Mexico, Guatemala and Bolivia reject an auction of archaeological goods in Paris

The Parisian auction house Millon et Associés put up for sale this Tuesday a collection of 85 archaeological pieces pre-columbian The embassies of the three Latin American countries once again deplore an “illegal trade practice that undermines heritage.”

“We seek to change mentalities” about the management of cultural assets, he told R.F.I. Blanca Jiménez, ambassador of Mexico in France.

“Once again, we deplore the continued practices of illicit trade in cultural property that undermine the heritage, history and identity of our original peoples”, the embassies of Bolivia, Guatemala and Mexico in France jointly declare before the sale of 85 archaeological pieces for the house Million & Associates.

Said sales “they encourage looting, looting, illicit trafficking and money laundering perpetrated by transnational organized crime”, indicate the three Latin American embassies in a joint statement.

“We maintain the firm purpose of promoting actions to stop the commercialization of goods that belong to our respective States and to carry out actions to raise awareness so that they are recognized as part of the historical heritage of all humanity”, point out the ambassadors of the three countries.

“We have the spirit of achieving a change in the mentality of the people. Just as many years ago animal skins were used, people gradually began to see that this was not correct. There are pieces that are even the deities of certain towns. In other words, imagine that you are trading! ”, He declared to R.F.I. Blanca Jiménez, ambassador of Mexico in France.

The Mexican diplomat indicated that the National Institute of Archeology and History from his country had filed a complaint with the French authorities through the Mexican Attorney General’s Office.

However, “the legal framework that regulates the sales and auctions of cultural property in France establishes that the restitution of the pieces depends on the will of the private possessor, which significantly limits our framework of action”, underlined the ambassadors of Bolivia, Mexico and Guatemala. In addition, France adhered to the Unesco convention of 1970 that prevents the import and trade of archaeological goods.

However, France adhered to said agreement in 1997, with which its legislation began to apply later. “But the problem is that our legislation since 1827 considers that all these goods have left the country illegallys”, specified the Mexican ambassador.