As part of the “mission and role of the Ministry of Culture in the fight against the illegal trafficking of archaeological objects”, Lebanese archaeological pieces that were stolen in Lebanon during the civil war will be returned to Lebanon from New York , announced Thursday evening the Ministry of Culture in a press release.
According to the press release relayed by the National News Agency (ANI, official), the archaeological pieces should be handed over shortly to the Ministry of Culture in Lebanon. “The Ministry of Culture – General Directorate of Antiquities – confirmed on April 8, 2020 the existence of an archaeological piece bearing the number E1787, which is a marble head of a young Roman. It was found during the excavations of the ‘World Dunan’ in 1971 in the temple of Echmoun in Saïda”, can we read in the press release. “The outgoing Minister of Culture, Mohammad Mortada, has asked the General Directorate of Antiquities (DGA) to act quickly and take the necessary measures to return this piece to Lebanon”, adds the text.
Return insured by CMA CGM
“As a result, the Ministry of Culture has contacted the competent authorities in the United States to take the necessary measures in this regard, until the piece is found in the possession of the Royal Athena Galleries in New York”, the statement continues. “The Ministry of Culture has also received information indicating the presence of 22 mosaic pieces in New York, in the possession of an individual named Georges Lotfi. These coins were stolen or illegally transported from Syria and Lebanon to the United States. Inquiries have been ordered to determine their origin. After a thorough examination of the matter, and following intensive efforts by the Ministry of Culture through the DGA, it has been confirmed that nine of these pieces originated in Lebanon and were seized by an antiquities dealer,” states the press release.
In March 2023, the competent authorities of the United States had confirmed the discovery of two additional pieces also from Lebanon.
The Lebanese consulate in New York, through the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, supervised the formalities for receiving and returning the antiquities. These items will be shipped free of charge to Lebanon by CMA CGM.
On June 5, Interpol issued a red notice against 82-year-old antiques collector Georges Lotfi. A retired pharmacist, he is originally from Tripoli. He had already collaborated with the American justice system as an informant in several highly publicized cases of seizure of antiquities.
Mr. Lotfi’s name has been added to the list of Lebanese nationals (now nine in number) whose provisional arrest Interpol has requested pending their extradition.
This notice follows the issuance by a New York criminal court of a warrant for the arrest of George Lotfi, charged with possession of looted antiquities on March 8, 2022. The US warrant is only applicable on American soil.
As part of the “mission and role of the Ministry of Culture in the fight against the illegal trafficking of archaeological objects”, Lebanese archaeological pieces that were stolen in Lebanon during the civil war will be returned to Lebanon from New York , announced Thursday evening the Ministry of Culture in a press release. According to the press release relayed by…
2023-09-07 19:00:16
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