Cultural Heritage at Stake: Addressing Looting, Illicit Trafficking and Restitution through International Law, Operational Cooperation and Cultural Diplomacy Meetings & Events Date: 23 September 2026 Language: English Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/asset/k1o/k1oe85ln8d Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations. --- EPLO · Permanent Observer [0:00]: Good. Good afternoon. I am Barbara Faedda, the EPLo permanent observer to the United Nations, and I am glad to welcome you all today on behalf of the permanent mission of Greece and the permanent mission of Italy, which, in cooperation with EPLo and with Armenia, Mexico, and ICROM's co-sponsorship, organized this important initiative. Looting and the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage have affected peoples and communities for generations. As outlined in the concept note, we are confronted with complex challenges that require international cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and a shared sense of responsibility. Building mutual trust and strengthening long-term collaboration among states and institutions is essential to addressing these challenges effectively. These issues are close to all our hearts. Last year, in recognition of its work on cultural heritage and the rule of law, EPLAW was invited by UNESCO to attend the 25th session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention as an observer, and I had the honor of attending the proceedings in Paris. Today's distinguished panel represents an important step toward stronger international cooperation, dialogue, and a more coordinated response to the challenges we face. With that in mind, allow me to turn to the rich program ahead. I am pleased now to give the floor to his excellency, to her excellencies, Ms. Alexandra Papadopoulou, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece. Greece · Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs [2:00]: Thank you, Excellencies, distinguished guests. It is a great pleasure to welcome you to this side event on the margins of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, jointly hosted by Greece and Italy in cooperation with the European Public Law Organization. Let me begin by thanking our partners for their close cooperation in bringing this initiative to fruition, and all of you for being with us today. We meet at a time when cultural heritage, and in particular cultural property, is facing increasingly complex and interconnected threats. Armed conflicts, the deliberate destruction of cultural sites, looting, and the illicit trafficking of cultural property continue to affect monuments, archaeological sites, museums, and collections across the world. What is at stake goes far beyond individual objects or sites. Cultural property carries the memory, identity, and dignity of peoples and communities. Its destruction or illicit removal represents an irreversible loss, not only for the country concerned, but for humanity as a whole. Illicit trafficking also extends well beyond the cultural sphere. It can feed organized crime and, in situations of conflict and instability, contribute to the financing of terrorist groups. The protection of cultural heritage is therefore not simply a cultural responsibility. It is also a matter of international law, international security, and international cooperation. Greece has consistently sought to advance this broader understanding through its engagement with the United Nations, UNESCO, and other relevant international European fora. As a country with an exceptional cultural heritage and with considerable experience in confronting the consequences of looting and illicit trafficking, Greece has a particular responsibility to contribute to strengthening the international framework in this field. For us, this work is about more than the adoption of successive resolutions. It reflects our conviction that the international community must continue to create the conditions for the return of cultural property to its legitimate owners, while promoting dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding between states. Our cooperation with Italy provides a meaningful example. The return of the Phangan fragment to Greece demonstrates how institutional dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared sense of responsibility can complement formal legal mechanisms. It shows that cultural heritage, even where difficult and sensitive questions are involved, can become a bridge between countries rather than a source of division. Today's challenges call for cooperation across a much wider range of actors, from law enforcement and customs authorities to museums, researchers, international organizations, and responsible market actors. We must also make full use of technologies. What we need, therefore, is an integrated approach, international law backed by effective enforcement. prevention accompanied by restitution, and legal mechanisms reinforced by dialogue, cultural diplomacy, and practical cooperation. It is in this spirit that Greece and Italy, in cooperation with the European Public Law Organization, have launched today's initiative. We wish to place our experience at the disposal of the international community, but equally to learn from the experience of others. Today's discussion is an important step in that direction, bringing together different perspectives to identify opportunities for more effective cooperation. Let us work together to ensure that cultural heritage is protected, not merely as a legacy of our past, but as a living foundation for identity, dialogue, mutual understanding and peace, one that continues to build bridges across generations and cultures. Thank you. EPLO · Permanent Observer [6:20]: Thank you. I will now yield the floor to His Excellency Mr. Edmondo Cirielli, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. Italy · Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation [6:33]: Thank you, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Italy is proud of co-hosting this event with Greece and EPLO. I thank in particular my colleague, Vice Minister Papadopoulos. I recall with great pleasure our recent meeting on the occasion of your visit in Rome. Dear friends, the United Nations represents the natural framework to address a crucial topic such as the protection of cultural heritage. Still today, the 1970 UNESCO Convention remains a cornerstone of international efforts against the illicit transfer of cultural property. Furthermore, Italy and Greece are linked by a century of history, cultural exchange, and shared heritage. Both Italy and Greece have experienced and the consequences of looting, illicit excavation, and the unlawful removal of cultural property. This shared experience gives our countries a particular responsibility and a strong basis for working together. Unfortunately, nowadays, this phenomenon affects not only individual states, but the cultural identity of humanity as a whole. The fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property is a long-standing priority for Italy, combining legal instruments, law enforcement, international cooperation, and cultural diplomacy. For instance, the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, established in 1969, was the first police unit in the world specifically established to protect cultural heritage. As Director Gujral of ICOM knows very well, the protection of