UPDATE - France Pledges To Inform US Of Help Needed To Rebuild Notre-Dame Cathedral - Pompeo

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that France was grateful for the United States' offer to help rebuild the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris and would inform the Trump administration of ways Washington can support restoration efforts, the Department of State said in a readout of the conversation on Friday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th April, 2019) French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that France was grateful for the United States' offer to help rebuild the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris and would inform the Trump administration of ways Washington can support restoration efforts, the Department of State said in a readout of the conversation on Friday.

"The Secretary affirmed that the United States was committed to helping France rebuild such a historic and iconic treasure and place of worship," the readout said. "Le Drian appreciated the Secretary's call and has promised to keep the United States informed as to how we can best support France's efforts."

Pompeo also praised Parisian police and firefighters, who managed to save most of the artworks inside and the entire cathedral from destruction from a fire on Monday.

US President Donald Trump made the first offer of aid to rebuild the 850-year old structure in a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, shortly after a massive fire had been extinguished with cathedral's spire and two-thirds of the roof destroyed.

In making the offer, Trump recalled how France had supported the United States following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and how the bells of Notre-Dame tolled on September 12 to honor the memory of nearly 3,000 people who died.

Trump called the Notre-Dame cathedral an irreplaceable symbol of Western civilization.

Macron has vowed to restore the roof and spires within five years.