[MSN] CONFERENCE "FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING OF CULTURAL HERITAGE OBJECTS" ENDS (in ATA, 10 June 2006)

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

CONFERENCE "FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING OF CULTURAL HERITAGE OBJECTS"
ENDS (in ATA, 10 June 2006)

TIRANA, June 10 (ATA) - Two-day national and regional conference "Fight
against trafficking of cultural heritage objects" was concluded on Saturday
in Tirana with the commitment by participants to raise awareness about
regional cooperation in protection of the values of cultural heritage, based
on international conventions and respective instruments. The conference
organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports in
cooperation with UNESCO offices in Venice and Brescia (Italy), Interpol and
UNIDROIT addressed increasing phenomenon of illegal trafficking of cultural
objects in South-East Europe region turning the spotlight on hardships of
institutional cooperation between authorities and institutions of culture,
police, customs and judiciary. 
Participants vowed that at international and regional level "at the meeting
of South-East Europe Ministers of Culture they will promote issues related
to trafficking of cultural objects, inter-border cooperation between
specialized services, timely exchange of information, expertise and
respective experience." Also, they asked from UNSECO to facilitate promotion
of international applicable instruments defining standards and activities to
the advantage of fight against illegal trafficking of cultural objects in
South-East Europe. Attending the conference were specialists from UNESCO,
Germany, Greece, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosova as well as from Albanian
institutions.