cultural heritage is also a key pillar to our development cooperation policy. Just last week, me and Director Gujral were in Yerevan, Armenia, to work on a new project in this sector. Dear friends, no country, no institution can succeed alone in this effort. Effective action requires teamwork. It requires cooperation among cultural authorities, law enforcement, customs, museums, international organizations, and diplomacy. For instance, on the sensitive issue of restitution, restitution is not only a legal matter, but also an opportunity to strengthen dialogue and trust between states through cultural diplomacy. Cooperation among the states, UNESCO, international and national actors is essential. Italy and Greece can continue to use their shared experience to promote a more integrated international approach with the support of specialized agencies such as EPLO. I'm sure that forthcoming international conference on cultural property to be organized next year in Rome by our Minister of Culture will provide further opportunities to develop this dialogue. Thank you very much. EPLO · Permanent Observer [10:04]: Thank you. It is my pleasure to give the floor to Her Excellency Dr. Lina Mendoni, Minister of Culture of Greece. Greece · Minister of Culture [10:13]: Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished representatives, ladies and gentlemen, it is a glad pleasure to join you today to discuss one of the most pressing challenges facing cultural heritage worldwide. I would like to thank the permanent missions and the ministries of foreign affairs of Greece and Italy, as well as the European Public Law Organization for bringing us together to address an issue that concerns the safeguarding of culture and the collective memory of peoples. while also touching upon fundamental questions of international law, security, and justice. The deliberate destruction of monuments, the looting of archaeological sites and museums, and the illicit trafficking of cultural property are not isolated malicious acts of ancient individuals' objects. They deprive communities of evidence of their history and of part of their collective memory and identity. They destroy archaeological context and the knowledge essential to historical interpretation and understanding. Illicit trafficking and trade in antiquities and other cultural property represent the most widespread form of threat to cultural heritage, both in times of peace and during armed conflict. The international community is increasingly recognizing that this is not simply a form of criminal activity. but a complex of highly networked enterprise of global organized crime with multiple consequences and ramifications capable of resisting coordinated international efforts. It sustains transnational criminal networks and particularly situation of armed conflict often contributes to the financing of armed and terrorist groups. Protecting cultural heritage is therefore directly connected, safeguarding international legality and security, defending the rule of law, and upholding the fundamental principles and values upon which international peace and cooperation are built. Over the past decades, the international community has developed an important body of legal instruments to confront threats to cultural property of national and universal significance. The more recently United Nations General Assembly Resolution 79/133, adopted without a vote in December 2024, reaffirmed the importance of the return and restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin and called for stronger international cooperation in this field. Yet, experience also teaches us that law cannot operate on its own. Effective protection requires broad and multi-level synergies and operational cooperation among cultural authorities, police, customs, and judicial services. It requires provenance research, reliable documentation, and the responsible engagement of museums, collectors, dealers, and auction houses. It requires the rapid exchange of information across borders and close cooperation with UNESCO, Interpol, Europol, Eurojust, and other international organizations. and it centrally requires us to harness new technologies, interoperable databases, digital monitoring tools, and artificial intelligence, responsibly and effectively in support of human expertise and institutional accountability. Greece has consistently placed the fight against illicit trafficking and the repatriation of unlawfully exported cultural property among the highest priorities of its cultural policy. This policy is systematic, dynamic, and multidimensional. Our national institutional framework is among the most comprehensive, robust, and stringent in the world, while Greece has also ratified and incorporated the international conventions and recommendations for the protection of cultural heritage. Our experience demonstrates that tangible results are achieved through meticulous research, systematic legal action, persistent diplomatic engagement, and above all, international partnership built on trust. Greece actively contributes to shaping international policy for the prevention and combating the illicit trafficking in cultural property through its participation in international fora, the transfer of expertise and good practices, and the development of bilateral and multilateral synergies aimed at preventing and addressing the problem. These synergies open new paths and generate knowledge, new tools and practices that are gradually being adopted by an increasing number of countries around the world. The adoption of the Red List, which raises awareness and provides police and customs officials, as well as the wider public, with information on specific categories of cultural properties most frequently targeted by illicit trafficking, is a characteristic example. Greece was indeed the first country in the European Union to have its own such list. The consecutive successes in securing the return of Greek antiquities from abroad in recent years through cooperation with authorities and cultural institutions in numerous countries, and particularly in the United States, confirm in practice that trust and cooperation are effective. It is equally important, however, that these principles should not be applied unilaterally, but in every direction. Last June, Greece returned to Egypt six cultural objects identified as having been illicitly trafficked, putting into practice the principles of 1970 UNESCO Convention. These specific objects may not have been of exceptional artistic or historical significance, but the broader principle carries far greater weight. The return and restitution of cultural property can only be credible when they rest upon reciprocity, consistency, and mutual respect. This brings me to another dimension, which in my view is fundamental, cultural diplomacy. Return and restitution should not be regarded merely as the conclusion of a dispute. They have the potential to become the starting point of a renewed and elevated relationship. They can build trust between states and institutions. open new avenues for cooperation through joint research, the exchange of knowledge and expertise, the exhibition and transform an unresolved legacy of the past into an opportunity for partnership and shared path towards the future. Greece and Italy have demonstrated precisely this through the permanent return of the fagane fragment belonging to the Parthenon from Palermo to Athens, as