India and the United States signed their first agreement on Friday to combat unlawful cultural property trafficking and return antique items to their original locations, according to the Ministry of Culture.
Union Cultural Secretary Govind Mohan and US Ambassador Eric Garcetti signed the US-India Cultural Property Agreement in the presence of Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on the margins of the World Heritage Committee’s 46th session at Bharat Mandapam here.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat later told the press that there is a broad understanding that will enable the “smooth repatriation” of historic artefacts from the United States to India.
He further stated that there are “297 items” that are “lying in the US, ready to be repatriated.” India has returned 358 antiques since 1976, with 345 retrieved since 2014, according to the government.
“The agreement aims to prevent illegal trafficking of cultural property and the retrieval of antiquarian objects to their place of origin,” the Culture Ministry stated in a statement.
According to a statement from the US Embassy, this agreement brings India into the ranks of 29 other existing US bilateral cultural property agreement partners. “The cultural property agreement is about two things. First and foremost, it is about justice: restoring to India and Indians what is properly theirs. Second, it aims to connect India to the rest of the globe.
“Every American and every global citizen deserves to know, see, and experience the culture that we celebrate here today. To know Indian culture is to know human culture,” the envoy said.
The State Department negotiated the US-India Cultural Property Agreement by US legislation implementing the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, according to the statement.
Garcetti also thanked the Indian government for hosting UNESCO’s 46th session of the World Heritage Committee, stating that it reflects the country’s dedication to not just safeguarding its cultural property, but also assisting others in doing so.
“This event marks the culmination of nearly two years of diligent work by experts from both countries and fulfils President Biden’s and Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to enhance cooperation to protect cultural heritage highlighted in the joint statement issued after their meeting in June 2023.,” said the embassies.
“Cultural Property Agreement restrict the unlawful trading of cultural property and makes it easier to restore plundered and stolen artefacts to their original countries.
“The United States has been unwavering in its commitment to protect and preserve cultural heritage worldwide and to restrict trafficking in cultural property,” according to the statement.
