Ethiopian ambassador Hailemichael Afework Aberra says his country doesn’t agree to a long-term loan of the artifacts proposed by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
One of processional crosses seized by the UK during the 1868 Ethiopian campaign. Source: Victoria and Albert Museum/The Art Newspaper
The Ethiopian authorities have toughened their position on the return of Maqdala treasures seized by Britain at the battle of Maqdala in 1868 and insist on full restitution, the Art Newspaper reports.
Earlier, on April 5, the Victoria and Albert Museum’s director Tristram Hunt said at the opening of the exhibition that the museum would like to return the Maqdala artifacts to Ethiopia as a long-term loan. In response, Ethiopian ambassador Hailemichael Afework Aberra welcomed the gesture and gave the audience to understand the offer would be taken seriously and probably accepted.
However, he then made a statement, saying that Ethiopia remains committed to its decision on full restitution, which country has been seeking since 2009: “My government is not interested in loans, it is interested in having those objects returned.” The items in dispute are in the collection of the British Museum and the British Library.
Today, none of the three institutions have legal mechanisms for deaccession. Addis Ababa thinks a dialogue between the governments and attitudes change are needed to solve the issue.
Restitution becomes a relevant issue and is discussed by governments of former colonialist countries – France, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark.
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