the Deputy Minister Papadopoulos has already mentioned. The decision was the outcome of dialogue conducted in the spirit of goodwill among cultural institutions and public authorities, and was accompanied by deeper, more substantial, and mutually beneficial cultural cooperation between our countries. It demonstrated that the possibilities afforded by law, institutional responsibility, and political will can converge to produce an outcome far greater than the sum of its individual components. And this leads us naturally to an issue of profound importance for Greece and for universal cultural significance, the unification of the Parthenon sculptures. The case of the Parthenon sculptures belong to a fully documented historical and legal context. At the same time, however, it highlights a broader principle that lies at the heart of our discussion today. Disputes concerning the return or restitution of cultural property cannot be resolved solely by looking backwards at the circumstances and the terms under which the objects were removed. They also require us to consider the integrity and authenticity of monuments, the intrinsic relationship between cultural objects and their physical and conceptual context, contemporary scientific principles, and the ethical responsibilities of our time, and of course, the possibilities and opportunities created by cultural diplomacy. The Parthenon sculptures were conceived and created as integral parts of a single architectural, artistic, and conceptual whole. Their unification in Athens is therefore for Greece not simply a question of ownership of individuals' objects. It is a question of restoring the integrity of a unique monument of the world cultural heritage. It is also a question of ethics, of science, and of politics. UNESCO's intergovernmental committee has provided the forum and institutional framework for constructive dialogue conducted in good faith between Greece and the United Kingdom with a view to seeking a fair and mutually agreed solution to this longstanding issue. The Fayouken fragment has already been demonstrated that such solutions are possible. Ladies and gentlemen, cultural heritage has the power to connect generations, communities, and nations. Our responsibility is to ensure that it is not transformed into the proceeds of crime, casualty of conflict, or a source of division, but remains a foundation of knowledge, dialogue, and mutual understanding. This is a responsibility that Greece and Italy wish to advance together. It is a belief and a possibility that the international community must continue to embrace collectively. Thank you. EPLO · Permanent Observer [19:52]: Now I invite you to watch a video message that His Excellency Mr. Naeef Al-Fayez, UNESCO Assistant Director General for Culture, has kindly shared with us. UNESCO · Assistant Director-General for Culture [20:08]: Greetings from UNESCO. Excellencies, distinguished representatives, ladies and gentlemen. I would like to begin by warmly thanking the Permanent Mission of Greece and Italy for bringing us together today. As the illicit trafficking of cultural properties has become increasingly sophisticated and international, we must recognize that these challenges cannot be addressed by a country or institution alone. This is why international cooperation remains at the heart of UNESCO action. UNESCO works closely with Interpol, the World Customs Organization, UNODC, UNITWA and ICOM, as well as with specialized police units, museums and the art market. The UNESCO 1970 Convention remains the cornerstone of the international legal framework for combating the illicit trafficking of cultural properties. More than 55 years after its adoption, the Convention has now reached 150 State Parties. Together, we strengthen national legislation and inventories. Together, we improve prevention. And together, we build the capacity of customs officers, police and museums professionals. The Convention is complemented by the ICP, RCP. which provides a framework for cases of return and restitution, offering states a space for dialogue and cooperation. For many years, discussions around return and restitution have focused on challenges such as differences between legal systems, limitation of period, and incomplete documentation. While those difficulties remain, we are also seeing a greater willingness to cooperate and explore different forms of cooperation. One example is UNESCO's dialogue on new forms of agreements and cooperation. As digital platforms transform the way cultural objects are traded, UNESCO has brought together digital platforms, member states, law enforcement authorities, and other partners to make technology part of our solution. Through the UNESCO Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects, we are also bringing stolen cultural objects back into public view, creating another space for international cooperation. Ladies and gentlemen, these are difficult questions, touching on law, history, and identity. But culture has the power to create space for dialogue where dialogue is otherwise difficult. This is why, as we look to the future through UNESCO 80, we will continue to bring states, institutions and experts together to foster cooperation around some of the most complex questions facing cultural heritage today. I wish you a very fruitful discussion and every success in taking this important conversation forward. And I thank you. EPLO · Permanent Observer [23:12]: I am pleased now to give the floor to His Excellency Mr. Robert Abisogomonian, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Armenia. Armenia · Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade [23:23]: Thank you very much, Excellencies. Distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, at the outset, I would like to thank Greece and Italy for convening this timely discussion. And it is a great honor for Armenia to co-sponsor this important event. For Armenia, the protection of cultural heritage is closely linked to the preservation of cultural identity, historical memory, and the continuity of cultural traditions. We therefore attach particular importance to strengthening international mechanisms for the protection of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is particularly vulnerable in times of crisis. Armed conflicts, national disasters and environmental pressures can expose it to destruction, damage, loss and misappropriation. In conflict affected areas, particular attention should be paid to preserving the identity, origin, and historical context of culture and religious heritage. These risks underline the importance of a strong international legal framework and its effective implementation. In this regard, Armenia advocates for the effective implementation of the 1954 Hague Convention and its 1999 Second Protocol, as well as the 1970 UNESCO Convention. We also continue to contribute to international efforts aimed at protecting heritage in situation of crisis. We have shared our expertise through UNESCO's Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative. In May this year, Armenia joined the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas. Alongside these efforts, Armenia attaches importance to new and emerging technologies for the protection of cultural heritage, particularly for preparedness, monitoring, and response. In December 2025, Armenia initiated the adoption by consensus of a resolution on enhancing the