Fwd: RE: [CPProt.net] ICOM-CC appalled by looting in Iraq.

Mon Apr 14 19:45:01 CEST 2003

>
>
>I was out from work when these emails regarding the controversial 
>commentary made  has again caused subscribers to un...
>
>My immediate reaction was to contact any politicians that are 
>related to my state, even Federal level to enact emergency 
>legislation banning any importation, sale, and possession of Iraqi 
>treasures, especially by dealers and armed forces.
>
>I recommend subscribers do the same, regardless of your nationality, 
>and stop wasting time affirming or devaluing one's personal and 
>theoretical beliefs.  We can't change the past or even current 
>events beyond our control, but we can begin working to regain some 
>sense and action of civility despite our differences.
>
>Perhaps these commentaries are unfortunately needed just to enact 
>positive change.
>
>-Cheryl Maslin
>
>
>
>
>>I have no wish to get overly involved in this hornets nest of a discussion.
>>
>>Just to keep everyone on track however, for the record, rightly or wrongly
>>(and this in itself is an interesting discussion -- and I have heard
>>effective arguments on both sides), the United States is not a signatory to
>>the 1954 Hague Convention.
>>
>>Perhaps we should be focusing our energies on addressing the real problem
>>instead of exchanging barbs and apportioning blame.  The antiquities world
>>is going to be awash in looted objects in the coming years.  How do we make
>>the case internationally to pressure the private sector to adhere to the
>>legal and ethical guidelines (Hague, AIA, AAM, ICOM etc.) that the majority
>>of subscribers to this list are already sworn and committed to uphold? 
>>
>>Let's be a force for positive change, shall we?
>>
>>******************************************************
>>Robert B. Goldsmith
>>Deputy Director
>>The Frick Collection, 1 E. 70th Street, New York, NY   10021
>>Tel: 212-547-6857; Fax: 212-861-7347; e-mail: goldsmith at frick.org
>>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>-----
>>The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to
>>which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged
>>material.  Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or
>>taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or
>>entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited.   If you received
>>this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any
>>computer.
>>********************************************************
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Jorgen Wadum [mailto:wadum.j at MAURITSHUIS.NL]
>>Sent: Monday, April 14, 2003 8:45 AM
>>To: list at cpprot.net
>>Subject: [CPProt.net] ICOM-CC appalled by looting in Iraq.
>>
>>
>>ICOM-CC appalled by looting in Iraq.
>>
>>The International Council of Museums - Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC)
>>is witnessing the looting and damage of cultural property in the aftermath
>>of war in Iraq with the utmost concern.
>>
>>When ICOM-CC (Feb 25, 2003) and shortly after the International Committee of
>>the Blue Shield (ICBS) as well as other international organisations warned
>>about the consequences of war, we stressed our concern for "... the
>>prospects of possible damage to our shared cultural heritage and loss of
>>human life as a result of armed conflicts."
>>
>>ICOM-CC, with many other international organisations, must now again stress
>>how significant and crucial The Hague Convention is to all regimes. It is
>>imperative that all parties in Iraq realise their responsibilities towards
>>cultural property.
>>
>>In the "Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of
>>Armed Conflict", drawn up in The Hague, 14 May 1954, and entered in force 7
>>August 1956, Paragraph I. "General provisions regarding protection", Article
>>4. "Respect for cultural property" section 3 reads:
>>
>>"The High Contracting Parties further undertake to prohibit, prevent and, if
>>necessary, put a stop to any form of theft, pillage or misappropriation of,
>>and any acts of vandalism directed against, cultural property. They shall
>>refrain from requisitioning movable cultural property situated in the
>>territory of another High Contracting Party."
>>
>>ICOM-CC will hold all so-called Coalition Force Partners accountable for the
>>looting and damage to cultural property in Iraq.
>>
>>Further paragraph X, "Protocol for the Protection of Cultural Property in
>>the Event of Armed Conflict", article 1, reads: "The High Contracting
>>Parties are agreed as follows: 1. Each High Contracting Party undertakes to
>>prevent the exportation, from a territory occupied by it during an armed
>>conflict, of cultural property as defined in Article 1 of the Convention for
>>the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, signed
>>at The Hague on 14 May, 1954."
>>
>>Article 3 expands on this role by saying: "Each High Contracting Party
>>undertakes to return, at the close of hostilities, to the competent
>>authorities of the territory previously occupied, cultural property which is
>>in its territory, if such property has been exported in contravention of the
>>principle laid down in the first paragraph. Such property shall never be
>>retained as war reparations."
>>
>>ICOM-CC urges the so-called Coalition Forces to act according to The Hague
>>Convention. There simply is no excusable exception for not following these
>>universal rules of civilised conduct.
>>
>>ICOM-CC hopes that inventories of the holdings of looted Iraq museums as
>>soon as possible can be distributed to Interpol and also widely (via
>>e-lists) to the entire museum world in order to identify these stolen
>>antiquities in the market for their restitution or seizure.
>>
>>On behalf of ICOM - Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC),
>>
>>Jørgen Wadum
>>Chair ICOM-CC
>>
>>ICOM-CC is the largest of the international committees under the
>>International Council of Museums (ICOM) with members' world-wide from every
>>branch of the museum and conservation profession.
>>ICOM is a non-governmental organisation maintaining formal relations with
>>UNESCO and having a consultative status with the United Nations' Economic
>>and Social Council.
>>ICOM-CC Secretariat, 13, via San Michele , 00153 Rome, ITALY ; Tel.: + 39 06
>>58 55 34 10 ; Fax: + 39 06 58 55 33 49 ; E-mail: secretariat at icom-cc.org
>>
>>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
>>
>>Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the
>>archives at:  http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html
>>
>>______________
>>
>>Cultural Property Protection Net
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>>__________________
>>______________
>>
>>Cultural Property Protection Net
>>http://www.cpprot.net/
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>>__________________
>
>
>--
>
>
>
>Cheryl Maslin
>Collections Database Coordinator
>Rights & Reproductions
>University of California, Berkeley Art Museum


-- 


Cheryl Maslin
Collections Database Coordinator
Rights & Reproductions
University of California, Berkeley Art Museum
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