CONTACT:

Millicent Hall Gaudieri, Association of Art Museums Directors,
212-249-4423

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, March 1, 2001– The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD), representing the art museums in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, deplores the decision by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers to destroy all statues in the country.

The AAMD pleads for the preservation of the unique and irreplaceable ancient works of art and strongly urges the Taliban rulers to stop the destruction and to reverse their decision. The AAMD considers this an assault on the cultural and historical achievements of world civilization and humanity.

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The Association of Art Museum Directors (AAMD) is a membership organization which represents 175 directors of the major art museum in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The President for 2000-2001 is Katharine Lee Reid, Director of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Executive Director is Millicent Hall Gaudieri.