ICOM-Lithuania has disseminated all the information received on looting of cultural heritage of Iraq among its members. I also put on the ICOM-Lithuania website (www.lithuania.icom.museum) the website addresses with useful information on this urgent question. Easter Greetings to Everybody, Loreta Marija Meskeleviciene Chairperson, ICOM-Lithuania Jirásek Pavel ing. To: [log in to unmask] <Pavel.Jirasek@MK cc: CR.CZ> Subject: RE: ANNOUNCE: FRE: Koichiro Matsuura demande Sent by: la protection des bibliotheques et des archives, International éléments essentiels du riche patrimoine culturel Council of iraquien Museums Discussion List <[log in to unmask] .LSOFT.COM> 17/04/03 06:56 PM Please respond to International Council of Museums Discussion List Dear Valérie, What I did here in Prague: I asked the National Museum to etstabilish central collecting information point and we are going to publish on web site of CZ ICOM, CZ Association of Museums, CZ Council of Art Museum following message (in Czech): Request for help to Iraqi cultural heritage Dear Colleagues, Dear visitors of our homepage, As you have certainly learnt in the past few days, extensive looting of cultural heritage has unfortunately lately occurred in Iraq. The situation from Afghanistan supports the idea that the artefacts coming from museum collections, monuments and illegal excavations at archaeological sites, will appear within a short time on the antiques markets all over the world. It is not excluded that they will be offered for purchase to museums. These objects constitute an integral part of the cultural heritage of a country whose history begins at the cradle of human civilization. Any possible purchase of these objects would support international criminal activities. Any illegal transfer of these objects is an infraction to the international conventions to which the Czech Republic has adhered. Their acquisition to museum collections would be a severe infraction to the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics. We therefore ask you to be very attentive to any objects that might have originated from Iraq, to signal them to the Police of the Czech Republic and immediately also to the National Museum, e-mail address [log in to unmask] For a consultation, please call 224497501. Thanks to all those who have not succumbed to indifference. Pavel Jirásek Director Dept. of Movable Cultural Heritage, Museums and Galleries Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic I propose to all National Committees to estabilish such a central information point. And maybe ICOM or UNESCO to do so on the international level asap. And if there are some pictures + description, can we think about extra ICOM Issue? Or special file with missing objects on ICOM website? Best to you and all, Pavel Jirásek ICMS Chairman ICOM Czech Republic -----Original Message----- From: Günther Dembski [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2003 2:40 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: ANNOUNCE: FRE: Koichiro Matsuura demande la protection des bibliotheques et des archives, éléments essentiels du riche patrimoine culturel iraquien ICOM Austria has just contacted the responsible ministry to set the first steps a) against illicit trafficking of Iraqui cultural goods through our country. I would propose that ICOMs International groups like CIDOC, ICMAH and ICMS make a working group to help to identify the objects coming on the market. If you need my help in any way, I shall do my best. Greetings your Günther Dembski ICOM Austria Bonomi, Carla schrieb: >Jacques Perot, président de l'ICOM, demande instamment à tous les comités de >l'ICOM et aux organisations affiliées de diffuser le plus largement possible >ce communiqué de presse de l'UNESCO. > >Communiqué >Office of the Spokeswoman/ La Porte Parole >Contact: [log in to unmask] >Telephone: 00 33 (1) 45 68 13 26 >Fax: 00 33 (1) 45 68 55 66 > >UNESCO, 15 avril 2003 > >Koïchiro Matsuura demande la protection des bibliothèques et des archives, >éléments essentiels du riche patrimoine culturel iraquien > > >Face à la multiplication des actes de destruction du patrimoine culturel >iraquien, le Directeur général de l'UNESCO, Koïchiro Matsuura, a mis en >garde, le 15 avril, contre le saccage et pillage des bibliothèques et >archives d'Iraq, qui auront des conséquences irréversibles sur le maintien >et le renforcement de l'identité culturelle du pays. « Je réitère mon appel >pour que soient prises des mesures immédiates de protection et de >surveillance des institutions culturelles iraquiennes, dont les >bibliothèques et les archives font partie intégrante », a-t-il déclaré. > >« Les bibliothèques, archives et manuscrits doivent être préservés car ce >sont des éléments essentiels du riche patrimoine culturel iraquien. Les >bibliothèques sont l'essence même des sociétés du savoir. Près de 20 siècles >de l'histoire écrite de l'humanité sont en danger ; tout doit être fait pour >les protéger du pillage et de la destruction » a-t-il dit. > > >"Des mesures doivent également être prises, a-t-il ajouté, pour protéger les >archives administratives et gouvernementales car elles sont vitales pour le >fonctionnement de l'administration publique après la guerre, notamment en ce >qui concerne la protection des droits civils, financiers ou contractuels des >citoyens iraquiens. » > > >A travers le Programme Mémoire du Monde, l'UNESCO est reconnue >internationalement comme l'agence chef de file pour la protection du >patrimoine documentaire des bibliothèques et des archives et a établi un >guide de protection des documents essentiels. Ces mesures concernent tout à >la fois la protection des documents en cas de conflit armé et la gestion des >archives d'état des régimes dictatoriaux après leur destitution. > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > >Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the >archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html > > > - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html --- Pøíchozí zpráva neobsahuje viry. Zkontrolováno antivirovým systémem AVG (http://www.grisoft.cz). Verze: 6.0.470 / Virová báze: 268 - datum vydání: 8.4.2003 --- Odchozí zpráva neobsahuje viry. Zkontrolováno antivirovým systémem AVG (http://www.grisoft.cz). Verze: 6.0.470 / Virová báze: 268 - datum vydání: 8.4.2003 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html