Statement on the Devastation of the Cultural Heritage of the Middle East.
The EAA states its deep concern over repeated and intensifying reports and evidence of the damage, looting and destruction of Cultural Heritage in the Middle East, such as at Raqqa, Hama, Aleppo, Maarrat, Ebla, Mari, Nineveh, Mosul, Nimrud, Hatra and Khorsabad, to list only some of the most prominent cases.
The EAA expresses its sorrow and condemns any act of voluntary defacement and obliteration of the human cultural past, and particularly of the antiquities that in no way can be considered a component of ideologically active conflicts.
EAA believes that neither cultural nor social or religious motivations can be assumed for such behaviour.
The EAA maintains that such acts of cultural arrogance facing the world's cultural heritage are unjustifiable and incompatible with the peaceful coexistence of peoples and states in a global community, as represented by the United Nations, UNESCO and underlined by widely adopted treaties and charters. In particular, the EAA refers to the Declaration Concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage issued by UNESCO on October 17, 2003 and to the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954).
The EAA further believes that the general context requires the highest attention, because of the intensification of the pillaging of the Cultural Heritage in the Middle East -by any party or individual that might have perpetrated it-, whose ultimate destination appears to be the illicit trafficking of cultural goods and whose transit, or final destination, could particularly be Europe, where this Association has its seat and principal activity.
The EAA therefore adheres
- to the complaints of archaeologists and of civil society in the Middle East, as well as of the authorities of the member-states of UNESCO;
- to the appeals of the Director-General of UNESCO, Dr. Irina Bokova,
- to the resolutions of the UN Security Council,
- to the joint statement issued by AAMD, AIA, ASOR, AAA and the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, in order to support the most effective measures for the protection of Cultural Heritage in the Middle East, even in these situations of instability, and the pursuit of every case of damage, looting and illicit trafficking of goods.
In particular, the EAA draws the attention of all members, in their functions and in their general knowledge, to provide all possible support in the identification of possible situations of future risk, or effective damage or destruction, as well as in the fight against any illicit trafficking of cultural remains.
The EAA also expresses concern that similar actions may stimulate further phenomena, in other areas of the world, for purposes of offense to the World Heritage, and calls upon civil society, members of the Association, UNESCO and local Authorities to maintain the utmost vigilance and preventative measures.
Given that only the reinstatement of peaceful conditions of coexistence among peoples and states will allow an adequate control and verification of the situation and the organization of the necessary restoration and conservation works, as well as the appropriate return to the local communities of any
cultural goods secured from illicit traffic, the EAA reaffirms its intention to collaborate in the international activities of protection and restoration of a world cultural heritage so badly devastated and threatened.
The Executive Board of the European Association of Archaeologists
At <http://e-a-a.org/docs/EAA_
The EAA states its deep concern over repeated and intensifying reports and evidence of the damage, looting and destruction of Cultural Heritage in the Middle East, such as at Raqqa, Hama, Aleppo, Maarrat, Ebla, Mari, Nineveh, Mosul, Nimrud, Hatra and Khorsabad, to list only some of the most prominent cases.
The EAA expresses its sorrow and condemns any act of voluntary defacement and obliteration of the human cultural past, and particularly of the antiquities that in no way can be considered a component of ideologically active conflicts.
EAA believes that neither cultural nor social or religious motivations can be assumed for such behaviour.
The EAA maintains that such acts of cultural arrogance facing the world's cultural heritage are unjustifiable and incompatible with the peaceful coexistence of peoples and states in a global community, as represented by the United Nations, UNESCO and underlined by widely adopted treaties and charters. In particular, the EAA refers to the Declaration Concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage issued by UNESCO on October 17, 2003 and to the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (1954).
The EAA further believes that the general context requires the highest attention, because of the intensification of the pillaging of the Cultural Heritage in the Middle East -by any party or individual that might have perpetrated it-, whose ultimate destination appears to be the illicit trafficking of cultural goods and whose transit, or final destination, could particularly be Europe, where this Association has its seat and principal activity.
The EAA therefore adheres
- to the complaints of archaeologists and of civil society in the Middle East, as well as of the authorities of the member-states of UNESCO;
- to the appeals of the Director-General of UNESCO, Dr. Irina Bokova,
- to the resolutions of the UN Security Council,
- to the joint statement issued by AAMD, AIA, ASOR, AAA and the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, in order to support the most effective measures for the protection of Cultural Heritage in the Middle East, even in these situations of instability, and the pursuit of every case of damage, looting and illicit trafficking of goods.
In particular, the EAA draws the attention of all members, in their functions and in their general knowledge, to provide all possible support in the identification of possible situations of future risk, or effective damage or destruction, as well as in the fight against any illicit trafficking of cultural remains.
The EAA also expresses concern that similar actions may stimulate further phenomena, in other areas of the world, for purposes of offense to the World Heritage, and calls upon civil society, members of the Association, UNESCO and local Authorities to maintain the utmost vigilance and preventative measures.
Given that only the reinstatement of peaceful conditions of coexistence among peoples and states will allow an adequate control and verification of the situation and the organization of the necessary restoration and conservation works, as well as the appropriate return to the local communities of any
cultural goods secured from illicit traffic, the EAA reaffirms its intention to collaborate in the international activities of protection and restoration of a world cultural heritage so badly devastated and threatened.
The Executive Board of the European Association of Archaeologists
At <http://e-a-a.org/docs/EAA_