India, US sign cultural property agreement for repatriation of historic artifacts
- In Reports
- 07:50 PM, Jul 27, 2024
- Myind Staff
According to the Ministry of Culture, India and the US signed their first agreement on Friday to stop the illicit trade in cultural property and to repatriate antiques to their original locations. On the fringes of the current 46th session of the World Heritage Committee at Bharat Mandapam here, Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat witnessed the signing of the US-India Cultural Property Agreement by US envoy Eric Garcetti and Union Cultural Secretary Govind Mohan.
Later, during an interview with the media, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat stated that ‘’it is a general agreement that will allow "smooth repatriation" of historic artifacts from the US to India’’.
He continued, saying there are "297 items that are "lying in the US, ready to be repatriated." India has repatriated 358 antiquities since 1976, out of these 345 have been retrieved since 2014’’.
"The agreement aims to prevent illegal trafficking of cultural property and retrieval of antiquarian objects to their place of origin," the Culture Ministry stated.
According to a statement from the US Embassy, India has now joined the ranks of 29 current US bilateral cultural property agreement partners. "This cultural property agreement is about two things. First and foremost, it's about justice - returning to India and to Indians, what is rightfully theirs. Secondly, it's about connecting India with the world.
Whereas the envoy said “Every American and every global citizen deserves to know, see, and experience the culture that we celebrate here today. To know Indian culture is to know human culture.”
In accordance with US legislation that implements the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illegal Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, the State Department drafted the US-India Cultural Property Agreement.
Garcetti praised the Indian government for hosting the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO, stating that it is an example of the nation's dedication to safeguarding not just its own cultural property but also assisting others in doing the same.
“This event marks the culmination of nearly two years of diligent work by experts from both countries and fulfills President Biden's and Prime Minister Modi's commitment to enhance cooperation to protect cultural heritage highlighted in the joint statement issued after their meeting in June 2023,” the embassy said in the statement.
"Cultural property agreements prevent the illegal trade of cultural property and simplify the process by which looted and stolen antiquities may be returned to their country of origin”.
"The United States has been unwavering in its commitment to protect and preserve cultural heritage worldwide and to restrict trafficking in cultural property," the statement read.
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