protection and restoration of cultural heritage through the use of new and emerging technologies at the meeting of the high contracting parties to the 1954 Hague Convention. Our engagement in the Asian Civilization Forum provides a broader platform for advancing these priorities. Armenia hosted the eighth ministerial meeting of the forum in Yerevan in December 2024. The resulting Yerevan Declaration emphasized stronger cooperation to prevent trafficking in cultural property and facilitate restoration, cooperation with UNESCO to preserve endangered heritage, and expand use of new technologies and artificial intelligence for heritage protection. We greatly value Greece's role in advancing this agenda. The forums meeting in Athens in 2025 under the Greek chairmanship contributed to strengthening cultural diplomacy and practical cooperation. We also welcome Italy's assumption of the chairmanship of the Ancient Civilization Forum and look forward to supporting its efforts to further advance the forum's agenda. Deputy Minister Ciarelli, thank you very much for mentioning your visit to Armenia, which was a great opportunity not only to discuss the bilateral relations as well as the cooperation in the field of protection of cultural heritage. I can only reaffirm our commitment to working with all partners to strengthen the protection of cultural heritage. We believe that safeguarding cultural heritage is a shared responsibility. and an important contribution to mutual understanding, dialogue, and the culture of peace. Thank you very much. EPLO · Permanent Observer [27:06]: I will now yield the floor to Mr. Antonio Rodriguez, President of ICOM, the International Council of Museums. ICOM · President [27:16]: Thank you. Honorable Minister of Culture, Dr. Lina Mendoni, Deputy Ministers, Ms. Alexandra Papadopoulou and Mr. Eduardo Schiriali, Your Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor for me to represent the International Council of Museums, ICOM, at this important event. extend my sincere gratitude to the Minister and the Deputy Minister from the Permanent Mission of Greece and Italy, but also for the co-sponsoring to the Mission of Armenia, for bringing together this distinguished group. Also, my gratitude to the European Public Law Organization for bringing all of us together today to address one very important and crucial challenge for all our organization. How can we work together more effectively to prevent illicit trafficking and address requests for return and restitution? ICOM is a global network of 67,000 museum professionals and museum organizations spread in 130 countries. Our mission is to establish professional and ethical standards, protect cultural heritage, particularly in situations of threat and crisis, and to ensure that museums serve society and future generations. This year, on November 16, ICOM will mark 80 years since its creation. founded in 1946 in the aftermath of the Second World War, ICON was established on the principle that international cooperation must address challenges that cross borders and affect humanity as a whole. Fighting illicit trafficking has been central to our mission. ICOM supports international instruments such the UNESCO 1970 Convention and the UNIDROIT 1995 Convention, while at the same time developing practical tools for prevention, emergency response, and recovery. One of the best known instruments that we have developed is the ICOM Red List of Cultural Objects at Risk. For more than 25 years, ICOM Red List have helped museums, law enforcement, and custom authorities identify categories of objects particularly vulnerable to illicit trafficking. ICOM has published red lists covering more than 50 countries. In March 2025, ICOM, along ICOM-Greece, together with the Hellenic Minister of Culture, launched the ICOM Red List of Greek Cultural Objects at Risk in Athens. This effort reminds us that protecting cultural heritage from trafficking is an ongoing responsibility in times of both crisis and peace. More broadly, systematic and standardized approaches to heritage protection can empower communities and contribute to sustainable development. The International Decade for Cultural and Sustainable Development, adopted by the UN General Assembly this September, provide an opportunity to strengthen this effort through international cooperation and multicultural action. But at the same time, the threat is evolving. Technology is transforming both the illicit market and the tools available to fight it. Through projects such as Anchise and Prince, ICOM is working with partners to develop technology and research-based solutions for prevention and protection. Professional ethics are equally important for us. Last June, ICOM General Assembly adopted a revised code of ethics for museums. addressing contemporary challenges, including provenance, research, due diligence, security, governance, return, and restitution. Effective cooperation between museums, custom, police, government, and international organization is essential. Shared tools such the ICOM Red List, Object ID, and the Interpol ID Art application can provide a common operational framework before, during, and after emergencies. Our cooperation must also extend to emerging challenges. The recent UNESCO-ICOM global survey on artificial intelligence in museums, covering more than 400 museums across 90 countries, highlights the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, but at the same time highlight the need for stronger policies, training, and governance. This example demonstrates a fundamental principle for us. Cultural heritage protection is a shared responsibility. Cooperation between organizations such as UNESCO, UNIDR, Interpol, and ECOM allow us to combine expertise, develop common standards, and translate all these ideas into practical action. Looking ahead, the threat to cultural heritage will continue to evolve. Our response must therefore be equally international, interdisciplinary, and coordinated. It is only through effective cooperation that we can protect our shared cultural heritage and help prevent the deprivation and theft of the cultural identity of the community that created. ICOM is committed to strengthening this partnership, and I hope that the excellent professional relationship represented in this room will continue to grow. Thank you very much. EPLO · Permanent Observer [34:12]: I am glad now to give the floor to Ms. Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, Director General of ICCROM, the International Center for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property. ICCROM · Director-General [34:27]: Thank you very much, Ms. Barbara Faedda, for giving me the floor. And of course, let me echo the colleagues speaking before me. to sincerely thank the government of Greece and the government of Italy through their permanent representations to bringing us together at the heart of the United Nations, at the United Nations General Assembly, to discuss this very important matter that is a matter of great concern. Indeed, when cultural heritage is looted and trafficked, communities are separated from their history and identity. What is at stake here is therefore not only cultural property, but the knowledge, the sense of belonging and the dignity that heritage carries. Conflict and instability create opportunities for looting. Poverty and limited livelihoods opportunities can leave people and sites vulnerable. Weak documentation makes stolen objects harder to identify, while gaps between heritage, customs, police, judicial authorities, and effective policies can impede effective action. International demand and digital markets further enable illicit objects to move rapidly and anonymously. This points to three strategic shifts. First, we must move from recovery to prevention. Success cannot be measured only by the number of objects recovered. It must also be measured by how many are never looted, how many sites remain intact, and how many communities are equipped to safeguard and benefit from their heritage. Prevention requires documentation, inventories, risk preparedness, and responsible market practices, but also education, community participation, ethical stewardship, and sustainable livelihoods. we must address not only the routes through which objects are trafficked, but also the conditions that make heritage very vulnerable in the first place. Second, we must move from fragmented individual actions towards integrated programs, giving a concrete and tangible meanings to international development cooperation. The 2024 UN General Assembly Resolution 79/133, spearheaded by Greece, calls for stronger synergies and collaboration with ICCROM and other international organizations. No one possesses all the expertise and tools required. International cooperation must therefore be operational and practical. Heritage professionals, police, customs, and judicial authorities researchers, technology specialists, and policymakers and communities must work together across borders, embracing a system thinking and a system acting approach. Third, we must recognize cultural diplomacy as an essential part of the solution. The return or restitution of cultural property is not only a legal or a technical transaction. It can restore relationship. between people and their heritage, acknowledge historical injustice, rebuild trust between nations, and open concrete avenues for dialogue, peace, and stability. And this is where ICROM can make a distinctive contribution. As we mark 70 years since INCOM creation in 1956, our mandate is more relevant than ever. Our strategic plan 2026-2031 express our commitment through our care vision to conserve heritage in all its forms, activate its potential for the betterment of people and societies, and recognize its key role in the national and international agenda and financial architecture. This has acquired even greater significance as we look towards the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development, just proclaimed 20 days ago at the United Nations General Assembly, which recognizes that culture is not at all peripheral to sustainable development. As the Director General of ICOM, my vision is very clear: to place transformative capacity building at the center of our vision, strategies, and programs. Transformative in its objectives, because it must change the lives and the livelihoods of peoples and the communities. Transformative in its process, because it must act in synergies across three levers to generate long-term impact. To be truly transformative indeed, capacity building must move three levers together, people, institutions, and the political and social context. This is the vision underpinning ICROM's strategic plan, 2026-2031. No longer from mentoring individual training, but transformation of systems. In 2031, I will not count the courses we held. I will count the changes we made. And how we can measure success? When communities are strengthened, institutions are transformed, and policies are shaped through inclusion of cultural heritage as an integral dimension and not a peripheral appendix. Ladies and gentlemen, the frameworks exist, the expertise exists. What we need now is political will and more predictable and sustained investments. The multilateral system must remain our paramount framework for our collective actions. Let me be very clear. Its existence is simply not negotiable, and leaving heritage behind is not an option. Thank you. EPLO · Permanent Observer [40:07]: Now I give the floor to Miss Eleni Vlachogianni, Deputy Director for the Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods, Ministry of Culture of Greece. Greece · Deputy Director for the Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods [40:21]: Thank you very much for giving me the floor. Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, it's a great honor to be here today to present Greece's experience and that of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture in combating the theft and the illicit trafficking of cultural property. The illicit trafficking of cultural property is a longstanding threat, an international and constantly evolving phenomenon with serious cultural, social, and economic consequences. It affects countries both in times of peace and during armed conflict, and it does not stop at national borders. Decades of experience have demonstrated that no country can effectively address the illicit trafficking of cultural property on its own. It requires coordinated, sustained, and multi-level cooperation among states, international organizations, law enforcement and customs authorities, museums, research and institutions, the art market, and civil society. A fundamental pillar in the prevention and suppression of illicit trafficking, as well as in the recovery and return of cultural property, is a strong legal framework at both national and international level. I cannot go forward. The 1970 UNESCO Convention is of pivotal importance in this regard. It establishes principles and rules for combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property, while encouraging states to develop mechanisms for cooperation through bilateral and multilateral agreements. Experience has shown that such agreements are not merely institutional instruments. They create channels of direct communication between competent authorities and can substantially facilitate the identification, seizure, and return of cultural property. Greece has made effective use of this framework with significant results. Dozen of antiquities have been returned to Greece through the implementation of such agreements with the largest number originated from the US. But cooperation is a two-way process. Greece has also returned to other countries antiquities that were found on its territory and had been illicitly trafficked. In 2024, a numismatic hoard consisting of 1,055 ancient silver coins seized by custom authorities at the Evros border in northern Greece during an attempted entry into Greece was returned to Turkey. In 2026-- sorry, this is the repatriation of the coins to Turkey. In 2026, Greece returned to Cyprus 48 Cypriot antiquities for which complete documentation of lawful circulation was not available, as well as six objects of Egyptian cultural heritage to Egypt. The relationships of trust established through bilateral agreements have also played a decisive role in enabling Greece and Italy to recover hundreds of cultural objects that had entered the international art market illicitly. In one such case, Greece recovered 300 51 ancient objects, and 25 groups of objects. Cooperation between the two countries continues in order to study and document hundreds of associated pottery fragments recovered in connection with the case. Equally important for the protection of cultural heritage and the strengthening of cultural ties are agreements