Turkish cultural property.
–
–
WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Sputnik) .- US law enforcement agencies received authorization to repatriate illegally trafficked Turkish cultural items under a bilateral agreement announced Tuesday by the State Department in a statement.
US Ambassador David Satterfield and Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Ersoy signed the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding with measures to protect the nation’s cultural property, according to the text.
“The agreement also gives US law enforcement the ability to repatriate trafficked cultural objects back to Turkey while encouraging the exchange of Turkish cultural heritage with US institutions,” the statement added.
Additionally, the convention allows the United States to impose restrictions on the importation of certain categories of Turkish artifacts and other cultural items.
The statement notes that terrorists and criminals often trade cultural items to raise cash.
The United States previously imposed emergency restrictions on the importation of cultural property from Iraq, Syria and Yemen. (Sputnik)
–
