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US, Libya sign bilateral agreement on cultural property protection

WASHINGTON, Feb 24 (KUNA) -- The United States and Libya late Friday signed a bilateral agreement that aims at combating looting and trafficking of Libya's ancient artifacts.
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs I. Steven Goldstein and Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs undersecretary for Political Affairs Lutfi Almughrabi signed the agreement in Washington that solidifies bilateral collaboration against trafficking of cultural objects originating from Libya.
Libya has faced a long history of threats to archaeological and historic sites, including those listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage sites, which have intensified since the 2011 revolution. According to the State Department, hundreds of sites remain in jeopardy from pillage and trafficking. "Today's agreement is a testament to our shared commitment to protect Libya's cultural heritage and, more broadly, to the full support of the United States for the Government of National Accord's efforts to build a more stable, unified Libyan state," Goldstein said in a statement.
As part of the ongoing bilateral cooperation, the US will impose import restrictions on categories of archaeological material from 12,000 B.C. through 1750 A.D. and Ottoman ethnological material from Libya dating from 1551 to 1911 A.D. (end) hy.gta