The European Public Law Organization (EPLO) co-organised a High-Level Side Event at United Nations Headquarters in New York on the protection of cultural heritage, bringing together government representatives and international experts to address looting, illicit trafficking and restitution through international law, operational cooperation and cultural diplomacy.
Held during the High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly,“Cultural Heritage at Stake: Addressing Looting, Illicit Trafficking and Restitution through International Law, Operational Cooperation & Cultural Diplomacy” was organised by the Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations and the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, in cooperation with the European Public Law Organization (EPLO).
The event formed part of EPLO’s presence in New York during UNGA High-Level Week, with EPLO Director Professor Spiyridon Flogaitis and Dr. Barbara Faedda, Permanent Observer of EPLO to the United Nations, participating in the week’s activities.
Opening remarks were delivered by Alexandra Papadopoulou, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, and Edmondo Cirielli, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, while UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Culture Nayef Al-Fayez addressed the event by video message. The discussion was moderated by EPLO's Dr. Barbara Faedda.
In a keynote address, Lina Mendoni, Minister of Culture of Greece, described the protection of cultural heritage as one of the most urgent challenges facing the international community, connecting it not only with the collective memory of peoples but also with fundamental questions of international law, security and justice.
“For Greece, the protection of cultural heritage is simultaneously a matter of international legality, security, justice and respect for the historical memory of peoples. The existing international legal framework must be accompanied by meaningful international cooperation, coordination among the competent authorities and the use of new technologies.”
Minister Mendoni highlighted Greece’s commitment to combating illicit trafficking and supporting the restitution of cultural property through national and international legal frameworks and stronger bilateral and multilateral cooperation. She pointed to cooperation between Greece and Italy over the return of the Fagan fragment of the Parthenon Sculptures, as well as Greece’s return of six cultural objects to Egypt, as examples of how dialogue and cooperation can lead to meaningful restitution.
Addressing the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures, she stressed that the issue extends beyond ownership to the integrity of a monument of universal cultural significance. She emphasised the importance of constructive dialogue and international cooperation in reaching fair and mutually acceptable solutions.
Summing up the wider principle underpinning the discussion, Minister Mendoni stated:
“Cultural heritage must not be the product of illegality or a cause of division. It must be a bridge for dialogue, cooperation and mutual understanding. Returns are not the end of a relationship; they should be the beginning of a new relationship for joint research, the exchange of expertise and close cultural cooperation.”
The high-level discussion also featured Aruna Francesca Maria Gujral, Director-General of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), and Vassiliki Papageorgiou, Director for Documentation and Protection of Cultural Goods at the Greek Ministry of Culture.
The event underscored the importance of combining international law, practical cooperation between states and institutions, and cultural diplomacy in confronting threats to cultural heritage. It also reflected EPLO’s continuing role as a forum for international dialogue on the rule of law and matters of shared global concern.
