Twelve historic artifacts of Anatolian origin, which had been seized within the United States and returned to Türkiye after a court docket choice following efforts performed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, had been displayed on the Antalya Museum Friday.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy highlighted the authorized battle and bilateral protocols undertaken within the final 5 years, which concluded with the return of artifacts to Antalya. The artifacts, together with the sculpture head of Tetrarch that reunited with its physique in southern Türkiye, had been displayed on the museum.
Noting that the memorandum of understanding (MoU), which was signed with the U.S. and entered into power in 2021 performs a significant function in returning useful artifacts to the lands they belong to, Ersoy mentioned: “On this occasion, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the relevant U.S. authorities in the field of protection of cultural heritage and combating the smuggling of cultural property.”
He particularly thanked Deputy District Attorney Colonel Matthew Bogdanos from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and his group and the U.S. Homeland Security and Intelligence Service items for his or her meticulous work.
“I also congratulate the relevant units of our ministry for their great contributions in research, examination, collection of evidence and witness statements in the process,” the minister added.
Stressing the ministry’s willpower to battle towards cultural property smuggling the minister highlighted he’s happy to see the constructive outcomes of the preparations which have been finished inside the ministry for this goal.
The listing of historic artifacts seized within the U.S. and returned to Türkiye contains two bronze bull carts, a Roman army diploma, a Neolithic mom goddess figurine, an Urartian terracotta vase, and a Roman bust.
The officers famous that the bronze statue of Septimus Severus from Burdur’s historic metropolis of Boubon among the many returned artifacts has explicit significance in historical past.
U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Jeff Flake, who attended the ceremony in Antalya, expressed that he was delighted to be part of the method of returning cultural property to the nation.
“Years later, they are here, where they belong. We would like to inform you that we respect to the greatest extent the cultural assets being returned to Türkiye. One way or another, the unique artifacts belonging to Anatolia will return to their home, where they belong,” Flake said. “We know that a few of them had been looted and moved afar. It is essential that these items return right here,” he added.
Noting that the U.S. and Türkiye will proceed the cooperation on this space, Flake vowed to work for the ”required strain” for the cultural property to return to their nations of origin.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
