"BLUE SHIELD" COMMITTEE CONCERNED ABOUT FATE OF CULTURAL-HISTORICAL MONUMENTS IN NEAR EAST

AZG Armenian Daily #145, 03/08/2006

Middle East

"Blue Shield" International Committee grieves about the victims,
the distractions and hardship that took place in Israel, Lebanon and
Palestine. According to the organization’s statement sent to ArmInfo,
Joan Van Albada, chairman of the organization, expresses concern that
in case the military conflict spreads, the rich historical-cultural
heritage of Israel and Lebanon may be in danger. "Blue Shield" turns
to all sides in conflict with the claim to spare no efforts to spare
the historical monuments of the region from distraction. The committee
reminds that the international law forbids to use the sightseeing
places for military goals. "The Hague convention on defence of the
cultural values in the military conflicts" adopted in 1954, as well as
the convention on the defence of cultural heritage and nature demand
from the sides in conflict to avert direct and indirect damaging the
cultural values in their territory," Joan Albada stated, adding that
both Israel and Lebanon have signed both of the conventions.