European
Reaction
Russia concerned over Afghan move to destroy Buddha statues
Germany condemned the Taliban action.
European Union: SORROW AND DISMAY
Euro Parliament condemns Taliban treatment of
G8 nations appeal to Taliban to spare statues
Russia concerned over Afghan move to destroy Buddha statues
Tehran, March 4, IRNA -- Russian Embassy in Iran said on Sunday that Russian Federation is seriously concerned over reports coming from Afghanistan of the decree issued by Taliban Head Mullah Muhammad Omar to destroy all non-Islamic religious and cultural monuments. The embassy said in a press release that following the decision, the unique complex of giant Bamiyan rock-face sculptures of Buddha, under the protection of UNESCO is in danger of being destroyed. "The same fate may befall hundreds of other invaluable archeological masterpieces among them world famous exhibits of Kabul Museum," it said.
Germany condemned the Taliban action.
Thursday, March 1, 2001
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The radical Taliban movement began smashing all statues...
``Germany is appalled by the willful destruction of cultural artifacts in Afghanistan. The damage to culturally unique Buddha statues by the Taliban cannot be justified,'' the foreign ministry said in a statement issued in Berlin.
G8 nations appeal to Taliban to spare statues
TRIESTE, Italy, March 4 (Reuters)- The world's leading industrial nations expressed shock on Sunday over a plan by the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan to destroy statues and shrines and urged them not to go ahead with their "deeply tragic decision."
"Mindful that the diversity of natural and human systems is at the core of sustainable development, we express dismay and shock at reports of the edict of the Taliban leadership ordering the destruction of all statues and shrines in Afghanistan," the Group of Eight said.
The position was stated in a final document of a meeting of the G8 environment ministers in Trieste.
"We strongly urge the Taliban leadership not to implement this deeply tragic decision and fully support the efforts of UNESCO to this end," the statement said.
European Union:
SORROW AND DISMAY
The European Union, in a statement issued in Pakistan, expressed dismay that the destruction of statues had begun.
``The Presidency of the European Union strongly condemns this crime against the world's common heritage and deeply regrets that it has taken place in the name of one of the world's important religions,'' the statement said.
Euro Parliament condemns Taliban treatment of
STRASBOURG, March 15 (AFP) -
The European Parliament Thursday condemned Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia's destruction of ancient Buddha statues at Bamiyan, an action UNESCO has branded "a crime against culture."
In a resolution, it said it "strongly condemns and expresses its deep indignation at the Taliban's decision to destroy the Bamiyan and the National Museum statues."
The deputies called the destruction "an unprecedented offense against human civilization and the feelings of Buddhists."
The regime was "well-known for its politics of gender apartheid and systematic oppression of virtually every single individual liberty," the resolution said.
Parliament again recognizes "that Afghan women are the first victims of the regime imposed by the Taliban" and "condemns the physical and psychological violence suffered by Afghan women and young girls, who are subjected to a system of segregation laid down by Taliban law."
"This is a case of an entire country being taken hostage by these fanatic clerics," said MEP Olivier Dupuis of Italy.
The resolution called upon Pakistan, which supports the Taliban regime, to "close down the Taliban recruitment centers and their Islamic schools in Pakistan immediately."