The UAE has always been at the forefront of protecting society and its values — not only its own but also around the world. From its pivotal role in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo to ranking as the world’s highest contributor to foreign development aid, the UAE has never hesitated to reach out to the international community in times of crisis or to launch its own pioneering efforts to serve humanity.
The creation of a $100 million (Dh367.3 million) global fund to protect cultural heritage sites from war and violence, approved at the Unesco-backed Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage conference in Abu Dhabi, is the latest manifestation of it. Not only will the fund work to block the destruction of historical sites and trafficking of artefacts, but it will also pay for their restoration and safekeeping. The vision enshrined in the Abu Dhabi Declaration strikes at the core ideology of terrorists and anarchists who, through wanton destruction, aim to obliterate the common values that have defined mankind for centuries.
This is a timely and commendable effort for preserving the shared identity of human civilisation, for such remnants of history are now scattered across vast swathes of land— from Palmyra, Nimrud and Timbuktu to the historic museum of Mosul and far beyond. The impact of cultural destruction is an often neglected aspect of battling terror and conflict — but thanks to the initiative by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and French President Francois Hollande, there is now a strong commitment and acute awareness to fight this menace globally. The presence of a galaxy of world leaders in Abu Dhabi is not only a proof of the initiative’s success and support but also a recognition of the urgency and magnitude of the problem. The world therefore must stand determined with the UAE to protect its own legacy and culture from systematic destruction — only such unanimous action will permanently destroy the premise on which terrorists and traffickers operate and seek to profit.