with museums and cultural institutions in the context of the return of cultural property. The return of an object is not necessarily the end of a negotiation. It can instead mark the beginning of a new relationship, one built on mutual trust and respect, and can lead to new scientific and cultural partnerships. No state, museum or institution can on its own confront the international illicit market, conduct exhaustive provenance research or possess all the information necessary for the complete documentation of a case. On this basis, Greece has succeeded in repatriating significant antiquities while also building lasting bridges of cooperation through agreements with museums and cultural institutions in Europe and the US. These agreements establish a framework for the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and good practices while ensuring the continuity of relationships based on mutual trust. the results are tangible. Allow me to mention a few examples. In 2014, two objects of Cycladic culture were repatriated from the State Museum of Baden in Germany. The agreement concerning their repatriation also paved the way for a number of further initiatives, including a major temporary exhibition on the Mycenaean world. In 2022, close cooperation between the Hellenic Ministry of Culture, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and other cultural institutions led to the repatriation to Greece of 161 Cycladic antiquities from the Leonard Stern Collection. Today, these antiquities are on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on loan from the Hellenic Republic. In 2024, three important antiquities were repatriated from the United States after being identified in the collections of the Michael Carlos Museum of Emory University in Atlanta. In 2025, the Metropolitan Museum of Art returned to Greece a bronze griffin. In the coming months, the Griffin, together with other objects, will return to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on loan to be presented as part of a temporary exhibition. In 2026, the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, Hungary, returned nine objects to Greece. The memorandum signed between the two institutions also secured the continuation of cooperation in the in the identification and documentation of other objects of Greek interest in the museum's collections, as well as a series of joint initiatives. Effective protection of cultural heritage requires specialized services, adequate staffing, appropriate expertise, and a clearly defined operational mandate. Specialized directorates within the competent ministries, such as the Directorate of Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods in Greece, as well as specialized units within law enforcement authorities, are essential for the prompt identification, investigation, and prevention of illicit trafficking. National operational capacity must be connected to a strong international network of cooperation through the rapid exchange of information, coordinated operations, and the sharing of expertise and good practices. The 179 antiquities seized in New York in the context of successive operations conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office provide a characteristic example of what can be achieved when national mechanisms and international cooperation work together. But prevention is just as important as enforcement. Education and public awareness at multiple levels are essential components of prevention and important tools in combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property. Educational programs, scientific conferences, and exhibitions are among the initiatives that can foster respect for cultural heritage and help protect it from every form of threat. The impact of such initiatives has contributed to a significant increase in the voluntary surrender and repatriation of movable cultural heritages in many countries. In Greece, voluntary returns have shown a steadily increasing trend in recent years. International organizations and the tool they have developed also make an important contribution. The UNESCO Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects uses advanced technologies to present objects representative of different cultures that have been stolen. It helps preserve memory, raise awareness of the problem of illicit trafficking, and maintain public attention over time. Greece participates in this initiative with a presentation of nine objects of Greek cultural heritage. Similarly, the ICOM Red Lists assist in identifying categories of cultural objects that are particularly vulnerable to illicit trafficking. Their usefulness to law enforcement authorities has already been recognized and documented by ICOM. In March 2025, Greece launched its own national Red List. Just a few days later, it was used to assist in the identification of an object failing within one of the categories included in the list. The Interpol database and the IDART application provide competent authorities with rapid access to information that can assist in the search for and identification of stolen cultural property. Finally, participation in international forums, such as the Ancient Civilizations Forum, of which Greece and Italy, and now Armenia, are members, enables modern states that are custodians of the heritage of great ancient civilizations to work together to protect that heritage, exchange good practices, identify emerging challenges, and develop appropriate responses and solutions. Ladies and gentlemen, Greece's experience demonstrates that the protection of cultural heritage requires coordinated administrative, scientific, and international action. It requires strong national mechanisms, specialized human resources, modern tools, and above all, trust and cooperation among states. Because cultural heritage does not belong only to the past. It's our responsibility in the present and our legacy for the future. And this responsibility requires a shared commitment to work together to preserve the past, protect the present, and pass our cultural heritage on to future generations. Thank you very much for your attention. EPLO · Permanent Observer [53:26]: I am pleased now to give the floor to Mr. Adolfo Ayuso Odri, Councillor of Mexico. Mexico · Councillor [53:33]: Very much, dear Excellencies and distinguished guests. Mexico expresses its utmost gratitude for organizing this event in the middle of this busy week. And also thank you for this wonderful presentation. Madam Minister, I see that you have been very busy, you appear in almost all the pictures, congratulations. We also would like to reaffirm our commitment to protecting cultural heritage in the face of serious threats from theft, looting, illicit trafficking, and armed conflict. Mexico remains firmly committed to the effective application of the 1970 UNESCO Convention and continues to advance multilateral efforts to strengthen the normative regime of cultural restitution. We also underlined the need for higher standards of due diligence and traceability of cultural property and welcomed this side event with Greece and Italy, which are of course fellow state parties of the Council of Europe Convention on Offences Relating to Cultural Property, also known as the Nicosia Convention. Beyond the upholding of international legal instruments, Mexico holds that heritage is not merely a collection of valued artifacts, but the living expression of a