Hearings, Meetings, Proceedings, etc.: Cultural Property Advisory Committee; Proposals to Extend Bilateral Cultural Property Agreements with Albania and Nigeria; Receipt of a Request from Romania under the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act

The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) expresses strong support for the renewal of the bilateral cultural property agreement with Nigeria. They argue that Nigeria's cultural patrimony is at risk from looting and that the Nigerian government has taken significant measures to protect and preserve its archaeological heritage.

The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) expresses strong support for the request by the Government of Romania to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding import restrictions on archaeological and ethnological materials. The organization argues that Romania's cultural patrimony is in jeopardy from looting and that the Romanian government has taken significant steps to protect its heritage, maintain museums, and collaborate with international researchers.

The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) expresses strong support for the renewal of the bilateral cultural property agreement with Albania. They argue that Albania has established robust legal and institutional frameworks to protect its heritage and has a history of collaborative research and museum loans with American institutions.

The Committee for Cultural Policy and Global Heritage Alliance jointly oppose Romania's request for a bilateral agreement under the CPIA. They argue that Romania fails to meet the statutory criteria because it lacks evidence of a serious pillage situation, shows chronic underfunding and poor implementation of heritage laws, and poses a risk of "cultural sequestration" and harm to minority heritage.

The Committee for Cultural Policy, Inc. and the Global Heritage Alliance jointly oppose the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Albania regarding import restrictions on cultural property. They argue that Albania has failed to meet the four statutory determinations required by the Cultural Property Implementation Act (CPIA), citing a lack of evidence regarding current pillage, insufficient domestic funding and implementation of laws, a lack of demonstrated U.S. market impact, and a failure to foster meaningful cultural interchange.

The Committee for Cultural Policy, Inc. and the Global Heritage Alliance jointly argue against the renewal of the U.S.–Nigeria Memorandum of Understanding regarding cultural property. They contend that Nigeria has failed to meet the statutory requirements for renewal due to instability in museum governance, lack of transparent inventories, and the fact that current import restrictions are overbroad and do not effectively deter pillage.

Dr. John M. O’Shea, representing the Society for American Archaeology and the University of Michigan, supports the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with Romania to protect its archaeological and ethnographic heritage. He argues that Romania's cultural patrimony is at risk from looting and that US import restrictions are essential to deter illicit trafficking without hindering legitimate scientific exchange.

Dr. Scott MacEachern, representing himself and the Society for American Archaeology, urges the Cultural Property Advisory Committee to renew the Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria. He argues that Nigeria faces significant threats from looting and smuggling, but is actively taking domestic steps to protect its cultural heritage and remains open to international research and collaboration.

The commenter, representing Boardwalk Numismatics, opposes the renewal of import restrictions on coins from Albania and the consideration of new restrictions for Romania. They argue that these restrictions harm the international trade of coins and the rights of American collectors, requesting that any restrictions clearly exempt coins from legal markets.

The Restitution Study Group supports the renewal of the U.S.-Nigeria cultural property agreement but urges the Committee to adopt a more inclusive framework. They argue that cultural property connected to the transatlantic slave trade, specifically the Benin Bronzes, should recognize the overlapping rights and interests of Afrodescendant communities as rights-bearing claimants.