Morocco is committed to the protection of cultural heritage under threat in conflict zones
The African country participated, telematically, in the second conference of donor countries of the Alef Foundation, within the framework of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Zones (ALIPH), the meeting was held in person in the French capital for the rest of the guests. The meeting was also attended by Emmanuel Macron, President of France, and Margaritis Schinas, Vice-President of the European Commission, along with representatives of states, international organisations such as UNESCO, and private donors.
ALIPH was created in March 2017 in Geneva at the request of the French Republic and the United Arab Emirates in response to the "massive destruction of cultural heritage in recent years in the countries of the Sahel and the Middle East". "Heritage is not a collection of stones. It allows us to understand who we are. It is not by chance that terrorists try to eradicate any cultural or religious identity. By erasing the past, they are trying to erase who we are," the French president said at the opening of the conference.
The International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Zones fund aims to finance preventive or emergency actions to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property. Currently, since 2018, a total of 150 projects have been developed to help 30 states immersed in war conflicts such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Mali and Yemen. "Reconstruction and rehabilitation has a strong healing power for affected peoples. It has the potential to stimulate local economies by creating new employment opportunities, particularly for young people," said the European Commission Vice-President.
Mohammed Mahdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, who acted as the country's representative in the activities of the conference in the framework of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Zones, affirmed "the Kingdom's firm determination to participate in the fight against terrorism and its negative effects, especially in the cultural field, and to make its experience available to countries affected by terrorist and aggressive acts to protect and rehabilitate heritage", according to the information provided by the statement of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication.
The presence of the minister recalled the involvement and determination of the Kingdom of Morocco, especially that of King Mohammed VI, in supporting the various initiatives of the Alef Foundation, whose main objective is to protect cultural heritage in areas of armed conflict and to address acts of destruction of the heritage of humanity.
Mohammed Mahdi Bensaid also pointed out that "Morocco has chosen the option of multilateral cooperation and will continue to invest in the fight for the preservation of world heritage in all its technical, political and legal dimensions". For the minister, "culture does not only mean the expression of creativity, but reflects civilisation, and is important in everyday life, grafting the human being and linking man to his common history".
The conference raised $90 million, or almost 81 million euros, for the protection of heritage in conflict zones, the French foreign ministry said in a statement. In fact, the proceeds will make it possible to "expand its action over the next five years", the French ministry statement added.
Culture is the most characteristic feature of a nation, which is why the North African country has taken the initiative to invest in order to protect the cultural heritage of the different states, a reflection of civilisation and fundamental to the development of daily life, as well as the link established between citizens and their common history.