We have no means yet of ascertaining how widespread or serious the damage to sites has been. We need to ensure that measures are put in place now both to protect immediately vulnerable sites and to begin the process of helping the Iraqi people to conserve and protect their heritage.
We know that local religious leaders have already taken a lead to encourage the return of looted artefacts. We want to do everything we can to work with them on this. One possibility is to encourage cooperation by publicising an amnesty on the return of artefacts on all local media.
The Director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, is already taking a lead alongside international colleagues from Europe and the US to ensure a coordinated response from the professional archaeological fraternity. British Museum staff are internationally acknowledged experts on the archaeology of the ancient Middle East and can command respect and support from a wide range of other professionals, including those from Iraq, Iran and Syria.
It is important in all this that we work closely with UNESCO. The British Museum, with UNESCO, will be hosting a symposium of international colleagues on 29 April. We are also working to ensure that UK administrators and professionals are part of the US Organisation for Reconstruction and Humanitarian Affairs (ORHA). Officials from DCMS will be joining ORHA in the next few days.
We are taking measures to ensure that antiquities looted from Iraq are returned if they reach the international art market. A UN sanction currently requires state parties to the UN to impose import controls on objects from Iraq, including antiquities. This means that no objects could reach the UK legally without an import licence. There is absolutely no intention to issue such licences. We are confident that the legitimate art market will cooperate fully, and Tessa Jowell has written to the British Art Market Federation and other key bodies.
This leaves, though, the substantial market in illicit trade. The Private Members Bill "Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Bill" has just had its second reading. It has all party support and we are looking for ways of ensuring its speedy progress through its remaining stages.
Excerpts from Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture's speech at the British Museum on 15 April 2003:
"A wholesale destruction of the antiquities of Iraq would be a catastrophe for Iraq and for the world.
"No one can say today just how bad the looting has been. But what we know has taken place is quite bad enough. I accept that the Coalition forces have many tasks to perform, and that the provision of food and water and the establishment of order is their first priority. But, as the British forces in Basra have been able to protect the museum there from further damage, I hope all the forces will see that protecting Iraq's treasures is not an optional extra. It is a duty they owe to the people they have come to set free.
"We also need to look beyond the current danger, to the risks that the already looted treasures are placed in the international art market.
"It is illegal to import Iraqi antiquities into the UK. I have written today to colleagues in Government, and to the main trade bodies for the Art market reminding them of this, and asking for their help in locating and identifying any which make their way to the UK.
"And I have spoken to Neil about the plan for a cultural coalition, a group of experts who can help Iraqi conservators pick up the pieces and rebuild their museums, their libraries and their excavated sites. He has the expertise to put it together, and he'll have my support every step of the way."
