Stolen Works of Art

RECOGNISING that the archeological sites of Iraq continue to be subject to significant illicit excavations,

UNDERSTANDING that a trend has been identified for the sale of illicitly removed cultural property using the internet,

UNDERLINING the importance to exchange information as soon as possible on identified internet sites, search criteria used to identify illicitly removed Iraqi cultural property and on seizures of such property,

ACKNOWLEDGING the initial findings of the General Secretariat in assessing the information provided on the illicit trafficking of Iraqi cultural property,

RECOMMEND

1. That the participating members be nominated permanently in order to ensure the continuity of this Task Force;
   
   
2. That the General Secretariat continue to seek the participation of countries affected by this criminal activity;
   
   
3. That the General Secretariat makes the Iraqi Cultural Property Recovery Form available on the Internet in the four working languages of the Organization;
   
   
4. That the Interpol National Central Bureau sends the Iraqi Cultural Property Recovery Forms completed in their country to the General Secretariat as quickly as possible;
   
   
5. To create secured information exchange between each member of the Task Force in order to immediately notify other members of seizures of Iraqi cultural property and the arrest of traffickers;
   
   
6. That the ITTF acknowledges the trend of sales of illicit cultural property on the internet and accepts responsibility for taking appropriate action within their countries;
   
   
7. That the ITTF members compile lists of search criteria (keywords) and identified internet sites suspected of selling illicit cultural property and forward this information expeditiously to the General Secretariat for translation and circulation;
   
   
8. That the General Secretariat encourages other Interpol member countries to participate in the project of searching internet sites within their countries for illicit cultural property from Iraq;
   
   
9. The use of joint investigations in appropriate cases, and in accordance with national legislations, existing protocols and international agreements, in order to combat the criminal activities of traffickers of Iraqi cultural property.