Ministry of State of the Empire of Atlantium - Directorate of External Affairs

Directorate of Global Affairs	Official Foreign Policy Statements 35 Secundus, 10520 (12 March, 2001) Statement Concerning Vandalism of the World Cultural Heritage in Afghanistan: The Empire of Atlantium today adds its voice to the chorus of international outrage directed at Afghanistan's Taliban regime for the proposed campaign obliterate that country's extraordinarily rich heritage of ancient non-Islamic art. Targeted for destruction at the directive of the unelected regime's leader, Mullah Omar, are the celebrated 1500-year old colossal Buddha statues at Bamiyan, along with all other sculptural representations of the human form. The regime has refused all offers to avert or moderate its campaign of planned destruction, nor to consider offers to physically relocate some of the works targeted. Whether the Taliban regime chooses to recognise it or not, we no longer live in a world where extremist cultural chauvinism of the type being promoted by this grotesque and malicious action is acceptable. We view the wilful destruction of any part of the human cultural heritage as an appalling act of desecration and urge the Taliban regime to cease all destructive actions towards inanimate artworks immediately. The Taliban leadership would do well to reflect on the outcome of its present short-sighted policy in this matter, which will result in heightened international ostracism thereby adding further to the misery of the Afghan people caused by the decades of pointless sectarian warfare to which they have been subjected. For further information about the Empire of Atlantium, contact us by email.

Directorate of
Global Affairs

Official Foreign Policy Statements

35 Secundus, 10520 (12 March, 2001)

Statement Concerning Vandalism of the World Cultural Heritage in Afghanistan:

The Empire of Atlantium today adds its voice to the chorus of international outrage directed at Afghanistan's Taliban regime for the proposed campaign obliterate that country's extraordinarily rich heritage of ancient non-Islamic art.

Targeted for destruction at the directive of the unelected regime's leader, Mullah Omar, are the celebrated 1500-year old colossal Buddha statues at Bamiyan, along with all other sculptural representations of the human form. The regime has refused all offers to avert or moderate its campaign of planned destruction, nor to consider offers to physically relocate some of the works targeted.

Whether the Taliban regime chooses to recognise it or not, we no longer live in a world where extremist cultural chauvinism of the type being promoted by this grotesque and malicious action is acceptable. We view the wilful destruction of any part of the human cultural heritage as an appalling act of desecration and urge the Taliban regime to cease all destructive actions towards inanimate artworks immediately.

The Taliban leadership would do well to reflect on the outcome of its present short-sighted policy in this matter, which will result in heightened international ostracism thereby adding further to the misery of the Afghan people caused by the decades of pointless sectarian warfare to which they have been subjected.

For further information about the Empire of Atlantium, contact us by email.