.
I really am beginning to wonder whose side Culture Property and Archaeology Law is on, now Kimberly Alderman accuses the Turks:
I do not think that is "blackmail" any more than me not agreeing to lend my neighbour MY lawnmower until he returns MY hedge-clippers which he borrowed eighteen months ago.
Let us get this clear, American museums and American scholars do not have the "right" to expect that everybody will fall in with what THEY want, just because they are American. The same goes for the Brits, the Germans and French. International co-operation is a two-way process and involves both sides respecting the needs and concerns of the other. Calling Turkish attempts to get back what has been taken away "blackmail" is not exactly redolent of that sort of respect.
UPDATE 18th October 2012:
I note the original text has now changed its title. It now reads:
Turkey Accused of Cultural Blackmail but the points still stand. Turkey is under no obligation to give anyone access to its stuff. America and the rest of us can ask, not demand.
I really am beginning to wonder whose side Culture Property and Archaeology Law is on, now Kimberly Alderman accuses the Turks:
Turkish Cultural Blackmail ContinuesWhat? This "blackmail" actually consists of Turkey not loaning any more of THEIR artefacts to foreign museums, and not allowing certain foreign expeditions onto THEIR archaeological sites - not until they give back some stuff from Turkey that Turkey considers theirs.
I do not think that is "blackmail" any more than me not agreeing to lend my neighbour MY lawnmower until he returns MY hedge-clippers which he borrowed eighteen months ago.
Let us get this clear, American museums and American scholars do not have the "right" to expect that everybody will fall in with what THEY want, just because they are American. The same goes for the Brits, the Germans and French. International co-operation is a two-way process and involves both sides respecting the needs and concerns of the other. Calling Turkish attempts to get back what has been taken away "blackmail" is not exactly redolent of that sort of respect.
UPDATE 18th October 2012:
I note the original text has now changed its title. It now reads:
Turkey Accused of Cultural Blackmail but the points still stand. Turkey is under no obligation to give anyone access to its stuff. America and the rest of us can ask, not demand.
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