To:        - Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

- Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

- Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

- Government of Republiika Srpska

-  Lord Paddy Ashdown, High Representative of IC in Bosnia and
   Herzegovina,

The Select Committee of Experts responsible for preparing a draft Framework Convention on Cultural Heritage, including the Chair and Vice Chair of the Steering Committee for Cultural Heritage, meeting in Strasbourg on 22-23 March 2004,

• expressed its condemnation and regret concerning the damage to the historic mosques in Mostar and in the village of Orahova near Bosanska Gradiska in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that has occurred during the period of our meeting, and follows the recent damage to cultural heritage in Kosovo and Serbia;
• requests that the authorities and representatives of international communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina take all necessary measures to prevent further destruction of cultural heritage and sacred buildings;
• considers that such acts of ignorance emphasise the importance of the long-term objective of developing mutual respect and shared responsibility for all heritage within Europe.

Dr Guilherme d’OLIVEIRA MARTINS

President of the Committee

Mr Paul DRURY

President of the CDPAT

Ms Jelka PIRKOVIČ

Vice-President of the CDPAT

Mr. Dave FADDEN

Ms Claire FOLEY

Mrs Amra HADZIMUHAMEDOVIC

Mr. Todor KRESTEV

Mr. Jean-Yves LE CORRE

Mr. José Maria LOSADA

Mr. Jean-Bernard MARIE

Mr. Dag MYKLEBUST

Mrs Benedicte SELFSLAGH

Mr. Janne VILKUNA

Mrs Maria WIKMAN

Mrs Adriana BAZ, President of COD-BP

Ms Deiana DANAILOVA, member of CDCULT Bureau

Mr. Krzysztof OSTROWSKI, member of CDESR