IRAN VP Critical of Stolen Iranian Artifact Industry

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VP criticizes trade of stolen Iranian ancient artifacts in Europe

Paris, Nov 29, IRNA

Iran-Cultural Heritage-Artifacts

Vice-President and Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism

Organization (ICHTO) Esfandiar Rahim-Moshaie in a meeting with the

director of Paris Louvre Museum Henri Loyrette on Monday evening

criticized some European officials for ignoring the trade of stolen

precious Iranian artifacts in European markets.

 

Moshaie said that important centers such as Louvre Museum are

expected to be careful about tackling distortion of historical

documents.

 

According to the Le Figaro and Le Parisien dailies issued in late

fall of 2004, a number of valuable Iranian ancient objects dating

back to thousands of years ago comprising part of the national

cultural heritage are exchanged in European markets, including that

of Paris, covertly.

 

Turning to an Iranian precious vase smuggled into France, Figaro

said, "On February 26, 2003, it was purchased by Louvre Museum from

an antique store in Paris. The artifact unearthed in the historical

area of Jiroft dated back to 3,000 BC.

 

"Besides, several other Iranian artifacts discovered at Jiroft were

traded among the French owners of antique objects from June to

November 2003."

The vice-president also criticized some of the world research centers

for referring to the Persian Gulf by an odd name.

 

"Such major scientific and research institutes as Louvre Museum are

expected to be careful about employing fake words when referring to

the historical name of the Persian Gulf," he added.

 

Meanwhile, Moshaie expressed satisfaction over the positive joint

steps taken by the French and Iranian museums for arranging an

exhibition titled `Iran in Safavid Era' marking the glory of the

government during the period.

 

Moshaie declared Iran's support for the request of Louvre Museum for

arranging an exhibition to be dubbed `Iran in Achaemenid Period' in

Paris in 2008.

 

He welcomed Loyrette's proposal for holding a special exposition on

Iranian artifacts in Tehran National Museum and said that given the

scientific status of this museum, the officials in charge of Louvre

Museum can support the research projects preparing the grounds for

expansion of cooperation between the two countries.

 

An agreement of cooperation between Louvre Museum and ICHTO was

signed by Loyrette in Tehran in late fall of last year, according to

which two exhibitions called `Achaemenid Empire' and `Safavid Art'

are scheduled to be held in Paris in June 2007.

 

Besides, the inked document underlines that the signatories of the

agreement will also collaborate in various research projects, museum

management, publication, preservation and restoration of artifacts,

training, exchange of experts and researchers.

 

One of the most reputable world museums, Louvre is annually visited

by six million tourists from around the world, given its great

collection of historical objects from various countries.

 

Louvre is one of the rarest world museums, where both research

projects and training programs are conducted. Thirty percent of its

annual 110-million-dollar budget is provided by the private sector,

while the government finances the remaining.

 

More than 50 percent of the Islamic art objects to be displayed at a

special section at the museum soon consist of Iranian artifacts.

 

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http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0511291746171507.htm