In remarks made in a video message aired at an opening ceremony to mark the 40th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Yildirim said: “The international community should contribute more to the work done by UNESCO and should take more responsibility in saving the heritage we inherited for the sake of our future generations.

He noted that while one on the one hand wars in several countries “are destroying the historic, natural and cultural values [past] civilizations have left us,” on the other hand “we continue to destroy the works of our history in the name of civilization and development.”

The 40th session of the World Heritage Committee began Sunday in Istanbul and will end on July 20.

Three main functions of the committee are to identify and inscribe newly nominated cultural and natural properties on the World Heritage List; to monitor the state of conservation of properties inscribed on the list and to examine requests for international assistance financed by the World Heritage Fund.