[MSN] 'Theft of King Croesus' Treasures a Shame for Turkey'

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

05.31.2006 Wednesday - ISTANBUL 14:19 

'Theft of King Croesus' Treasures a Shame for Turkey' 
London, New York, Ankara 
Published: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 
zaman.com 


 The stealing of King Croesus's treasures and the subsequent arrest of Usak
Museum's curator under suspicion of involvement in the theft had a big
repercussion in the foreign press. The British newspaper The Times
maintained the incident is a "shame" for Turkey.

The Scotsman, the leading Scottish daily, emphasized such a theft cannot
take place without the knowledge of museum officials. The newspapers giving
a large place to the news pointed out Turkey had said, "We are able to do as
good a job of protecting our heritage as anyone," in its efforts to reclaim
the collection abroad. 

The Scotsman quoted police authorities as saying it is difficult for such an
incident to take place without the knowledge of the museum officials. The
newspaper wrote Museum Director Kazim Akbiyikoglu rejected the allegations
that he took part in the theft; "Just as the villagers who found the
treasures told me they were cursed, I did not believe them," the paper
quoted the director. 

The Times wrote the 2,500-year-old treasures of King Croesus had been
repatriated after a lengthy legal battle and their theft is a shame for
Turkey. 

Beyond the Atlantic, The New York Times wrote the collection was returned to
Turkey by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York after a protracted
legal battle, but have now been stolen from a Turkish Museum. 

Though there had been reports of the theft in the Turkish press, the weekend
announcement was the first time the government acknowledged the crime, the
New York Times wrote. 

http://www.zaman.com/?bl=culture&alt=&trh=20060531&hn=33582