[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