Newsletter August 2007

Negotiations over ownership of over 4,000 ancient artifacts from the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, recently named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, have recently experienced unprecedented progress. Most of the items were brought back to the University by Yale alumnus and Professor Hiram Bingham III almost a century ago when he rediscovered Machu Picchu in 1911.

The magnificent ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.

Talks between Yale University and Peru had been at a standstill under former President Toledo’s government threatened to sue Yale if it did not return the artifacts. Yale professor Richard Burger, who manages the artifacts with his wife, Yale professor Lucy Salazar, accused Peru’s former first lady Elaine Karpe of politicizing the issue. Press Counselor Vladimir Kocerha of the Peruvian Embassy in Washington D.C. dismissed any possibility that Peru would sue Yale. He said, “If somebody had that idea before, I’m telling you: that’s the previous administration, and we’re not pursuing that policy.”

“The relationship is moving forward like never before, towards an understanding. This has allowed, among other things, for Yale to commit itself to providing a complete inventory of its archeological goods for the first time,” said Cecilia Bakula, head of Peru’s National Institute of Culture. This is surely a huge step forward.

In a related matter, the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, Karen Hughes, recently visited Lima where she announced the United States would return 350 pre-Colombian artifacts to Peru, which were recovered in Miami, under an anti-smuggling accord between the two countries. Commenting on the recent Yale – Peru talks, a very diplomatic Hughes said, “We are delighted these conversations have taken place and we hope they can be resolved in a satisfactory manner that takes into account the interests of both sides.”

Source: yaledailynews.com

PAST NEWSLETTERS:

• Newsletter December 2007
• Newsletter November 2007
• Newsletter October 2007
• Newsletter September 2007
• Newsletter August 2007
• Newsletter July 2007
• Newsletter June 2007
• Newsletter May 2007
• Newsletter April 2007
• Newsletter March 2007
• Newsletter February 2007
• Newslette January 2007