The 161 Cycladic antiquities are neither “magical objects” nor decoration for Mr. Stern’s house. Our government signed for these antiquities to belong to an American Foundation and to remain in New York for 50 years.
It’s been a month since the revelation that the Cycladic figurine #29 of the Stern Collection had previously been in the possession of a convicted looter, and the Greek Ministry of Culture has not made a single statement on the matter. The international legislation is in place. Authorities abroad already seize stolen Greek antiquities.
And now the Greek government is coming to ratify the establishment of a foundation in Delaware whose sole purpose is to launder antiquities and to rent exhibits to museums abroad. It’s as if we are renouncing the demand for repatriation of stolen antiquities and indeed at a time when this demand is gaining ground year after year
