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<p>The UK strongly condemns ISIL’s wanton destruction of cultural heritage in Syria
and Iraq, including in Palmyra. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office helped secure
UN Security Council Resolution 2199 which obliges all UN Member States to prevent
the trade in Iraqi and Syrian cultural property that has been illegally removed from
those countries.</p><p>But strong words and legal frameworks are not enough. As a
key player in the Global Counter ISIL Coalition, the UK is committed to degrading
and defeating ISIL, including through military action. By checking ISIL’s advance,
the Coalition’s air campaign and support for partner military forces in Iraq and Syria
has had the effect of protecting key historical sites in both countries. However,
there is inevitably a limit to what we can do. The only way of safeguarding all historic
sites from ISIL is by defeating them politically and militarily. That requires continued
effort by the Global Coalition, as well as a more inclusive political settlement in
Iraq, and an end to the conflict in Syria.</p><p>On 28 October I will be co-hosting
a summit with the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport,
my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for <del class="ministerial">Bromsgrove</del> <ins class="ministerial">Maldon
</ins>(Mr <ins class="ministerial">Whittingdale</ins><del class="ministerial">Javid</del>)
on Cultural Heritage Protection.</p>
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