Kuwait said on Monday it would carry on its efforts to preserve human heritage, strongly condemning the destruction of cultural and archaeological edifices and massacres committed against people.
This came in a speech delivered by Kuwait’s Ambassador to France Sami Al-Suleiman at the second conference of donors and partners supporting the international alliance for the protection of heritage in conflict areas (ALIPH Foundation) held at the Louvre Museum. The ambassador conveyed greetings of Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah, wishing the success of this important conference concerned with the protection of cultural heritage.
He stressed the necessity for cooperation between international organizations and the international community to combat such crimes.
He affirmed that the world has suffered several tensions and conflicts, over the past period, in which humanity and heritage were the victims amid the devastating wars of cultural and heritage properties.
Kuwait is paying much attention to this conference whose goals aim to preserve culture and heritage of peoples, he said.
Meanwhile, the ambassador recalled the late Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad?’s participation in the international conference on heritage in Dubai in 2016, pointing out that Kuwait donated USD five million at the first donor conference in 2017.
He pointed to Kuwait?’s effective role in this field, recalling the country?’s participation in the conference on the reconstruction of Iraq?’s Mosul on September 11, 2018 held at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
He also stated the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq in 2018 that could achieve financial pledges worth USD 30 billion.
Speaking to KUNA in a statement on the sidelines of the conference, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) Kamel Al-Abdul-Jalil said that it is paramount to know that what remains of ancient historical civilizations will be the treasure of humanity and its great legacy.
“We have a great responsibility to preserve this cultural and civilized human heritage away from any crises and conflict to help it reach successive generations,” he said.
Al-Abdul-Jalil lauded the conference and its goals aiming to protect the global human heritage from destruction and damage caused during the wars, tragedies and armed conflicts.
He said Kuwait has been keen on, and interested in, spreading peace, love and coexistence among humans, and supports all human endeavors on preserving the remnants of human historical civilizations.
In addition, French President Emmanuel Macron announced, during the opening of the conference, France?’s contribution of USD 30 million.
In his opening speech, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian emphasized that the conference, hosted by France as head of the Council of the European Union, is an opportunity for the international community to reiterate its commitment to protecting cultural heritage in the conflict areas, as an element of achieving sustainable development, reconciliation and peace.
A number of countries declared financial pledges worth USD 90 million at the conference which was attended by Suleiman and Al-Abdul-Jalil.
ALIPH Foundation was established in 2017, upon an initiative from France and the UAE, and includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Luxemburg, China and Morocco as well as some donors.
Source: Kuwait News Agency