Neo-Colonialist American Museums Propose Bullying Maliies

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 The statement by Stephen J. Knerly (Jr.) on behalf of the Association of Art Museum Directors to the Cultural Property Advisory Committee concerning the extension of the 2007 bilateral cultural property agreement between The Government of the United States of America and The Government of the Republic of Mali is of interest. It reveals the colonialist attitudes of even US heritage professionals when dealing with the smuggling of cultural property from one of the world's poorest countries. The AAMD points out that before the USA considers putting in place (or in this case maintaining) checks on illicit imports from this country, the CCPIA requires the administration to determine "that the requesting country has taken measures [...] to protect its cultural patrimony”. But the AAMD points out that "the recent coup d’état in Mali puts in peril the stability of Malian government that we have known over the last two decades as well as its ability to take steps to protects its cultural patrimony".

[...] in order for the Committee to recommend renewal of the 2007 MOU, it first must decide whether the determinant set forth in 19 U.S.C.A. §2602 (a)(1)(B) - that a requesting country is taking steps to protect its cultural patrimony - can be met given the political turmoil in Mali. [...] Under these circumstances, should the Committee recommend renewal of an agreement for five years when the situation is so fluid?

This is just nuts, as we are all painfully aware it is precisely in times of political turmoil like this that the looting of museums (and we have seen all over the conflict zones of recent years - raw sites) is taking place. It is precisely in times like this that the market nations such as the US should be taking swift action to make sure that it is not US buyers who are snapping up the freshly "liberated" bargains.

This is rich:

The Act requires that a requesting country be taking steps “consistent with the Convention”  which includes for example, that the requesting country should provide the national services responsible for the protection of its cultural heritage with an adequate budget.

The United States of America, undeniably one of the richer nations in the world covering a territory with an extensive archaeological record going back tens of thousands of years, has no such national service. It is really sickening to see these heritage "professionals" (I use the term loosely) throwing it in the face of the Malians that they have not got what the US has not bothered to create.

Apart from this, the AAMD "urges the Committee to review the status of cultural exchange as required by Article II of the 2007 MOU". This next bit is pretty disgusting:

Given the restrictions in trade, in order to enhance the publics’ (sic) understanding of the world’s great cultures, the United States must require the countries seeking its assistance to make available for loan objects of cultural significance for exhibition, display, study, and research on both a short and long-term basis and with reasonable terms. The Committee should recommend to the President that when and if there is an extension of the 2007 MOU, it contains a strong commitment by Mali to foster cultural exchange with American museums, to not only allow, but encourage, both exhibition and long-term loans of significant objects. This can be accomplished, in part, by amendments to Paragraph A of Article II as follows:

A. The Government of the Republic of Mali will seek to expand the exchange of its archaeological materials through:
1. Entering into discussions about how to increase the number of exhibition loans of objects of archaeological interest;
2. Entering into discussions about how to increase the number and overall length of long-term loans of objects of archaeological interest for research and educational purposes, agreed upon, on a case by case basis, by American and Malian museums or similar institutions, recognizing the spirit of goodwill that exists between cultural institutions in both countries;
3. Encouraging American museums and universities to propose and participate in joint excavation projects authorized by the Malian government, with the understanding that certain of the scientifically excavated objects from such projects could be given as a loan to the American participants through specific agreements with the Malian government; and
4. Promoting agreements for academic exchanges and specific study programs agreed upon by museums and universities of Mali and American art museums [...]

The above language in sections 2 through 4 is virtually verbatim the language of the relevant section of Article II of the Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Italy. Since the renewal of the MOU with Italy with stronger language, definite progress has been made. The AAMD hopes that stronger language with Mali will have an equally mutually beneficial effect.

In addition, the AAMD suggest imposing on the Malians an ultimatum, forcing them to conclude such agreements "at least within the first year". This is pure naked imperialism. We will not - this proposal says - stop the import of smuggled Malian cultural property into the US market UNLESS: The Government of the Republic of Mali (despite all the other problems the country has on its hands right now) makes efforts to seek to expand the exchange of its archaeological materials with the US. Right now. They are to be asked to do this through discussing how to increase the number of exhibition loans of objects of archaeological interest, increase the number and overall length of long-term loans of objects to the US "for research and educational purposes". Furthermore they are to allow American museums and universities to propose and participate in joint excavation projects in Mali with the finds being loaned (a la Machu Picchu) to the American participants. Also they are to support "exchanges and specific study programs" between "museums and universities of Mali and American art museums" [...] Just "art" museums? I thought that in America, archaeology was anthropology, not "art".

These are bilateral agreements. Note that there is not a single word in what the AAMD propose concerning promotion of American archaeology and culture in Mali as a symbol of the "goodwill" they demand from the Malians in return for honouring the 1970 UNESCO Convention. Not a word. Not a word that the Government of the United States of America will make efforts to seek to expand the exchange of its archaeological materials with Mali. No mention of any discussions on how to increase the number of exhibition loans of US objects of archaeological interest, increase the number and overall length of long-term loans of objects from the US "for research and educational purposes" to Malian institutions. No mention about inviting Malian museums and universities to propose and participate in joint excavation projects in the United States with the finds being loaned to the Malian participants. The AAMD obviously have a very one-sided view of bilateralism. In their vision the other side has to give-give and Uncle Sam will take-take (in return for doing no more than what it said it will do when becoming a state party to the 1970 UNESCO Convention).