Indonesia and Greece Discuss Coalition for Cultural Artefact Repatriation

The Ministry of Culture held a meeting with the Greek Embassy to Indonesia to discuss, among other matters, the formation of a coalition for the repatriation of cultural artefacts. “The era of colonial looting has ended. The repatriation and return of cultural objects to their countries of origin is a matter of historical justice and a manifestation of mutual respect between nations,” stated Minister of Culture Fadli Zon in an official statement confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Indonesia recently repatriated approximately 28,131 Dubois fossils from Trinil and 30,000 artefacts from the Netherlands. The Ministry of Culture is committed to following up on the meeting’s results and pioneering the formation of this international coalition to advocate for the return of national cultural heritage.

During the meeting, both nations emphasised the importance of coordination within UNESCO, particularly regarding the protection of cultural heritage, the promotion of intangible cultural heritage, and the eradication of the illegal trafficking of cultural objects. The Greek Ambassador to Indonesia, Dimitrios Michalopoulos, expressed support for various Indonesian cultural heritage preservation agendas.

Indonesia and Greece also agreed on cooperation in the field of museums, focusing on direct collaboration between institutions. This cooperation includes the exchange of scientific preservation knowledge and exhibitions of Indonesian artefacts in Greece to introduce Nusantara culture to the European public. According to Fadli Zon, there is potential for the Museum and Cultural Heritage Public Service Agency to collaborate with museum managers in Greece. In Greece, museums operate independently; Indonesian cultural heritage management agencies could establish partnerships with various Greek institutions, such as the Numismatic Museum and Byzantine-era museums. Furthermore, Indonesia and Greece agreed to draft a new Memorandum of Understanding to replace the 2004 cultural education agreement, which expired in 2018.