Comment on DOS-2026-0628-0001
Jorg LuekeOpposeIndividual
Summary: The commenter opposes entering into cultural property agreements with countries that have poor records of respecting minority cultures or lack transparent methods for recording finds. They argue that the U.S. should only partner with countries that share data with the public and adopt more transparent recording systems similar to those used in the UK.
I strongly oppose engaging in cultural property agreements with foreign countries when the requesting countries gave a poor record of respecting the rights of the minority cultures whose property they are tasked with preserving. Additional countries that provide for no transparent methods to record finds, to include methods for sharing find information as well as protecting the rights of those who discover as well as those who own the land the property is found on; should not receive the benefits of cultural property protection with the United States of America. It's clear from existing data that so much more is learned when something akin to the cultural property scheme of the UK is adopted. Finds are recorded, data is available, site destruction, looting, and black markets are reduced. Any country seeking cultural property agreements with the Unites States should provide methods for making the information to it's own people as well as the entire world which shares in the overall cultural heritage of the World.