France condemns destruction of Holy Martyrs Armenian Church
French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Laurent Fabius has issued a statement condemning the destruction of the Holy Martyrs Armenian Church in Deir ez-Zor.
“I condemn the destruction of the Holy Martyrs Church in Deir ez-Zor, which has great importance for the Armenian community.
“France welcomes the commitment of religious leaders of all faiths to fight for tolerance and respect for sacred places, despite attacks and threats.
“The national heritage in Syria and Iraq is at risk. The failure to protect cultural heritage is viewed as a war crime and those responsible should be punished by the International Criminal Court. Together with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), France supports the fulfillment of the agreements on the protection of cultural heritage, especially under armed conflict.”