NICOSIA: Cyprus is intensifying efforts to update the Interpol database with details of its antiquities lost abroad, focusing on private collections from territories occupied since 1974, Deputy Minister of Culture Vasiliki Kassianidou said in an interview with the Cyprus News Agency.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Kassianidou confirmed that the repatriation of Cypriot antiquities from London and Los Angeles has been completed, with further returns from Cyprus’ embassy in Vienna in progress. She highlighted that while there are no additional repatriation efforts planned for 2025, the Department of Antiquities and the Committee for the Prevention of Illicit Trade and Trafficking of Antiquities remain vigilant. These officials actively monitor auctions to identify and reclaim Cypriot antiquities that may have been illegally removed.
The Deputy Minister outlined plans to update the Interpol database by 2025 with information on lost private collections from the occupied territories before 1974. This initiative is supported by the digitization of archives funded by Switzerland and Norway, enabling easier claims if these items surface in the market. Kassianidou emphasized the importance of this digitization in facilitating the identification and repatriation of stolen artefacts.
Cyprus has been divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion, which led to the occupation of its northern third. Since then, numerous valuable artefacts have been stolen from these areas, entering the black market overseas. The ongoing efforts to update international databases are part of Cyprus’ broader strategy to reclaim its cultural heritage.