France, UAE launch fund to protect monuments in conflict areas
DOHA - France and the United Arab Emirates on Saturday launched a $100 million fund to protect heritage sites threatened by extremism and conflict after the destruction last month of an ancient palace by Islamic State militants in Iraq.
The fund, announced at an Abu Dhabi conference attended by President Francois Hollande and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, will be used to create "safe havens" for endangered artifacts and to transport and restore monuments damaged by war, UAE state news agency WAM reported.
"Conflict causes irreparable damage to valuable heritage sites in Syria, Iraq, Mali and many others," WAM quoted Mohammed al-Mubarak, chairman of Abu Dhabi's tourism and culture authority, as saying.
"Today, we establish a $100 million fund to focus on protecting and rebuilding these sites."
