the much publicized case of the summer palace bronzes is far from unique more and more pillage countries are demanding the return of their cultural assets the trophies of the renowned museums of the western world. believed countries have a legal tool to negotiate for the return of their stolen treasures the 970 unesco convention signed in june the era of decolonization imposes on all nations to return objects obtained illegally. in recent years the pressure on renowned museums has intensified. the pergamon museum the most visited in berlin is obliged to know the origins of its collections. you start to understand that what you have here is not

just archaeological object but it's part of the cultural heritage of the region or of these countries and at that point you realize you're talking about a political dimension or a cultural political dimension as a director i cannot say i don't know when somebody asks me how did your collection actually come into being so my responsibility as director of this museum is to know everything about the objects. well the key documents in this file are the ones that tell us basically that it was ok to take up the objects and this we have to do for everything and i'm considering that we have roughly 500000 objects you know that this is. a huge task ahead for us something that has to be done over decades really 500000 objects all and so that's an ongoing process that will take

until i'm retiring but the important thing is somebody is doing it every day because you have to have i was i was this is said to have made a new going to close the critics on the present is an extent bush said you know i said that is ideologue a big lead by example in jest musicland missile never going off in a divorce exact a mode where yeah. the professor did 67. all the fragments you see here have been pretty good to see and we would be acquiring stuff and the pergamon stopped acquiring in the 1930 s. 40 years before the signing of the unesco convention which isn't retroactive this is. so the museum's collection is seemingly protected from demands for restitution but that's not the opinion in turkey especially in the city of tep young that you guys and. me and can. live for so often

a mr. you know. that we don't at all my. name is that down on that was. the man i should when there was a debate the internet was. a man and a leg and then say and then i said it was many people and he said from this it is made in that way that he did. this black list includes objects on show in the british museum in london but also in the pentagon in berlin although they were all acquired before 970 turkey still wants them back. it's not a question of museums anymore because it's a request of the state of turkey. they also are in the process of overcoming. colonial attitudes towards cultural heritage and in this process they have started to realize that. countries in the west have not

always been upfront about their practices of acquiring collections begin to do yeah savation who live. there is. his john dad and they can i know. given busy i'm. busy you know gunson shante can play in kent and then. the visual ascent we didn't get in on money and then i made. an event to shoot it in this new they are abusing in. the pillagers happened over a century ago but turkey isn't ready to forget. like china and italy turkey has made the restitution of its treasures a political priority. within its culture ministry the turkish government has set up

a special restitution unit. 40 or so lawsuits have already been won resulting in the return of over 4000 objects. one of the special units successes is the restitution of this music of orpheus stolen in the $950.00 s. then purchased by the dallas museum of art after several years of legal wrangling the museum was obliged to return it. while village nations like turkey have a legal framework to demand reparations this isn't the case in the private sector where only the market rules. in this antique shop window how many artifacts have a perfectly established origin in many cases it's practically impossible to verify . does the private antiquities

market have its own rules immune to international legislation you know asco had attempted to extend its 970 convention to better control private transactions a new convention adopted in 1905 the unit acquired convention on stolen or illegally exported cultural objects obliges sellers to prove the legal origin of an artifact it also obliges buyers to demand proof but although the original unesco convention is recognized by 113 nations only 37 party states have committed to the united wired convention. so the market is winning thriving with its own often shady rules chadian as

embodied by the freeport system one of the main thoroughfares of art market trafficking. the best known are here in geneva but the exist throughout the world free ports were originally special economic zones which stocked in transit merchandise to reduce or avoid customs duties our dealers are soon renting space in these huge warehouses to discreetly store artifacts by allowing people to store all kinds of objects without the slightest control free ports have long been considered as a hub of antiquities trafficking it's estimated there are over a 1000000 works deposited here more than twice the number contained in the movie. this swiss establishment guarantees its clients 100 percent confidentiality its high security site is protected from theft but also from prying eyes artifacts can

be stored safely here for years sit behind. him on the. left you. know i mean he can join on would you like to find a not understood it should one misread one on sauce fish out. on a t.v. would order to keep the tax. no taxation an appealing advantage for our dealers while the works remain inside a free port they can be sold and bought without being subjected to any kind of tax customs duties are only paid once when a work definitively leaves the freeport a perfectly legal tax haven right in the heart of us.

these facilities explain why the gallery phoenix keeps most of its merchandise in free ports in the showcases only a small part of the collection is displayed the gallery belongs to tom one of the biggest antiquities dealers in the world. in 2010 customs discovered in alley tons warehouse in the freeport of geneva this is 2nd century romance a copper guess since then it has been the center of a complex legal battle. the stock of. tools will awful you know all of it to prevent thank are up on love and do i love on this on the on it off and off on dr to for that's not hope you bleak put on your own music. so to saturday and don't. know jane i'll come problem. 1st i said proposition the don't assume

she miss you want you i think the jayco do see the idea. of home shop or add me read of get this used extraordinaire in p.s. the medtronic at don't get always the large i met countdown do. in their next year on cities used to get exam play and good news all morning don't say i'm a modest shock silliman of a more haste for them out there learn the killed. near 0 lead you cannot as your phony palomar shows it in success you and of course that the president don't know haven't. really had many on the pond on the year. mariette kids who are out there here yes just the most ridiculous who belong on get heated this is sack of elapses did look at what they simply. see levity dick we

