ammonnews.net

Ammon News - The Department of Antiquities (DoA) participated in the celebration of the International Day against Illicit Trafficking in Cultural Property, which falls on November 14 annually.

According to a DoA statement on Thursday, this occasion aims to draw attention to highlighting the importance of international cooperation to combat this crime and take proactive measures through 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.

The department said this convention provides an international framework to prevent theft and looting of cultural property and recover stolen items, in parallel with progress in combating illegal trafficking in cultural property.

Illegal trade in cultural property is due to multiple reasons, primarily negligence lack of security, and military conflicts, the statement said.

During 2022, DoA held training workshops in the field of combating trafficking in cultural property, in partnership with the American Center of Research (ACOR), and in implementation of the agreement signed with the United States in 2019 in this regard, the statement noted.

These workshops were held in Amman, Irbid and Aqaba governorates, which brought together DoA workers and ACOR experts, as advanced courses in this field will be launched later, the department noted.

On its role, DoA affirmed its "unrelenting" endeavor to address the illegal trade in cultural property by coordination with Jordan's security apparatuses, customs department, Ministry of Justice, Interpol, Arab International Police and various concerned authorities.

Last March, Jordan had recovered nine antique items from United States, which is the first outcome of the agreement signed between the two countries.