The Maldives has welcomed Azerbaijan’s initiative to provide technical assistance to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to help protect their cultural heritage.

Speaking at the high-level meeting on Azerbaijan’s “From Island Heritage to World Heritage” initiative, Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam said the Maldives values Azerbaijan’s role in the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and its practical support for small island states.

He said island heritage is important but vulnerable, and SIDS need technical expertise, financial assistance and stronger capacity to protect it.

The minister highlighted the government’s efforts to preserve Maldivian heritage, including the nomination of the historic coral-stone mosques for UNESCO World Heritage status. He also noted ongoing efforts to establish training centres for traditional crafts and use modern technology, including 3D scanning, to document heritage sites.

Climate change poses growing risks to historic buildings, archaeological sites and cultural traditions, he said. International support should therefore go beyond listing heritage sites and include technical assistance for documentation, conservation, site management and disaster preparedness.

The minister said the Maldives looks forward to benefiting from assistance available through Azerbaijan’s initiative and to training a new generation of heritage professionals.