Blue Shield Issues Statement on Ukraine

In light of the current situation in Ukraine, the Blue Shield International - an organisation and network which works to protect the world's cultural heritage during armed conflict - has issued a statement.

By way of background, Blue Shield International works to carry out the mission specified in the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict with Regulations for the Execution of the Convention 1954 (the 1954 Hague Convention), which regulates the conduct of nations during war and military occupation in order to assure the protection of cultural sites, monuments and repositories, including museums, libraries and archives.

Blue Shield's full statement can be found here.


Key extracts are as follows:

"Following the civil conflict that has been shaking Ukraine, the Blue Shield wishes to express its deep concern regarding the safeguarding and protection of the country's invaluable cultural and historical heritage, as well as the institutions that house them and the people that care for them. 

Ukraine's museums, libraries and documentary heritage, monuments, churches and monasteries are under risk of threat from looting and destruction. The international heritage community wishes to warn of the potential harm that cultural property may suffer.
Reports regarding damages endured by the Kiev History Museum have given the Blue Shield and its members reasons for concern. The destruction of monuments linked to the political history of Ukraine is also at the forefront of the cultural community's concerns... 

Ukraine has been a State Party to the 1954 Hague Convention...and its first Protocol since their ratification on 6 February 1957. Ukraine is also a State Party to the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage since its ratification on 12 October 1988. Ukraine's 2004 International Humanitarian Law Manual clearly states that personnel responsible for the defence and protection of cultural property are "protected under international humanitarian law" and that directing attacks against such persons or "clearly identifiable cultural property" constitutes "a serious violation of international humanitarian law". Cultural property is clearly defined within the manual as being "objects of great importance to the cultural heritage of peoples [and] that play an important role in their spiritual life." These include, among others, works of art and religious or secular monuments. 

The ratified international conventions, Ukraine's specific legislation, and customary international law impose on nations the obligation to protect their cultural heritage in times of armed conflict. The Blue Shield calls on all parties concerned to fulfil these obligations and to protect the outstanding cultural heritage sites and repositories located within Ukraine."

Extremely Rare Bronze Apollo Statue Found in Gaza and Seized by Hamas

An extremely rare bronze sculpture of Apollo has been seized in Gaza. According to a report by the Guardian, the sculpture was found by a local fisherman about 100 yards off shore last August. The fisherman was unaware of the value of the piece and brought it home on a donkey cart. Eventually, after other family members took control, the piece turned up on eBay with an asking price of $500,000 and requiring that the buyer pick the piece up in Gaza.  However, $500,000 is considered far below the actual estimated value of the piece, which some are calling priceless. The eBay listing was quickly removed when the piece was seized by police from the Islamist group, Hamas, pending an investigation.

The Apollo statue is estimated to be over 2000 years old and is considered highly unique because it is a bronze cast, which is an unusual materials choice for a statue of that time.  Archeologists have yet to examine the piece, having only seen photos like the one above.  The statue will not make any further public appearances until the investigation is resolved.

Some debate whether the piece was actually found in the sea due to its clean condition and speculate that the piece was found on land.  This theory continues that the finder did not disclose the location in an attempt to circumvent ownership issues.  Either way there is speculation that the piece likely signals the existence of a far more extensive treasure trove, such as a buried temple.

Located on land, or at sea, this find presents legal issues that may be difficult to resolve, especially in such a historic and tumultuous region.  Domestic and international laws regarding objects of cultural heritage and other objects of value found at sea, including the International Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, not to mention other bi-lateral or multilateral treaties may apply.  Interestingly, Palestine is not a signatory to the U.N. Convention on the Law of Sea, a treaty which may also have provided guidance, particularly Article 303, on the handling of this potentially priceless artifact.  That is, assuming the piece was actually found at sea.

Hopefully this rare and wonderful statue, which has so quickly vanished again from the world's view, will be displayed and made accessible for study in future.