Doc. 9389

21 March 2002

Reconstitution of the cultural heritage of Afghanistan

Written Declaration No 332

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

1.        The cultural heritage of Afghanistan has been the victim of serious destruction.

2.        The decision of the Taliban régime to demolish all pre-Islamic religious material led to the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues as well as the removal of Buddhist material from Kabul museum. In addition many works of art have been taken out of Afghanistan for safekeeping, many have been taken for less respectable motives, much has been looted.

3.       Untold damage to cultural property has also resulted from internal disputes and military conflicts in the country from the period of Soviet occupation to the current US bombing.

4.       In the context of Afghanistan's reconstruction, it is important to stress reconstitution of cultural heritage and recovery of the memory of its prestigious past.

5.        The undersigned, members of the Assembly, call on the international community, and Unesco in particular, to :

a. coordinate efforts to locate Afghan cultural property with a view to its safekeeping and restitution;

b. assist the Afghan authorities in the process of restoring the many aspects of local heritage affected by the conflicts (such as infrastructure, libraries, museums, and creative activity as well as monuments);

c. encourage awareness of the Afghan cultural heritage.

Signed : 1 (see overleaf)

Legendre, France, GDE

Agudo, Spain, SOC

Baciu, Romania, SOC

Banks, United Kingdom, SOC

Bianco, Italy, EPP

Billing, Sweden, EPP

Cryer, United Kingdom, SOC

Duka-Zólyomi, Slovakia, EPP

Gaburro, Italy, EPP

Hooper, United Kingdom, EDG

Isohookana-Asunmaa, Finland, LDR

Kontogiannopoulos, Greece, SOC

Lemoine, France, SOC

Prisăcaru, Romania, SOC

Roseta, Portugal, EPP

Sağlam, Turkey, EPP

Schellens, Belgium, SOC

Schicker, Austria, SOC

Skarbřvik, Norway, EPP

Theodorou, Cyprus, SOC

Wodarg, Germany, SOC

Yürür, Turkey, EPP

_____________________

Total = 22

1        SOC: Socialist Group

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

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group