Doc. 10517

25 April 2005

Threat to the Iranian cultural heritage, being a precious piece of the world civilisation

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr R. Huseynov and others

The first victim of wars and mass destruction is the truth. Confronted with the harm of war, cultural riches, which are the biggest truth created by mankind, are always fragile and more are being lost. Only in the recent years, the Buddha monuments in Afghanistan, the rare cultural pearls of ancient history and art memory in Iraq, the Azikh Cave – one of the first dwelling of mankind in Europe, thousands of years old stone monuments, thousands of art specimens in Mountainous Karabahk and other occupied regions of Azerbaijan have been totally or partially destroyed and pillaged.

      In order to protect these cultural riches, which belong not only to the state where they exist but also to the whole world, the international community should mobilize its efforts in case of possible threats to such riches and should take preventive measures. Before the beginning of the Iraqi tragedy the Council of Europe raised its voice of concern, but unfortunately the absence of concrete steps resulted in irreparable destruction and, the loss of a number of specimens of the world cultural heritage.

      Iran is one the ancient cradles of the civilization. The Behistun inscription, the vestiges of Takhte Jamshid’s palace, rock pictures of Persepolis, handwritings of Ferdowsi, Khayyam, Hafiz and hundred other poets, which are among the masterpieces of the world literature, Iranian miniatures, considered as brilliant achievements of the world painting, are not only the Iranian riches, but also the world riches.

      During the war between Iran and Russia, as a result of the treaties of 1813 and 1828, Azerbaijan was divided into two parts and today about 30 million of Azerbaijanis live in Iran. As other peoples living in Iran, Azerbaijanis took part directly in creation of these cultural riches. Azerbaijan, a member states of the Council of Europe, thinks always about the fate of its compatriots and the cultural riches created by them.

      The intention to intervene in Iran, expressed more and more openly by US, incites us to think more sensibly about the cultural heritage in this country. It would be appropriate that the Council of Europe, which has always been ready to contribute to the protection of world cultural heritage, to take relevant steps in respect of these possible threats.

      Taking into account the aforementioned, the Assembly:

-       calls on the relevant committees to hold discussions on the issue of the protection and reservation of the Iranian cultural riches being a precious piece of world cultural heritage and to prepare a separate report in this connection;

-       invites the Committee of Ministers to mobilize the member states in relation with this problem and to take necessary measures.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

HUSEYNOV, Rafael, Azerbaijan, LDR

AGER, Hans, Austria, EPP/CD

COŞKUNOĞLU, Osman, Turkey, SOC

DEVÍNSKY, Ferdinand, Slovakia, EPP/CD

GAJDŮŠKOVÁ, Alena, Czech Republic, SOC

IONESCU, Daniel, Romania, NR

LENGAGNE, Guy, France, SOC

McNAMARA, Kevin, United Kingdom, SOC

REPS, Mailis, Estonia, LDR

RIBERA AMBATLLE, Josep, Andorra, EPP/CD

TEKELİOĞLU, Mehmet, Turkey, EPP/CD

TEPSHI, Qazim, Albania, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group