Mexico City. This Thursday, Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente called on the Mexican diplomatic corps to make the recovery of the nation’s archaeological heritage one of its priorities.
When leading a ceremony in which the federal government received 220 archaeological pieces corresponding to different regions of the country, which were returned with the support of authorities from Argentina, Canada, the United States and Switzerland, he stressed that the illicit trafficking of cultural property is the third largest illegal market in the world, surpassed only by drug and arms trafficking.
In the context of the International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, established by UNESCO, De la Fuente received the pieces, accompanied by the Secretary of Culture, Claudia Curiel de Icaza, the general director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH ), Diego Prieto Hernández, and the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, María Teresa Mercado Pérez.
Chancellor De la Fuente delivered to the authorities of the Ministry of Culture and the INAH these cultural objects, recovered by the embassies and consulates of Mexico abroad, which are part of the heritage of our country in accordance with the Federal Law. on Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Monuments and Zones.
📸 The @SRE_mxin collaboration with @cultura_mx e @INAHmxstrengthens its commitment to the recovery of the cultural heritage of the people of Mexico.
Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente delivered 220 restored pieces during the president’s government @Claudiasheinto the… pic.twitter.com/k0UtPFHrAo
— Foreign Affairs (@SRE_mx) November 14, 2024
De la Fuente specified that the restitution of said assets is essential to better understand our past, to value our present and to build, from this, a richer, fairer and more equitable future that significantly fuels the process of transformation of the national public life.
Faced with the challenge posed by the illicit trafficking of cultural property, the chancellor called on the international community to strengthen cooperation that guarantees the historical heritage of each country for the benefit of future generations.
“That is why it is important not to let our guard down, not to slow down because those who are acting in the opposite direction to ours are increasingly strengthening their activities; That is, we have to keep in mind what that represents,” he said.
Secretary Curiel de Icaza thanked the support of all the people and institutions that have made the repatriation of assets of Mexico’s cultural heritage possible; He recalled that during the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the recovery of around fourteen thousand pieces was achieved.
“They formalized an important work model for which we will be able to continue on this second floor, with the political will of President Sheinbaum Pardo, to continue consolidating, protecting, preserving and disseminating our cultural heritage in all its facets,” he said.
Diego Prieto Hernández, general director of INAH, said that the delivery of these 220 pieces is highly promising, to the extent that it represents the continuity of a determination to recover Mexican heritage assets of a historical, archaeological or paleontological nature that, illicitly, They are located abroad.
He highlighted that the restitutions demonstrate the fruitful collaboration that exists between all government entities that, together with international bodies and authorities from allied countries in the task, are involved in the conservation, legal protection, research and dissemination of our cultural heritage.
The opinions made by the INAH experts confirm that these are pieces made by various cultures and periods of the pre-Hispanic era. The objects were voluntarily returned by individuals to the Mexican Embassies in Argentina, the United States and Switzerland, as well as to the Mexican Consulates in Albuquerque, Philadelphia, Kansas, Oxnard, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. The repatriated assets will remain under the protection of the INAH for their due analysis, care, conservation and dissemination.
!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)
{if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?
n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};
if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version=’2.0′;
n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;
t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];
s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,’script’,
‘
fbq(‘init’, ‘133913093805922’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘PageView’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘Contact’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘Donate’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘FindLocation’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘Lead’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘Search’);
fbq(‘track’, ‘Subscribe’, {value: ‘0.00’, currency: ‘MXN’, predicted_ltv: ‘0.00’});
fbq(‘track’, ‘ViewContent’);
#archaeological #pieces #returned #Mexico
–
**Given the complexities of international law and cultural ownership, how can the principle of ” provenance,” or the documented origin and history of an object, be effectively used to bolster repatriation claims?** This question encourages a discussion about the practical application of a key concept in cultural heritage law.
## Recovering Mexico’s Heritage: An Interview
**Welcome to World Today News. Today, we’re discussing the important issue of cultural heritage restitution with two esteemed guests.**
**[Guest 1 Name]** is a prominent archaeologist and expert on the illicit trafficking of cultural property. **[Guest 2 Name]** is a legal scholar specializing in international cultural law.
We’ll be exploring the recent repatriation of 220 archaeological pieces to Mexico, the significance of this event, and the ongoing challenges and triumphs in combating the global trade in looted artifacts.
**Section 1: The Repatriation Event**
**Interviewer:** Mexico recently witnessed a significant victory in the fight to reclaim its cultural heritage with the return of 220 archaeological pieces. **[Guest 1 Name]**, can you provide us with some insights into the significance of this repatriation?
**[Guest Response 1]**
**Interviewer:** **[Guest 2 Name]**, from a legal perspective, what are the international agreements and mechanisms that facilitate such repatriations?
**[Guest Response 2]**
**Section 2: The Scope of the Problem**
**Interviewer:** Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente stated that the illicit trafficking of cultural property is the third-largest black market worldwide.
**[Guest 1 Name]**, could you elaborate on the scale and impact of this illicit trade? What are some of the primary drivers behind this criminal activity?
**[Guest Response 1]**
**Interviewer:** **[Guest 2 Name]**, how do international collaborations and legal frameworks contribute to addressing this global problem? Do current mechanisms adequately protect cultural heritage?
**[Guest Response 2]**
**Section 3: The Importance of Cultural Heritage**
**Interviewer:** Beyond its monetary value, cultural heritage holds immense significance for a nation’s identity and understanding of its past.
**[Guest 1 Name]**, how does the repatriation of these artifacts contribute to Mexico’s cultural narrative and its understanding of its history?
** [Guest Response 1]**
**Interviewer:** **[Guest 2 Name]**, what role should education and awareness play in combating the demand side of the illicit trade? How can individuals contribute to the protection of cultural heritage?
**[Guest Response 2]**
**Section 4: Looking Ahead: Challenges and Solutions**
**Interviewer:** Despite the recent success, the fight to recover stolen cultural property is ongoing.
**[Guest 1 Name]**, what are some of the key challenges that lie ahead in prosecuting criminals involved in this trade and discouraging future looting?
**[Guest Response 1]**
**Interviewer:** **[Guest 2 Name]**, what advancements and innovations in international law and cooperation do you see as essential in strengthening the global fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property?
**[Guest Response 2]**
**Closing Statement:**
Thank you, **[Guest 1 Name]** and **[Guest 2 Name]**, for your insightful perspectives. This critical discussion reaffirms the importance of safeguarding cultural heritage for future generations.
We encourage our viewers to learn more about this issue and contribute to the protection of the world’s cultural treasures.
**Note:**
* This is a sample interview structure. You can adjust the questions and length based on your specific needs and the time constraints.
