Exhibition “Recovered Treasures” opens in Vienna

Organized under the auspices of the Italian 2018 Chairmanship of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) and with the contribution of the Italian Carabinieri, an exhibition entitled “Recovered Treasures”, opened on 30 May at Vienna’s Art History Museum (Kunsthistorisches Museum). The exhibition, which will remain open to the public until 8 July, is dedicated to the work conducted by the Italian Carabinieri Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, and the role played by diplomacy in countering the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage. On display will be 21 works of art and archaeological objects which the Carabinieri recovered. The exhibition will also illustrate the investigative work carried out by the Carabinieri and the diplomatic efforts by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Activities and Tourism, that made it possible to recover cultural property stolen by organised crime or sold to illicit buyers. According to INTERPOL data, the illicit trafficking and sale of cultural artefacts in the world amounts to six billion dollars a years. Part of the proceeds is used to fund terror activities. Increasing public attention and enhancing cooperation between Police Forces to combat the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, which has been going on forever in the Mediterranean, is one of the priorities of the Italian 2018 OSCE Chairmanship.