$90mn pledged for protection of heritage in conflict areas

Paris, France – Speaking at the second donors’ conference of ALIPH, the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas, held at Musee du Louvre in Paris on Monday, Salem bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and his wishes for the success of the meet.

Mahrouqi affirmed Oman’s support for all international efforts aimed at protecting and sustaining cultural heritage in areas of armed conflict and combating illegal trafficking in cultural property.

He pointed to the continued threat facing heritage due to armed conflicts around the world. “With the persistent phenomenon of illegal trafficking in cultural property, it is imperative for all of us to be vigilant and affirm our will and commitment to enhance cooperation between countries and international organisations.”

$90mn pledged for protection of heritage in conflict areas

The second donors’ conference of ALIPH on Monday has pledged US$90mn for the organisation’s next five-year cycle.

Five years after the establishment of ALIPH, Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin, French Minister of Culture, and Thomas S Kaplan, chair of the alliance, hosted the second ALIPH Donors’ Conference. At the conference, nearly US$90mn was pledged, surpassing the US$77.5mn that was committed during the first donors’ conference in March 2017.

Several countries present at the conference pledged their political support to ALIPH, with the potential for financial contributions to follow in the coming months.