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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GinoLR, post: 8131726, member: 128351&quot;]... and rightfully so, isn&#039;t it? </p><p>History, heritage, patrimony are not the privilege of some nations. There are old countries that have been around for 5000 years, like China or Egypt, and younger nations that are only 250 years old, like USA, or even 50 years like Bangladesh. All of them can rightfully claim monuments, archaeological sites, archaeological material discovered within their present borders as their national heritage! Even if these nations did not exist yet in Antiquity, there were people living on their territories, and buried there, who were the ancestors of the present citizens. What makes a nation, a fatherland? An old writer replied : &quot;the land and the dead&quot;.</p><p>Preserving national heritage and making it accessible to the public in local museums is an important issue. It helps building a patriotic conscience, to make today&#039;s citizens realize what they are the result of. I consider this one of the universal human rights.</p><p>Corruption of local officials is not a valid reason to ignore it. What is corruption, in the first place? Illegally sacrificing general interest for individual profit. Isn&#039;t it exactly what many dealers and auctioneers of the first world do when they smuggle ancient artefacts and coins to London or New York and what many collectors do when they bid and buy without asking questions? </p><p>National and international laws on patrimony and heritage are far from being perfect. Laws are one thing, but what really matters is the interpretation of the laws that is made. The right of nations to claim collective national property of their historical heritage cannot be ignored as a principle, but we must also take into consideration the right of passionate individuals to own personal collections or artworks. It should be possible to reach a fairly balanced appreciation.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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