TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia has been elected as member of the Hague Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the election was held on December 17 at UNESCO headquarters during the 5th meeting among member states of the Second Protocol to the Hague Convention.

59 countries took part in the elections, and 41 of them supported Georgia’s candidacy. The Georgian ambassador to France and representative to UNESCO Ekaterine Siradze-Delaunay, headed the Georgian delegation.

The goal of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict is to supervise the implementation of the Second Protocol; grant, suspend or cancel enhanced protection; and distribute international assistance from the Fund for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the ministry informs.

“Membership will give Georgia the opportunity to play an active part in these processes and will contribute to the protection of cultural property,” the ministry’s statement reads.