India-US Pact Seals Repatriation of Cultural Heritage

India and the US signed a landmark Cultural Property Agreement during the 46th World Heritage Committee session in New Delhi, focusing on repatriating cultural assets and strengthening bilateral ties.

In a groundbreaking development, India and the United States signed the Cultural Property Agreement during the 46th session of the World Heritage Committee held in New Delhi on Friday. The pact facilitates the repatriation of India's cultural artifacts from the US.

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, celebrated the event on social media, noting that the agreement will deepen cultural ties. The signing ceremony was attended by US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti and Govind Mohan, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture.

Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted the culmination of nearly two years of collaborative work, underscoring commitments made by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi during their June 2023 meeting. The agreement was backed by the US State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Archaeological Survey of India.

Notably, the agreement aims to curb the illegal trade of cultural properties, facilitating the return of stolen artifacts to their rightful homes. Ambassador Garcetti praised the accord for its role in promoting justice and global cultural connection.

Minister Shekhawat added that the agreement would not only ease the repatriation process but also open avenues for similar agreements with other nations. He commended India for hosting the UNESCO session, reinforcing its dedication to cultural preservation on a global scale.

With this landmark pact, India joins 29 other nations in formal cultural property agreements under US law implementing the 1970 UNESCO Convention aimed at curtailing illicit cultural trade.

(With inputs from agencies.)