NEW YORK, MAY 2 – The Italian Carabinieri brought to the United Nations the experience of its task force for the Protection of Cultural Heritage: “It was an unmissable and extraordinary opportunity that has allowed Italy and the Carabinieri to demonstrate the operational, training and technological ability in the field of protection and safeguard of cultural heritage”, said General Vincenzo Molinese, commander of the Carabinieri TPC after an Arria formula meeting of the Security Council organized by France and the United Arab Emirates with the co-sponsorship of Cyprus and Italy: “The Command has been considered a one of a kind at the UN, and indeed it is, and we make available our expertise to other countries in need”.
The aim of the meeting was to examine the implementation of Resolution 2374, adopted in 2017 by the Security Council after a proposal by Italy and France. It was the first time in the history of the UN that a resolution was entirely dedicated to the protection of cultural heritage in armed conflicts. “Any attack on cultural heritage is an attack on the future of humanity, as it hinders post-war recovery, deprives minority groups of their roots, and feeds new conflicts. Bringing the perpetrators of crimes against cultural heritage to justice is crucial, also to prevent future attacks,” said Italian Permanent Representative, Maurizio Massari. According to France, the destruction of cultural heritage in armed conflicts “feeds violence, hatred and revenge. It undermines the very foundations of peace,” said the French Ambassador, Nicolas de Rivière.
Drawing a picture of the activities of the Command, Molinese focused on training: “The many activities that we carry out in this area are an example of our uniqueness. This year, we will be in Mexico City to train the Blue Helmets of Culture of Andean Countries with the collaboration of the Argentinians that we trained last year”. The training involves also tourist police forces, “because it is their duty to ensure that the works of art visited by tourists who may have other intentions stay safe. Our capacity has been consolidated for 54 years and we are ready to help our colleagues”.
The meeting was opened by UNESCO Director, Audrey Azoulay: “The protection of cultural heritage must be at the center of the international peace and security agenda,” she said, recalling the importance of resolution 2347. Today, Yemen and Ukraine are at the forefront as was previously Iraq. Azoulay remembered the contribution of the Carabinieri to this process also through the fight to illicit trafficking. “The collaboration we have today with the United States,” said Molinese, “is truly extraordinary: recently, we have been able to repatriate incredibly important works of art. Our hope is that the future will be even brighter than past”. (@OnuItalia)
