NEW YORK, Dec 7 (Hina) - The UN General Assembly on Tuesday discussed the return or restitution of cultural and art treasure to countries of their origin. Participating in the discussion was also Croatian representative at the UN in
New York, Ivan Simonovic. He expressed support for the attempts of the UN to create an adequate international legal framework for the protection of artefacts and national cultural treasure. Simonovic held that the adoption of international ethic norms for persons professionally dealing with artefact trade could help restrain the illegal influx of national cultural heritage into private collections. Simonovic advocated a close cooperation of member-countries with the UNESCO and a more responsible conduct of governments internally to prevent illegal art trade. Simonovic informed participants of the general Assembly about problems Croatia had in the return of artefacts and cultural heritage
NEW YORK, Dec 7 (Hina) - The UN General Assembly on Tuesday
discussed the return or restitution of cultural and art treasure to
countries of their origin.
Participating in the discussion was also Croatian representative
at the UN in New York, Ivan Simonovic.
He expressed support for the attempts of the UN to create an
adequate international legal framework for the protection of
artefacts and national cultural treasure.
Simonovic held that the adoption of international ethic norms for
persons professionally dealing with artefact trade could help
restrain the illegal influx of national cultural heritage into
private collections.
Simonovic advocated a close cooperation of member-countries with
the UNESCO and a more responsible conduct of governments internally
to prevent illegal art trade.
Simonovic informed participants of the general Assembly about
problems Croatia had in the return of artefacts and cultural
heritage from Yugoslavia.
He recalled that during the Serb aggression on Croatia 66 museums
had been destroyed, 45 museums and galleries plundered.
"More precisely, 6,551 artefacts disappeared, 1,430 were destroyed
and 728 were damaged," he said.
He added Croatia expected the Yugoslav side to fulfil an agreement
reached by the two countries' foreign ministers that the agreement
on cultural cooperation should resolve the issue of returning
Croatia's cultural and art treasure from Serbia and Montenegro.
(hina) lml