The Japanese government is considering contributing funds to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's plan to preserve remaining valuable cultural assets in Afghanistan.

But the biggest question remains over whether the plan, put forward earlier this month by Koichiro Matsuura, the UNESCO chief and former Japanese ambassador to France, will actually materialize. And even if it does, will it work?

Matsuura proposed that the U.N. body work out a scheme to purchase precious art and cultural artifacts being traded on the market in Afghanistan. But his proposal is still vague and lacks important details.