There are conflicts in the world, but there is also the passion to save heritage… Read Jean Elizabeth Mens’ exclusive interview

Question: How big a challenge is it to save heritage, at a time when struggles are becoming visible with the passage of time. In such a situation, how is the international community working together in this direction?
answer: When you talk about heritage and survival, mechanisms for protection and preservation are necessary in the backdrop of conflict and natural disasters. UNESCO brings countries together with these challenges. This is the beauty of diplomacy, which shows that there are still places in the world where you can come together with countries and talk about such issues. UNESCO has an important role in this. When we talk about disaster and conflict, whether it is Gaza or Ukraine. UNESCO not only maps such sites but also documents them. Only then conservation is carried forward.

Question: But the question is also about the heritage that might have been damaged in Ukraine and the conflict? Have any concrete steps been taken in view of West Asia and Ukraine?
answer: Mapping work is being done during conflicts. This is important because no work can be done in the midst of conflicts related to heritage and culture. In such a situation, when steps are taken again for conservation, it is important to know what was there before the conflict. But if something has been destroyed, then UNESCO does the work of making a road map for it. In such a situation, apart from its basic financial contribution, America also gives separate funds to the agency to save the cultural heritage of Ukraine. UNESCO also has such a fund for Gaza. However, this is optional and the countries themselves decide how much to contribute.

Question: What are America’s long-term goals and objectives in this regard?
answer: There are 21 countries in the World Heritage Committee, but America is not its member. Our role in the committee is that of an observer. After a gap of five years, America joined UNESCO as a member only last year. But despite this, we used to participate in the committee meetings as observers. In the last one year, we have been a part of all those meetings where policy decisions have been taken. We will continue to raise our voice in favor of our commitment towards global heritage. 22 percent of the entire budget of UNESCO is contributed by America, so every year about 75 million dollars is contributed by America to UNESCO. In between, this contribution was not given for five years and hence it was a difficult time for UNESCO. Many countries wanted us to become a part of UNESCO again.
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Question: There are presidential elections in America in November, can we see a change in priorities in this regard after the formation of the new government?
answer: We try to explain to the taxpayers in bilateral politics the importance of this contribution, because after all it is public money. Apart from cultural activities, UNESCO is also involved in the activities of the network of University Chairs. There are 600 chairs in this network, out of which 23 are from America. For example, the chair in South Carolina focuses on education, while the chair in Pennsylvania focuses on gender studies. In such a situation, our responsibility is to inform the members of the US Congress about this. Apart from this, there is also a concept of creative cities. Apart from this, UNESCO also works on the issue of water crisis, media freedom and gender. There are many such important responsibilities of UNESCO in which we want to be involved and participate.

Question: Tell us about India’s role in saving world heritage and preserving culture?
answer: India is hosting the World Heritage Committee for the first time. The way India has organised this time is in itself a big commitment towards heritage and culture preservation. Organising such an event is not a normal thing. PM ​​Modi has also announced additional funds, in this way India has shown how heritage can be made a priority for the people, how it can be shared with the world.

Question: Moravian Church Settlements have been given the status of World Heritage by UNESCO. Other countries have also partnered with the US in this. Please provide information about this as well.
answer: Actually this was our first transnational nomination. Denmark had put forward the name for the first time in 2015 for the nomination of this settlement, at that time the committee had said that the details of the sites related to it should also be revealed, after this Denmark partnered on this issue with Germany, America and Britain, where these settlements are present. Everyone together presented it before the committee. It is already included in the World Heritage List.

Question: What would you say about the US-India bilateral agreement on art works?
answer: Look, it is always important to have a bilateral agreement on this issue, because it makes things easier to do. This framework helps in coordination between government departments. By the way, America and India have been cooperating in this regard for a long time.

Question: Why is it important to save heritage in a changing world with climate change?
answer: If there is heritage, we exist, this is the basis of knowing our civilizations, which leads us to understand history and its beauty. History and its lessons are understood. When I sit in the hall of the World Heritage Meeting, it seems that people forget other things and ask each other questions about how heritage and culture can be saved.