The Director-General calls for the protection of the Old Town of Ghadamès

The Director-General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, today called on parties involved in the armed conflict in Libya to ensure the protection of the World Heritage site of the Old Town of Ghadamès and its immediate surroundings. She also appealed to the parties involved not to expose the World Heritage site of Leptis Magna to destruction and damage, following reports that this site is also under threat.

The Director-General recalled her previous appeal for the safeguarding of Libyan cultural heritage of 23 March 2011, namely that “From a cultural heritage point of view, [Libya] is of great importance to humanity as a whole” and “Several major sites bear witness to the great technical and artistic achievements of the ancestors of the people [of Libya], and constitute a precious legacy.”