Media release

Statement by the Presidency and the European Commission on the destruction of ancient artefacts

Photo: EU2015.LV
02 March 2015

The Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr Tibor Navaracsics, and the Minister for Culture of the Republic of Latvia, the holder of the rotating Presidency of the European Union, Mrs Dace Melbārde, strongly condemn the deliberate and brutal destruction of ancient artefacts and burning of over a hundred thousand rare manuscripts and documents in Iraq's northern city Mosul by the Da'ish militants.

Statues and artefacts, which date back to the 7th century B.C. and are part of UNESCO World Heritage sites, were purportedly destroyed on 25 and 26 February. This senseless act of violence has caused an irreversible loss to all descendants of the Assyrian and Akkadian empire ancestors as well as future generations of mankind as a whole.

The World's cultural heritage is a source of inspiration and immense knowledge, as well as a resource to facilitate peaceful co-existence by promoting trust and mutual understanding with a view to the resolution and prevention of conflicts. This patrimony has a universal value and it belongs to all of humanity, irrespective of ownership or territory. There is no reason which could justify any attempt to destroy it.

Contact
Jānis Bērziņš
Spokesperson
Sintija Lase
Expert in communication