The Association of National Committees of the Blue Shield (ANCBS) expresses its concern about the armed conflict in Georgia which has inflicted not only human losses and suffering but also destruction of the physical environment and possibly of cultural heritage in the area. This region has an exceptionally complex and rich cultural heritage and it is imperative that all parties in the conflict take whatever precautions may be necessary to avoid destruction or damage to cultural heritage such as historical monuments, museums, archives or libraries.

The Blue Shield organizations work to uphold the 1954 Hague Convention which aims at protecting cultural heritage from destruction in armed conflicts. Both Georgia and Russia are State Parties to the Convention and its First Protocol and are obliged to implement its obligations.

The ANCBS calls upon the organizations behind the Blue Shield network, covering cultural heritage sectors such as museums, libraries, archives and archaeological sites and monuments, to make use of their respective contacts with organizations in Georgia and Russia in order to obtain information about possible damage to cultural heritage and what assistance may be needed from the international community in this tragic situation.

Leif Pareli
Chairman, ANCBS working group
cont...@ancbs.org