The resolution proposed by Greece, entitled “Return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin”, was unanimously adopted by the Plenary Session of the UN General Assembly on 6 December.
The three-year resolution was supported by an unprecedented 111 countries, Greece’s Foreign Ministry said on Twitter.
Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Osama Abdel-Khalek, stated that Egypt was keen to vote for the resolution as it will enhance international efforts to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property.
Abdel-Khaleq added that the resolution is a continuation of international efforts aimed at returning cultural property to their countries of origin. Last year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted a resolution, entitled “Africa’s Priority”, which aims at both stopping the looting of archaeological sites and museums and the return of stolen artefacts to their countries of origin.
