MELCOM conference 26-28 May 2003 - Resolution

[Dina Banna <oib-bib _at__ oidmg.org>]

Dear list,

MELCOM INTERNATIONAL
The European Association of Middle East Librarians / Association
Européenne des Bibliothécaires du Moyen-Orient

RESOLUTION

MELCOM, the European Association of Middle East Librarians, assembled in
Beirut at its 25th annual conference, unanimously

Deplores the destruction and theft of Iraqi libraries, archives and
their contents following the US and British led invasion and occupation
of Iraq in April 2003. This occurred in breach of the United Nations
Convention on the protection of cultural property of countries under
military occupation.

Commends the efforts of UNESCO, IFLA and other international bodies to
assess the extent of this damage and deplores the recent action of the
occupying powers in refusing entry into Iraq to accredited
representatives.

Insists that the international library community, of which it is part,
play a full and unimpeded role in assisting Iraqi colleagues to restore,
as far as possible, their library and archival heritage and
infrastructure, a process MELCOM is willing to contribute to by offering
the professional expertise of its members.

Proposes to send a highly qualified professional from among its members
into Iraq to assess the situation and to report to the Board.

Supports the initiatives taken by our North American colleagues of the
Middle East Librarians Association (MELA) and related organisations.


Beirut, 28 May 2003




Internal announcement:
Professor Jan Just Witkam, former president of MELCOM, has willingly
agreed to undertake this. We propose to seek funding from IFLA, the
Prince Claus Fund (Netherlands) and Al-Furqan Islamic Heritage
Foundation (London). MELCOM itself, limited though its financial means
are, will also contribute.



--
**********************************************************************
Dina Al-Banna
Librarian
Orient Institut Der Deutschen Morgenlaendischen Gesellschaft
Bibliothek Beirut (German Institute for Oriental Studies / Library
<Beirut>)
Rue Hussein Beyhum (Zokak al-Blat)
P.O. Box. 11 - 29 88 Riad  el-Solh  Beirut 11 07 21 20
Beirut - Lebanon
Tel.: + 961 - 1 - 37 65 98 / 37 29 40 / 36 05 99 Ext. 116
Fax: + 961 - 1 - 37 65 99
Mobile + 961 - 3 - 64 52 41
email oib-bib _at__ oidmg.org ; dinab _at__ cyberia.net.lb
www.oidmg.org
************************************************************************