneska Quaedvlieg Mihailovic, Secretary General, tel. +31 70
302 40 51, [log in to unmask], www.europanostra.org

•	ICA, International Council on Archives
Contact: Mr David Leitch, Senior Programme Manager tel. +33 1 40 27 61 37,
[log in to unmask], www.ica.org 

•	ICCROM, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and
Restoration of Cultural Property
Contact: Office of the Director General, tel. +39 06 58 553 1,
[log in to unmask], www.iccrom.org

•	ICOM, International Council of Museums
Contact: Mr John Zvereff, Secretary General, tel. +33 1 47 34 91 61,
[log in to unmask], www.icom.org

•	ICOMOS, International Council on Monuments and Sites
Contact: Mrs Gaia Jungeblodt, Director, tel.  +33 1 45 67 67 70,
[log in to unmask], www.international.icomos.org

•	OWHC, Organisation of World Heritage Cities
Contact: Mr Denis Ricard, Secretary General, tel. +418 692 0000,
[log in to unmask], www.ovpm.org
 
About the signatory organisations:


Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Heritage

Europa Nostra, the pan-European Federation for Heritage, is the
representative platform of over 200 heritage NGOs active throughout Europe.
It is the voice of this vast movement of European civil society active in
the field of heritage towards international bodies concerned, in particular
the European Union Institutions, the Council of Europe and UNESCO. 

Europa Nostra is dedicated to putting heritage and its benefits in the
mainstream of public consciousness and to making heritage a priority for
public policies both at European and national levels. Its specific
objectives are to promote, at a European level, high standards of quality in
the fields of heritage conservation, architecture, urban and rural planning
and to advocate a balanced and sustainable development of urban and rural,
built and natural environment. 

Europa Nostra supports national and international campaigns for the
preservation and rescue of Europe’s heritage at risk. It encourages
exemplary initiatives in favour of the conservation and enhancement of
cultural heritage by recognising outstanding heritage achievements, in
particular through the running of the European Union Prize for Cultural
Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards. In early 2006, Europa Nostra was selected
as the new Liaison Office for the co-ordination of the "European Heritage
Days", a joint action of the Council of Europe and the European Commission.

Through its various activities, Europa Nostra seeks to highlight the
importance of cultural heritage as a building block of European identity and
as a contribution to the strengthening of the sense of European citizenship.

www.europanostra.org



ICA, International Council on Archives

Archives constitute the memory of nations and societies; they support their
identity and are a key element of the information society. By testifying to
actions and decisions taken, they simultaneously ensure the continuity of
organisations and the justification of their rights, as well as those of the
individuals and States. 

The ICA is a non-governmental organisation the purpose of which is to
promote the management and use of archives, as well as the preservation of
the archival heritage of humanity throughout the world, by international
co-operation. 

The ICA brings together the national archive institutions, the professional
archivists associations, the regional and local archives and the archives of
other public and private organisations. 

The ICA comprises a world network of almost 1800 institutional and
individual members in 185 countries.

www.ica.org 



ICCROM, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and
Restoration of Cultural Property

ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the conservation of
cultural heritage. Its members are individual states which have declared
their adhesion to it. It exists to serve the international community as
represented by its Member States, which currently number more than 110. It
is the only institution of its kind with a worldwide mandate to promote the
conservation of all types of cultural heritage, both movable and immovable.
The decision to found the International Centre for the Study of the
Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property was made at the 9th UNESCO
General Conference in New Delhi in 1956, at a time of mounting interest in
the protection and preservation of cultural heritage. It was subsequently
established in Rome in 1959 at the invitation of the Government of Italy. 

ICCROM aims at improving the quality of conservation practice as well as
raising awareness about the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
ICCROM contributes to preserving cultural heritage in the world today and
for the future through five main areas of activity: Training, Information,
Research, Cooperation and Advocacy.

www.iccrom.org


 
ICOM, International Council of Museums

ICOM is the international organisation of museums and museum professionals
committed to the conservation, continuation and communication to society of
the world's natural and cultural heritage, present and future, tangible and
intangible. 
With more than 2.1,000 members in more than 145 countries, ICOM is an
international network for museum professionals from all disciplines and
specialisations. 

ICOM was founded in 1946. It is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation
which maintains formal relations of association with UNESCO and consultative
status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

http://icom.museum 



ICOMOS, International Council on Monuments and Sites

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) was founded in
1965 at Warsaw (Poland), one year after the signature of the International
Charter on the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites, known as
the “Venice Charter”. ICOMOS is an association of almost 9000 cultural
heritage professionals present in over 120 countries throughout the world,
working for the conservation and protection of monuments and sites – the
only global non-government organisation of its kind. It benefits from the
cross-disciplinary exchange of its members – architects, archaeologists, art
historians, engineers, historians, planners, who foster improved heritage
conservation standards and techniques for all forms of cultural properties:
buildings, historic towns, cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, etc.
ICOMOS is officially recognized as an advisory body to UNESCO, actively
contributing to the World Heritage Committee and taking part in the
implementation of the Convention. It also runs 28 specialised International
Scientific Committees on a variety of subjects. 

www.international.icomos.org



OWHC, Organization of World Heritage Cities

An international non-profit non-governmental organization, the Organization
of World Heritage Cities (OWHC) was created to assist member cities adapt
and improve their management methods in relation to the specific
requirements of having a site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
In accordance with its General by Laws, the OWHC has the following goals:

•	Contribute to implementation of the Convention concerning the Protection
of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the International Charter for
the Protection of Historic Cities; 
•	Encourage, on both regional and international levels, cooperation and the
exchange of information and expertise among historic cities throughout the
world in close collaboration with other organizations pursuing similar goals
while emphasizing action likely to support the efforts of cities located in
developing countries; 
•	In cooperation with specialized organizations, ensure better links between
research undertaken by specialists or experts and the needs of local
management; 
•	Sensitize the populations to patrimonial values and their protection 


www.ovpm.org

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