At the 79th plenary session of the UN General Assembly, the Greek Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, introduced draft Resolution A/79/L.16 entitled “Return or return of cultural goods to their countries of origin». The Decision is a purely Greek initiative, submitted every three years, adopted by consensus and with the approval of 146 UN member states. This is the highest number achieved to date, demonstrating the leading role that Greece has acquired in this field.

It is noted that for the first time and 27 member states of the EU welcomed the decision.

Our country invited the member states to adopt the decision by consensus, expressing their commitment to the protection and restoration of the cultural heritage.

Main Points of the Decision

1. Challenges in the Protection of Cultural Property:

  • The increase in international trafficking of cultural objects has been exacerbated by organized crime, money laundering and illicit trade through online platforms and the Dark Web.
  • Armed conflicts, international and non-international, have led to targeted attacks, looting and illegal trafficking of cultural property. Terrorist groups often use stolen items for their funding.

“Cultural property has been targeted more than ever in the past decade due to unprecedented attacks on it during recent armed conflicts, whether international or non-international. It is also worth noting that a collateral loss of these conflicts is the looting of antiquities and their illegal trafficking and trading by terrorist groups in order to use them as a source of fundingsaid Mr. Sekeris.

2. The Role of the UN and UNESCO:

  • The decision recognizes UNESCO’s critical role in combating illicit trafficking and promoting the return of cultural property, through initiatives such as the 1970 Convention and partnerships with INTERPOL and other organizations.
  • Security Council Resolutions, such as 2347 (2017), which focus on the destruction and looting of cultural property during conflicts are highlighted.

3. Strengthening Legal Frameworks:

  • The decision calls on Member States to ensure provenance and export certificates for cultural goods traded internationally, including those traded online.
  • The need for crime prevention, customs controls and strengthened legal measures against illegal trafficking is emphasized.

“All Member States are called upon to cooperate and take appropriate measures to ensure that all actors involved in the trade in cultural goods, including but not limited to auction houses, art dealers, art collectors, museum professionals and of operators of online markets, provide verifiable documents of origin, as well as export certificates, where appropriate, for each cultural good imported, exported or offered for sale, including via the Internetsaid Mr. Sekeris.

4. New Developments:

  • For the first time, the decision expresses serious concern about cultural property removed before the entry into force of the 1970 Convention and calls for their return, recognizing their importance to the cultural identity and heritage of the countries of origin.

5. International Cooperation:

  • The decision welcomes international engagement through initiatives such as the Pact of the Future and the Mondiacult Declaration, which promote return and cooperation.
  • The joint responsibility of the international community for the protection of cultural heritage in times of peace and war is underlined.

Mr. Sekeris emphasized that “the return of cultural goods is not the end of a process but the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship through cultural and scientific cooperation”.

The decision seeks to protect humanity’s collective memory and cultural identity while promoting international understanding and goodwill. Greece called on all member states to support and co-sign this important decision.

“I will close by emphasizing that it is vitally important for all of us to realize that protecting human life will always remain the highest priority, but respecting a people’s cultural identity is also vital. While human life is more important than objects, it is nevertheless necessary to observe the rules of protection of cultural property, as they constitute the collective memory of humanity and symbolize human life itself” noted the Greek Permanent Representative to the UN.

It is recalled that from 01.01.2025 and for two years Greece will participate as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Having been voted by 182 member states of the Organization, and with priorities of strengthening maritime security, respect for international law, promoting the peaceful resolution of international disputes, strengthening the protection of children and women in armed conflicts, increasing the role of of women in international events, but also the protection of the climate balance, after twenty years Greece will again be one of the ten non-permanent members of the Security Council (he was last a member in 2005-06 and before that in 1952-53).

The UN Security Council is one of the six main organs of the UN, and has as its main mission the maintenance of international peace and security. Greece’s active participation underlines its commitment to global peace, security and the promotion of international law.