people's identity, history, and deepest roots. As Mexican Nobel laureate Octavio Paz so insightfully observed, the history of a country is the history of a human being seeking his origins. Protecting Mexico's heritage requires linking traditional cultural property regulations with the broader international legal framework. Instruments such as the 2000 UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime offer valuable additional tools to combat illicit trafficking, including complex challenges like clandestine excavations of pre-Hispanic pieces. Restitution of cultural property remains a top priority under President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. Continuing the efforts initiated in 2018, Mexico has recovered nearly 18,000 cultural objects, with several thousands returned since she took office in late 2024. In 2015, Mexico proposed the recommendations concerning the protection and promotion of museum and collections, their diversity and their role in society. And let me remind it's paragraph 18, which states, "In instances where the cultural heritage of indigenous peoples is represented in museum collections, member states should take appropriate measures to encourage and facilitate dialogue and the building of constructive relationships between those museums and indigenous peoples concerning the management of those collections and where appropriate, return or restitution in accordance with applicable laws and policies. Finally, Mexico recalls its shared history with many nations affected by colonization and the looting of cultural artifacts. The international community must reflect on the profound impacts of illicit trafficking particularly of pieces intimately linked to the world views of Indigenous peoples, and recognize the irreparable harm caused by separating these treasures from their history, culture, and place of origin. Thank you. EPLO · Permanent Observer [57:13]: I would like to invite Professor Spiridon Flogaidis, EPLO director, to open our Q&A session now. Thank you. EPLO · Director [57:24]: For giving me the floor, dear Barbara. Excellencies, the ministers, I just wanted to say that EPLO is grateful to Italy and to Greece and to all other nations which are represented around this table today. because EPLO is an international organization which was created on the Greek initiative, but with the pre-agreed support of Italy. So the fact that we are having today the two countries co-organizing this event with our support scientific support is for us a great day and I take this opportunity to thank both countries for this. I would like to say, however, that the interest of the EPLO into the area of history and culture is very strong, despite the fact that we are an organization working in the area of law and governance. And first of all, because we have been granted both by Greece and by Italy, headquarters which are of unique historical and cultural dimension. In Greece, thanks even personally to Minister Meloni, our headquarters are in the foot of the Acropolis, when you look to your right, it is the entrance of the Roman Agora. When you look to your left, it is the entrance of the Athenian Agora, just where democracy was born. And this is the reason why they located us there. But in Italy, they also gave us important presence in the Museo di Roma, in the Museum of Rome. and then again in a further presence in San Francesco, Arriba, where we share, actually, the premises with ICOM. So, in this area of culture, we have taken the initiative to ask the two ministries, the Greek ministry and the Italian ministry, to help us bring together a group of initiative, and so they did, which could produce a project on what we're talking about today. And this group has worked for a few months now and has produced a concept paper. The idea is that we, the continued support of the two countries, in 2027, we organize in Rome Italy, a big conference, bringing together more people to discuss the concept paper, which was distributed to you with the invitation to this. So, I would like to say that every country which is represented here and every country member of the United Nations would give us great pleasure to join forces into this project, which is, as I said, a common project supported by the two countries, which gave, together with Cyprus, gave birth to this organization. So I don't think I have a question to ask because I'm part of the answers. But I did not want to miss this opportunity to thank again the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy who represent the countries. But I should not forget to say, great thanks to Minister Mendoni. Minister Mendoni gave us more presence in that block in the area of Roman Agora. And we hope that she will come by the end of the year or the next of January to inaugurate, because we are still doing some work. dear Deputy Minister of the Foreign Affairs of Italy. A year ago, Minister Julie came to Greece to sign the headquarters agreement amending the previous one, and through which it was given to us, San Francesco, Arriba, and part of ex-convent San Salvador in Venice. pending ratification and please look after that. On that occasion, we organized a meeting of the two ministers, Minister Mendoni and Minister Julie, in the Roman Agora. Come and have the same experience with your homologa in Greece. It is a unique experience and it is where Greece has located us in order to remind everyone that this is the place where democracy was born. Of course, we don't forget who created the legal science and who created the law as a pillar of our civilization, and this is Rome. Thank you for giving me the floor. EPLO · Permanent Observer [1:03:32]: Thank you. We have time for more questions or comments. Also for our speakers, if they have the opportunity to add something. Okay, Mexico. Mexico · Councillor [1:03:54]: I came from the Pierre Hotel. It was so interesting because there was an event taking place about Ghana. and their restitution of objects and also linked to the resolution they did about slaves. So I think these two topics are really related. And it was very interesting that they mention the fact that sometimes the argument that the pieces go to places where there is no infrastructure or where to hold them. And that's why it's better that they stay in the museums or where they are showed at the moment. And they were saying that this shouldn't be an excuse for keeping the pieces, right? So I just wanted to highlight the effort that Ghana has been doing, especially during this year, and the Accra commitments, the next steps, and Africa, of course, as a place where many of the pieces needs to be restituted. Thank you. EPLO · Permanent Observer [1:04:57]: Thank you. I expected. ICOM · President [1:05:05]: I just want to reaffirm the International Council of Museums commitment to advance this agenda through our global network. The fact that we have national committee and a very close collaboration with local authorities allow us to really implement effective alliances and partnership. So we are absolutely interested and absolutely available to continue with all this partnership with all the organizations in this room, including ICRM, of course. That is not only important for us, it's really an important part of our role and important part of our mission. So we're looking forward. We're absolutely available through our global network. We have national committees in many of the countries