Iran Press/ America: Majid Takht Ravanchi, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations on Monday, local time, at the UN General Assembly to approve the resolution on the return or restitution of cultural property to countries of origin praised the role of UNESCO in preventing the smuggling of cultural property.
At this session he stressed the need to increase the institution's efforts to assist in the return of cultural property.
Iran's ambassador to UN: "Cultural property reflects the history, civilization and identity of their countries and its ownership by the people of those countries is a human right."
He added: "therefore, the international community has a shared responsibility as well as a legal and moral obligation to preserve them, including guaranteeing their return to their countries of origin." This commitment goes beyond existing international treaties and the countries participating in these treaties.
Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations stated: Therefore, the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that the 1970 Convention UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property never legitimizes the transfer of cultural property.
The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations also informed the international community about the illegal excavations under the Al-Aqsa Mosque by the Zionist regime, adding: "The continuation of this process, which will lead to the destruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque, will threaten international peace and security."
The resolution on the return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin was adopted by consensus at the UN General Assembly on Monday, local time. 219
