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This heritage is central to Afghanistan s memory and identity and is a landmark in the history of other civilizations. I strongly urge all concerned, primarily the Afghan people themselves, to spare no effort in saving this unique cultural heritage. The loss of the Afghan statues, and of the Buddhas of Bamiyan in particular, would be a loss for humanity as a whole. The Director-General sent a telegram to Mullah Mohamed Omar, supreme leader of the Taliban, urging him to reconsider this decision.