WRITTEN QUESTION E-3322/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 November 2001)

Subject: Sale of priceless archaeological treasures in Turkey

According to the Turkish Milliyet newspaper, the KUSAV (one of Turkey's largest cultural foundations) has decided to hold a public sale of rare archaeological treasures from the ancient Greek Hellenistic and Byzantine period which are currently in its possession. For this purpose, it has placed an advertisement on Internet inviting those interested in ancient artefacts to contact it. The Foundation is exhibiting for sale treasures from the Magnesia and Pergamon areas of Asia Minor and KURSAV representatives have indicated that enormous interest has already been evinced in countries such as the USA, Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and others. According to the same newspaper, another major exhibition has been organised in the SUAV gallery in Istanbul, where treasures of enormous value from the Hittite, Hellenistic, Byzantine and Ottoman periods are being exhibited for sale.

Another prominent Turkish newspaper, the Hürriyet' (issue of 11 November 2001) has revealed that a smuggling ring dealing in cultural artefacts is doing a particularly brisk trade in treasures appropriated from the occupied part of Cyprus and disposed of abroad. It also reports that an extremely large number of such artefacts from occupied Cyprus are being displayed in New York, consisting mainly of antiquities and extremely valuable icons stolen from churches in the north of the island which is under Turkish military occupation.

What is the Commission's response to the allegations contained in these two major Turkish newspapers? Has it made official representations to the Turkish authorities regarding the auctioning of archaeological treasures by Turkish foundations presumably with responsibility for their conservation? What sanctions can be imposed on states (in particular applicant states) which are, in an openly provocative manner, organising auctions of cultural treasures from other cultures within their boundaries and tolerating the activities of smuggling organisations, for example in occupied Cyprus, where the Turkish occupying forces have, for 27 consecutive years, been allowing the cultural heritage of that country to be plundered?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(15 January 2002)

The Commission monitors closely the process of alignment of Turkish legislation with the acquis.

In its Regular Reports published yearly, the Commission gives an overview of the progress achieved by Turkey including in the field of culture. In its most recent report published on 13 November 2001(1), the Commission indicated that only limited progress has been made in this field.

In light of the circumstances referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission will draw the attention of the Turkish authorities to the need to adopt and implement Council Regulation (EEC) No 3911/92 of 9 December 1992 concerning the export of cultural goods(2) and Council Directive (EEC) No 93/7 of 15 March 1993 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State(3).

(1) SEC(2001) 1756.

(2) OJ L 395, 31.12.1992.

(3) OJ L 74, 27.3.1993.