[MSN] America's Commitment to Safeguarding Heritage

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America's Commitment to Safeguarding Heritage

> The United States is committed to protecting history
> and heritage from theft.  It is no surprise that our
> nation demonstrates leadership in this area since an
> overwhelming majority of Americans (96%) support laws
> designed to protect archaeological resources,
> according to a Harris Interactive poll.  In addition,
> more than three in five Americans believe that
> historical artifacts should not be removed from
> another sovereign nation without that country's
> assent. (Harris Interactive poll at
> www.nps.gov/archaeology/pubs/harris/index.htm).  This
> public support gives vitality to America’s application
> of the 1970 UNESCO Convention, the preeminent global
> agreement that aims to safeguard cultural property
> from theft, illegal excavation, and smuggling.
>
> Our nation first sought to protect its own cultural
> treasures when President Theodore Roosevelt enacted
> the Antiquities Act of 1906.  President Reagan built
> on this legacy by looking beyond America's borders,
> signing into law the Cultural Property Implementation
> Act (CPIA), which authorizes the president to enter
> into bilateral agreements that promote the
> preservation objectives of the UNESCO Convention. 
> Since the CPIA took effect, the Cultural Property
> Advisory Committee (CPAC) has successfully evaluated
> requests by nations seeking American assistance when
> those countries' archaeological heritage was
> jeopardized by pillage.  The result of CPAC's work has
> permitted the president to take action against the
> illegal trafficking of historical artifacts while
> simultaneously forging constructive international
> partnerships.  Since 1983, the White House has
> approved several bilateral agreements that have
> assisted our friends and neighbors in Canada, Italy,
> and elsewhere.
>
> Continuing this tradition of American leadership is
> CPAC’s recognition that the looting of particularly
> identified types of ancient coins can place a nation's
> archaeology in jeopardy.  When coins are bound to the
> archaeological record in a significant and inseparable
> way, they become infused with irreplaceable historical
> information. To strip such coins from the ground
> without first evaluating and documenting their
> evidentiary value steals history.  The forward-looking
> agreement between the United States and Cyprus, given
> effect on July 16, 2007, acknowledges this conclusion.
>
> When Congress enacted the Archaeological Resources
> Protection Act of 1979, it determined that America's
> unique archaeological resources were endangered and
> required protection.  In the same way that the United
> States acted to secure the cultural heritage found
> within its borders, our country assists other
> sovereign nations do the same, thereby helping to
> protect our collective global history from large-scale
> transnational looting and trafficking.  It is expected
> that America will continue to vigorously pursue laws,
> policies, and enforcement programs designed to
> safeguard domestic and international cultural
> resources for the benefit of future generations.
>
> Rick St. Hilaire
> Vice President, SAFE/Saving Antiquities for Everyone