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"When a world heritage site is destroyed, we are all diminished", says UNESCO head

The head of UNESCO says world heritage sites must be protected from terrorism and war.

11-day meeting will discuss protection and adding new sites to World Heritage list

The Associated Press ·
Many of the buildings and rooftops show damage from recent military clashes in parts of the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, southeastern Turkey. The walls and Hevsel Gardens are listed on UNESCO's World Heritage sites. (Mahmut Bozarslan/Associated Press)

The head of UNESCO says world heritage sites must be protected from terrorism and war.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 40th World Heritage Committee session in Istanbul Sunday, Director-General Irina Bokova said world heritage is under attack "from Mali to Syria."

"When a world heritage site is destroyed, we are all diminished," she said.

The 11-day gathering will discuss concrete steps to protect at-risk sites and review proposals to include 26 new sites in UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Candidate sites include the medieval Armenian city of Ani in Turkey's northeastern province of Kars.

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