that are represented here. And they are really the connections between our global network and this very important topic. A final word is, we at ICOM, we strongly believe that museums are uniquely positioned to fight illicit trafficking. the profile of the museum and the world position profile as a public organization that support the well-being of communities around the world, we don't take that for granted. We definitely provide all this connection at the local level, and we will continue to develop new Red Lists. For example, just to mention, in 2000. So this year we're updating the red list for Peru and also for Afghanistan. And next year we're already working on a new emergency red list for Sudan. That is just another evidence of our effort, our interest, and our continued work in fighting illicit traffic. Thank you. Thank you. EPLO · Permanent Observer [1:07:19]: Do I see a hand? No. I was going to ask-- oh, yeah, we have a question. EPLO · Legal Counsel [1:07:30]: Thank you very much. My name is Luca Melchionna. I am the legal counsel of EPL. So as Professor Frugaiti said, probably I'm part of the answers rather than the question. But I would like to pose a question to everybody. From an institutional and strategic perspective, when we talk about illicit traffic, we are, I think, bypassing the concept of using money as a way to laundering. And so the concept is these financial institutions are the center of all of this. So the question is from a strategic and institutional perspective, what are the efforts to educate financial institutions, private and public? Thank you. EPLO · Permanent Observer [1:08:18]: Do you have an answer to this question? Do you want to answer? ICOM · President [1:08:24]: Yes, of course. You know, from the ICOM perspective, we have several framework, including the recently approved code of ethics that include the specific consideration related to trafficking. So we have different instruments and we also are definitely advocates. We advocate and we support the effort of our national committees. Every time a museum needs support or need to elevate or need to create dialogues with different sector within their own countries, governments, private, et cetera, we can support that at the advocacy level. So that's exactly one of the big roles of our global network, not only our activities and our global programs, but also to support the interaction and the conversations at the local level within different sectors and different actors, including public and private sectors. EPLO · Permanent Observer [1:09:43]: I was, oh, we have another question, good, or comment? Israel · Deputy Legal Advisor [1:09:48]: Just a comment, I'm the deputy legal advisor of the Israel mission. I just want to echo the importance of this meeting, the importance of the preservation of heritage and what was all shown here is very interesting. I just want to mention the importance of heritage to us too, to the Israel people, as you know, Israel has a lot of history dating back. We have the Romans over there, and we have the Greeks over there, and we have before the Romans, before the Greeks, the Babylonians and Sertomians. And what's amazing too is I invite you all to come to Israel, to come to the Israel Museum in Jerusalem and to see an incredible museum, one of the top 10 museums in the world that if you go to the Met Museum or the British Museum, you see a lot of exhibitions that are taken from Greece and Rome, whatever, and in Israel, everything that's over there is a thing that's found over there and dated back more than 3,000 and 5,000 and 2,000, you can see all history and this subject is so important and important to us and just to thank you for this and thank you. EPLO · Permanent Observer [1:10:54]: Thanks a lot. If I would like to ask something about, my background is in anthropology, so I'm very curious on interdisciplinarity. So I don't know, maybe Francesca Maria, or our speakers, our distinguished speakers can say something more about professionals from different fields working on preservation and conservation of cultural heritage. ICCROM · Director-General [1:11:27]: Thank you, Barbara. And of course, I think we just remain short and to respond to your question is important for your audience. We are in, again, I repeat, it's not for granted that we are here today. So I think that political presence is equally so, so important. As I said before, we can't work in silos. And I mentioned my vision is transformative in three layers. So there is the experts that you mentioned, ICRAM trained experts, professionals in different heritage domains, including, of course, the managing objects, looted objects as well, because when they are looted also they need to be managed in order to be restituted in good condition. So Deputy Minister mentioned the excellent work done by the Carabinieri. And let me echo that because that is not, again, something that should be left behind the conversation when an object is looted. We can come in and we capacitate police, Interpol, experts, but also mayors, municipalities, all the different layers. I repeat, we can't work in silos. And of course, we are here in the presence of of decision makers, policy makers, and so we need to walk this journey all together. Obviously, the professionals are professionals, so they know how to manage the things. Now, to the point of the financial institution, I can't comment on who are them, and of course, there are a lot of dimensions there. I think that you come from the legal sector, so the law enforcement there is very much important too. So I think that we need to work together with you. I think the legal framework is so important as well. But thank you for the question. Capacity building, making people aware of what is happening and how it's important to restitute to the, to trace first and then give back. It's a sense of identity that is a restitution of more than an object, is restitution of identity. So I think that today it's an important moment together and hopefully We will do much more with ICOM. We work very closely with APRO. We share the same building. And with ministers and deputy ministers, all of you together, you are all members of ICOM as well. We cover 139 members. So let's move this agenda forward into concrete actions. Thank you for the question. EPLO · Permanent Observer [1:13:52]: Thank you. Yes. ICOM · President [1:13:56]: Also, I just want to mention one immediate step that we're taking at ICOM. After we approved in June the new code of ethics, now we are working on guidelines. And those guidelines basically implement or bring the code down in a very specific way to help our museums to implement the code. So right now we're working on legal guidelines, but more importantly, we are working on guidelines on restitution, and return. And that will provide from the code a very clear guidelines, clear framework to help our museums to move forward and to implement the code of ethics in different areas, specifically related to repatriation, return, and restitution. Thank you. EPLO · Permanent Observer [1:14:55]: In closing this high-level side event, I would like to thank all of you on behalf of the organizing missions. We are especially grateful to the distinguished speakers, as well as to the missions and institutions that co-sponsored this initiative with such enthusiasm. Thank you for your presence and for your interest. I wish you all a pleasant evening. Thank you.