|
UN Security Council Arria
formula meeting on the “Protection of Cultural Heritage in Armed Conflicts” –
New York, 2 May 2023
Let me start by thanking France and the United Arab Emirates for convening
this Security Council Arria Formula Meeting, with the co-sponsorship of Italy
and Cyprus. I also wish to express our appreciation to our briefers for their
invaluable contribution.
As stated in the 1954 Hague
Convention, the “damage to
cultural property belonging to any people whatsoever means damage to the
cultural heritage of all mankind”. The loss is collective, and
action to prevent such a loss should be therefore collective and unified.
International law stipulates
that the deliberate targeting or plundering of religious, historic, and
cultural sites is prohibited in times of war. The intentional destruction of
cultural heritage is a war crime under the Rome Statue, it violates human
rights and has a detrimental and irreversible impact on the enjoyment of
cultural rights, including the ability to access and enjoy cultural heritage.
In fact, through attacks on cultural heritage, perpetrators seek to uproot
the cultural and ethnological connection of the local populations from their
land.
Cyprus has a long and painful
history of foreign invasions that led to the destruction and looting of its
cultural heritage. We therefore have a long-standing priority to contribute
effectively to the efforts of the international community to combat illicit
trafficking, and to ensure the repatriation of stolen cultural property.
In that regard, we welcome
significant developments in relation to the protection of cultural heritage,
including Security Council Resolution 2347, which is the first ever resolution
with a focus on the protection of cultural heritage and its important
contribution to peace and security, as a source of stability and inclusion,
as well as a driver of reconciliation and resilience.
Furthermore, Security Council
Resolutions 2199 (2015), and 2253 (2015), and General Assembly Resolutions
73/130 and 76/16 on the “Return or Restitution of Cultural Property to the
Countries of Origin” have highlighted the connection between the destruction
of cultural heritage, trafficking in cultural property, and the financing of
terrorism.
Upon Cyprus’ initiative, Human
Rights Council adopted in 2016 a Resolution entitled “Cultural Rights and the Protection
of Cultural Heritage”, supported by a cross-regional group of
Member States. Cyprus is proud to be the penholder of this triennium Human
Rights Council Resolution, the latest being Resolution A/HRC/49/L.8 adopted
in 2022, that should be seen as complementing Security Council Resolution
2347.
In addition, during the Cyprus
Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in
2016-2017, the Convention on Offences Relating to Cultural Property, also
known as the “Nicosia Convention”, was adopted. It was indeed the landmark
achievement of our presidency, since the said Convention constitutes the
first ever international legal text incorporating a criminal code for
perpetrators who destroy, steel or trade cultural heritage treasures. Key
characteristic include the fact that the
burden of proof lies with the buyer or possessor of the artifact.
The Convention is open for signature and accession by all Member States. Our
aim is to make this new instrument truly universal, therefore, as we are
seeking today measures to protect cultural heritage we invite all UN Member
States to consider acceding to the Nicosia Convention.
Turning to the issue of
strengthening the implementation of existing international and regional
instruments, we need to focus on accountability. The International Criminal
Court’s “Al Mahdi case” is
a landmark to that direction. The ICC verdict was a clear message that crimes
against cultural heritage will not be tolerated and cannot go unpunished.
Accountability of state and non-state perpetrators is not only essential, but
a prerequisite for the protection of cultural heritage.
Mr Chair,
The protection of culture in
time of conflict should be considered in a consistent and holistic manner, to
better respond to attacks on culture, as well as to assist the governments in
peacebuilding and recovery process. In particular, the return and restitution
of cultural heritage should be seen as a conduit for peace, while support
should be given for cultural protection and preservation as part of
peacebuilding efforts. The adoption of gender-sensitive and inclusive
approach to the protection of cultural heritage is a sine qua non.
To conclude, Cyprus, as
co-chair of the Group of Friends for the Protection of Cultural Heritage
along with Italy, intends to revive the Group of Friends at the very near
future, to bring protection of cultural heritage at the heart of the UN
system.
I thank you.
(MV/ECRH)
|
