UAE pledges $15m to help protect heritage

Abu Dhabi - The ALIPH is a foundation which will finance projects for the implementation of preventive, emergency protection, conservation and restoration programmes for cultural property endangered due to armed conflict.

 The UAE has pledged a contribution of $15 million to a newly-created foundation to protect cultural and heritage property in conflict zones.
The International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) was established during the Donors' Conference held in Paris recently. The conference was cochaired by Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and French President Francois Hollande.
The ALIPH is a foundation which will finance projects for the implementation of preventive, emergency protection, conservation and restoration programmes for cultural property endangered due to armed conflict.
During the conference held at the Louvre Museum, all countries, foundations and private donors in attendance declared their support for the initiative and a total of more than $75 million was pledged to the fund.
Additional pledges were made from France for $30 million; Saudi Arabia for $20 million; Kuwait for $5 million; Luxembourg for 3 million Euros; Morocco for $1.5 million; and a private donation of $1 million came from Thomas Kaplan. Morocco also announced its will to join the network of safe havens.
Key actions resulting from these donations made to the ALIPH will drive advancements in inventorying of cultural property, monitoring its state of conservation, planning risk preparedness to effectively respond to threats to cultural property, as well as training and providing logistical support for preventive and protective measures, and implementing rehabilitation and restoration projects for damaged cultural property - all in line with the principles and conventions of Unesco.
Speaking at the Donors' Conference, Sheikh Saif said: "Since the Abu Dhabi conference, we have made huge strides towards the development of a robust strategy to ensure that the catastrophic destruction of priceless cultural artefacts are preserved for future generations. It is a great achievement to see that the strategies set out in the Abu Dhabi Declaration materialise as impactful and sustainable means to safeguard cultural resources. As momentum grows around the foundation's initiatives, we look forward to welcoming future public and private donors who are inspired to unite with us to protect heritage in all its diversity and richness."
The event follows the International Conference on Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage in Conflict Areas which took place in Abu Dhabi on December 2 and 3, 2016. The conference concluded with the Abu Dhabi Declaration, in which the international community pledged to create an international support fund for programmes aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage, as well developing an international refuge network for endangered cultural property.
Also in attendance were Irina Bokova, Unesco director-general; Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority; Jack Lang, president of Institut du Monde Arabe; and Jean-Luc Martinez, CEO of the Louvre Museum. Others who attended included Prince Khaled Al Faisal Al Saoud, governor of Makkah Region; and Sheikh Mohamed Abdullah Al Mubarak Al Sabah, minister of state for cabinet affairs of Kuwait.
World comes together to safeguard heritage in conflict areas
The ALIPH is a foundation which will finance projects for the implementation of preventive, emergency protection, conservation and restoration programmes for cultural property endangered due to armed conflict. Countries from around the world have come together for the cause:
> Italy has announced its commitment to continue the work of its task force to train police, curators and restorers, and its determination in bringing the project of a resolution forward, with France, to the UN Security Council
> Germany has pledged expertise to mobilising the fund
> Switzerland has pledged its support in enabling the ALIPH's establishment in Switzerland as a humanitarian endeavour
> Mexico has announced its commitment to investigating further support from countries in North and South America, as well as possibilities of creating safe havens
> China has unveiled that it will be the first Asian country to respond to the call of the Abu Dhabi Declaration and make the China National Museum a safe haven to temporarily host endangered material culture in conflict zones from across the world.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com
 

• UAE