Greece elected to UNESCO Convention Committee on preventing trafficking of cultural objects

Greece was elected member of the UNESCO Convention committee on the “Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property” during the member-states’ 8th meeting in Paris on Wednesday.

Greece, which signed the convention in 1981, was represented by its Permanent Representative at UNESCO Giorgos Koumoutsakos, Ministry of Culture oifficial Vasso Papageorgiou, and Foreign Affairs Ministry lawyer Marianna Paschou.

Following the election of Greece, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said that the event “is a result of recognition of the systematic and methodical effort by the Greek government to protect cultural heritage, fight illegal traffic of cultural goods, and return them to their country of origin.”

After commenting on the continuing illegal trafficking of cultural goods globally, the minister added, “For the Ministry of Culture, the committee’s mission is a political priority.

Recognising the importance and work of the Committee of the 1970 Convention, the Ministry of Culture is offering voluntarily a contribution of 10,000 euros to support UNESCO’s Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects, underlining the particular importance of new and innovative tools of transparency and providing awareness of the international protection of cultural heritage.”

Source: AMNA