Lebanese pavillon, International Tripoli Faire, Lebanon (©G. Arbid)
Contents : 
Cultural heritage of Irak endangered: Samarra and Babylon - Future of New Orleans endangered -
Threat to the cultural heritage of Tripoli, Lebanon - Sacred heritage of Najaf endangered - Theft of part of the iconostasius, Voskopojë
Cultural heritage of Irak endangered : Samarra and Babylon
Paris, 21th october 2005
In October 2005 Patrimoine sans frontières alerted world conscience to the precarious situation of archaeological sites in Irak. Irak, the birthplace of civilisation, where writing itself was invented, is because of the war, witnessing, on a daily basis, growing threats to its archaeological heritage.
Important archaeological sites, such as Samarra or Babylon risk irreversible damage if something is not done soon. Monuments have been destroyed and sold off piece by piece. The necropolis were pillaged...
The door of Isthar of Babylon now at the Museum of Berlin
To find out more, pdf file (in French only), 85 ko
The future of New Orleans under threat
Paris, 6th October 2005
Patrimoine sans frontières alerted France and other Francophile populations to the current precarious situation in New Orleans, a city where people have always lived with past traditions and a rich linguistic heritage. Psf has joined forces with the “National Trust for Historic Preservation” to set up a programme of expertise to help the various districts of the city and other regions of Louisiana effected by hurricane Katrina. Despite not having complete information about the state of these sites, we must prevent bulldozer destructions of buildings of historic and cultural value that can still be restored.
To find more, pdf file (in French only), 90 ko
Threat to the modern heritage of Tripoli, Lebanon
Perservation of the International Tripoli Fair building, a major work of the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer
Paris, Thursday 7th October 2004.
International Tripoli Fair, Lebanon ©D. Halabi
The building of the International Fair of Tripoli in Lebanon constitutes one of the major, but relatively unknown, works of the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Following an appeal from the Lebanese government, construction work began on this project in 1963 and carried on from 1968 to 1974, however, the war that devasted Lebanon up until 1990 has meant that the magnificent building was never put to use.
In early 2004, the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched a project to transform the site of the International Fair into what was to be a Disneyland style “tourist park”, destined to welcome millions of visitors every year. The images published in the press of this tourist park project present a complete “massacre” of Niemeyer’s architecture: the existing buildings were to be transformed out of all recognition from the original architectural style, and new “neo-Lebanese” style imitation constructions were to be added, denuding the overall composition and savagely destroying the landscape and magic of the site. Even though the first surveys for this project are already underway, it is still possible to put a halt to the project which will, without doubt, disfigure one the most important cultural sites of reference for Tripoli and the modern Lebanon. Patrimoine sans frontières appeals for urgent mobilisation to launch an international campaign to save the site of the International Tripoli Fair, one of the most important architectural achievements of 20th century heritage as a whole.
To find out more, pdf file (in French only), 60 ko
The sacred heritage of Najaf under threat
along with a multitude of other cultural sites in Irak
Paris, Wednesday 18th August 2004
Two weeks after combat began in Najaf in Irak, Patrimoine sans frontières solemnly appealed to all parties to respect the cultural heritage of this place, sacred to muslim shiites, and asked the international community to mobilise itself against the hostage taking of such sacred and cultural sites.
Najaf is one of the jewels of Irak’s cultural heritage and because of its huge importance for history and human kind in general, it is considered as part of the cultural heritage of us all. Fighting has even taken place within Najaf’s historic cemetery (the Wadi Al- Salam, the valley of peace, one of the largest cemeteries in the world), which entailed the degradation of the site and the destruction of numerous tombs, some of which date back to the 1st Islamic era (7th century).
This communiqué from Patrimoine sans Frontières aims to alert the international community to the dangers that threaten the cultural heritage of Irak, over one year after the beginning of the war.
To find out more , pdf file (in French only), 60 ko
Theft of part of the iconostasius, Voskopojë, Albania
Paris, Thursday 16th September 2004
Theft of part of the 18th century iconostasius in the Church of Saint-Athanase of Voskopojë
Patrimoine sans frontières, who has been part of the restoration project of the Church of Saint-Athanase in Voskopojë, Albania for the past few years, is outraged by the theft of the top part of the wooden sculpted iconostasius of this 18th century neo-byzantine church, a theft that made headline news in the most important press and media of the country. The Albanian ambassador in France and the Albanian delegation for UNESCO are unanimous in proclaiming their outrage. This “baldaquin” - the top part of the iconostasius (wall which separates the central part of the church from the alter) is a four metre long piece of gold leaf wooden sculpture. Ten icons line up along the surface, representing Jesus and his apostles. The baldaquin was painted in 1720 by Constantin Leromonakos. Patrimoine sans frontières has a very detailed photograph of the iconostasius (photogrammetric print) produced in August 2003.
To find out more , pdf file (in French only), 60 ko