United Nations General Assembly Adopts an International Resolution to Save Iraq’s Cultural Heritage

United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to save the cultural heritage of Iraq on May 28, 2015 unanimously by its members in response to the terrorist acts carried out by the terrorist gangs of Daash of smashing and looting Iraqi antiquities and heritage.

The decision came in response to an initiative of Iraq launched by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Ibrahim al-Jaafari, in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on April 21 2015. The resolution called for the immediate cessation of wanton destruction inflicted on Iraq’s cultural heritage, including religious sites.

The decision also stressed that the terrorist gangs used the revenue earned from the illicit trade in antiquities in recruiting terrorists and financing terrorist operations. The Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations, Dr. Mohammed Ali al-Hakim said in a speech at the meeting which was attended by Minister of State for the German Foreign Affairs Ms. Maria Boehmer and Director General of UNESCO, Ms. Irina Bokova on the importance of the decision not only to Iraq but to the whole of humanity, stressing the importance of international support for Iraq and standing in the face of the dark forces that seek to destroy its past, present and future.

Dr Hakim thanked the international community, especially the countries that sponsored the resolution. It is worth to mention that the resolution supported by 90 countries.