The UAE signed on Friday the founding document of the International Alliance for Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Conflict Zones, based in Geneva.

Ambassador Obaid Salem Al Zaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, and Ambassador of France to Switzerland signed the document in the office of notary public in Geneva. Among others present were Consul General of France in Geneva, and Jack Lang, Former French Minister of Culture, who is a current President of the Arab world Institute in Paris, and member of the Board of Directors of the alliance.

Jack Lang also signed the necessary documents to register the organisation with the Swiss authorities.

The establishment of the alliance was proposed jointly by the UAE and France to preserve endangered cultural heritage. It was also one of the resolutions of the International Conference on Safeguarding Endangered Cultural Heritage, held over two days in Abu Dhabi. The summit issued the Abu Dhabi Declaration, which recommended the establishment of a global fund to protect the endangered cultural heritage in times of armed conflict.

It also comes within the initiative called for jointly by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, French President Francois Hollande.

 Such a fund would help finance preventive and emergency operations, combat the illicit trade and contributes to restoration of cultural antiquities that sustain damages. The fund will also help establish an international network of safety havens for the protection of endangered cultural property from armed conflicts or terrorists.