HERMITAGE MUSEUM DIRECTOR CONDEMNS TALIB DESTRUCTION OF BUDDHA STATUES








MOSCOW, MARCH 5. /RIA NOVOSTI'S CORRESPONDENT NIKOLAI VALKOVSKI/ -- Mikhail Piotrovski, director of Russia's largest state museum Hermitage, has condemned Talib's actions towards destruction in Afghanistan of cultural monuments of the pre-Islamic times. 


	"Destruction of Buddha statues in Afghanistan are the utter forms of religious fanaticism", said Mikhail Piotrovski, director of the largest state museum Hermitage in Russia, in an interview with RIA Novosti. 


	He specially noted that not merely monuments but artifacts of the oldest religion are being demolished, which may have "the most unpredictable consequences" for humankind. (nov/kaf)