At the joint invitation of the President of the French Republic and His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, an international Summit  was held on December 2^nd and 3^rd, in coordination with UNESCO, for the protection of cultural heritage at risk in conflict areas. Afghanistan featured prominently in this Summit, firstly because of the richness of its heritage and secondly because of the frequent attacks that have jeopardized it over the last decades.

The most recent destructionswhich have been perpetrated on cultural heritage by terrorist groups in Syria, Iraq or Mali highlighted to the world the importance of preserving the historical heritage for each country, and beyond for the whole of humanity. As a matter of fact, building and keeping every nation’s unity implies the knowledge of its own history, and thus respecting and studying the heritage bequeathed by the generations that lived for thousands of years until our modern times, from archeological remains to contemporary audiovisual and digital archives. This endeavor does not only concern the intellectual elites forthe national historic heritage belongs to every citizen, even the most deprived or the less educated. Heritage is indeed a constituent part of each citizen’s identity and helps shaping his cultural future. Preserving heritage and understanding its importance can also help shaping peace and understanding between the various sections of a Nation.
For so many years of occupation, civil war and terrorism, Afghanistan has suffered massive attacks on its heritage, be it the treasures of the Kabul of Darulaman Palace conducted under the leadership of the Minister of Urban Development.

As of today, destructionsare no longer just the consequences of wars, such as those experienced by Afghanistan against the British in the 19^thcentury or against the Soviets in the 20^thcentury. Today, terrorist groups wilfully threaten cultural heritage. They want to destroy it to impose a falsified history or even to erase history of mankind and thus achieve their apocalyptic goals. But they do not just destroy: using networks of accomplices and traffickers well established in neighboring countries and linkedwith international art markets, these terror groupssell national treasures piece by piece to finance their terrorist actions, as they sell in bulkthe natural resources of the territoriesover which they gained control.

In Abu Dhabi, on December 2^nd and 3^rd, the delegations coming from all around the world  soughtto build a common vision on how to prevent damages to heritage in times of peace, and how to protect sites and works in times of war or instability. Furthermore, the delegations also  soughtto build a common vision on howtopreserve and rehabilitate thesites and works for the times to come. These discussions included topics such as the involvement of private partners and the mobilization of public opinion.

Two proposals  wereon the table.

Delegations  wereinvited to consider the establishment of an international fund to organize international solidarity for saving works and sites in dangeror restoring them if they have been damaged. This fundmight also support the training of professionals dedicated to conservation and restoration of works andshould involve public and private contributors.

Delegations also discussedthe setting of an international network of countries offering safe havens for endangered treasures: preventive arrangements  shouldbe made for evacuating the threatened works to sheltering countries, as well as conditions for their conservation and protection therein and eventually their return to their homeland country, once situation permits.

France proposed to make available a safe haven in the northern part of our country, within the city of Liévin’sbranch of the Louvre Museum. Currently, the French archaeological delegation in Afghanistan (DAFA), is working with Afghan authorities on a project initiated by President Ghani, in order to establish a digital archaeological map of the country. This will undoubtedly prove as a unique tool in the world which will be essential for the future preservation and protection of the sites that are being mapped.

France wishes to collaborate closely with our Afghan partners for the success of this initiative, and beyond to cooperate as closely for the sake of the protection of Afghan heritage, which is both millennial and contemporary. To this end, the support of the elected representatives of Afghanistan and the one of the population areessential because all Afghan citizens’ heritage is at stake. The education institutions will also prove crucial to ensure that new generations understand the importance of this endeavor./.

View expressed in this article are of the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Pajhwok’s editorial policy.

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