haven't seen more in a clear goodness. heavy faced with doubts over the objects origin the sale was finally cancelled as the so called because was probably looted in turkey swiss authorities decided to allow it ankara let your idea for me do cool let your key sit there. but up was it you. impose it do i did it go see or just key man who thought they did agree. to set this exposed as short as it for you call this to impress me as your report did you for it so it does i confess keep as to the temple pews don't. all of a on all lot that follow the story of it with a document live only the longer 2 they clearly allowed one or both own them. except

that after being restored in london there's a conflict as didn't return to geneva until 2009 so the turkish lawyer heading the case believes it comes under the new swiss law which demands every approachable origins for all works of art imported after 2005 in september 2015 swiss justice finally ordered the repatriation of a 2nd office to turkey but tom continues to claim ownership based on a certificate delivered by the company art loss register or for just that if you get a positive really. because of us by that suit the glare is that if it lasts nethers does or cope what is a really really classic may see both this late hour of. good it. is sucky sucky sucky due to

a for me. what is an art loss register certificate the precious open sesame of the art market a document which states that an object wasn't stolen. founded in london 25 years ago as a private information service with over 400000 listed objects are lost register owns the largest database of stolen artifacts in the world for a fee any buyer or seller can ask art loss register to verify that a piece is not listed on its database. these registrations these. could also be registrations from an easy just in case biting is ever started on the register them on the database just in case they show off for sale somewhere else the most obvious examples are the serfs from the national museum of iraq. in 20032000 full. and what was amazing is they were very

careful and you can tell it was well planned because they went into the basement once they'd stolen everything and they destroyed all the documentation for the objects so that people would know what had been stolen unfortunately the major objects have been recorded elsewhere. they can say actually they're different words that we've entered just to help bring that up so here they were wrong as they were put. braided have something like that and. in the case of the baghdad museum an inventor really existed so stolen objects could be captured on to the database but in war zones very few museums keep precise inventor his and there's no way that objects discovered during illegal digs will ever be listed obviously that's incredibly difficult when you're looking at looted archaeological material that has been looted out of the ground it was taken out of the ground and

potentially the only people that even know of its existence of the people dug it out. and yet this certificate is widely used on the antiquities market as is the case for tom's suck office. i wish i had a clue powers. i would say. it's we've always been very clear about what our certificates are for and they state very clearly that an item is not in our database and it's not being registered with us but that not every theft or loss or looting event is registered with us so it's not complete. the art loss register certificate nonetheless remains the main document supplied by a seller to prove his or her good faith

a precious certificate which can multiply the price of an object by 10 but why is this as provided by a private company and not by a public body at least on a european level changes in national laws you go across i'm just going nation states in the make it very difficult to resolve issues relating to stolen art in particular because suddenly limitation periods change principles of acquiring good title change is something that people take advantage of to get around the system. and. one simple mistake could be fatal. fishing as

a deep sea diver carries immense risk to the lives of those willing to take the chance but for a former north korean soldier the opportunity for a prosperous new life in the south with his family was an even bigger risk to take . knowing the only eyewitness documentary on al-jazeera examining the fact of today's headlines there were protests like this one that are trying to discern and we forested areas that have been already devastated are setting the agenda for tomorrow's discussions you've been out there with the protesters on the streets where they've been telling you international filmmakers and world class journalists bring programs to inform and inspire. on al-jazeera. do you know maybe you're going to be negotiating that we would have

a deal and we would be no more than 3 times you put a deal and you disagree with that deal this is a terrible truth is that we're still not it was brought to us when you was a good example maybe his time goes head to head with the chairman of the u.k. straight to reach it the terms are used tough i'm sure there's not a loose about it's often shop it's pretty clear actually this is clearest bricks it means but yes it is and it's just it's doing. on and you see. i'm richelle carey and doha these are the top stories on al-jazeera u.s. officials say some american troops have withdrawn from a military position in northern syria that came under fire from turkish forces earlier on friday though it appears the outpost and take a direct hit for his forces have now pushed 8 kilometers deeper into territory held

by mainly kurdish forces in syria the u.n. says more than 100000 people have been displaced by turkey's military offensive the u.s. is sending $1800.00 additional troops to saudi arabia the pentagon confirm military hardware will also be sent to bolster the kingdom's defenses following an assault on riyadh or oil facilities last month president donald trump says the u.s. is helping saudi arabia but that riyadh will pay for the to point. we are sending troops and other things to the middle east to help saudi arabia but are you ready saudi arabia at my request has agreed to pay us for everything we're doing at 1st but saudi arabia and other countries to down but saudi arabia as you greed to pay us for everything we're doing to help them and we appreciate that iran says 2 missiles have struck one of its oil tankers off the coast of saudi arabia iran's

foreign ministry says this to be the vessel was attacked and set on fire in the red sea the ship suffered heavy damage and was leaking oil into the water the u.s. and china have struck a partial trade deal which could potentially and a dispute between the world's 2 largest economies. held talks with china's vice premier in suspended a terrify con $250000000000.00 worth of chinese imports. the us is former ambassador to ukraine says donald trump pressured the state department to fire her brain of on a bitch has given dramatic testimony to members of congress leading the impeachment inquiry into the us president she says she was removed from her post because of unfounded and false claims. hundreds more indigenous protesters have poured into ecuador's capital quito to join the 10th day of demonstrations against austerity measures they want their president when a marine are to repeal a law that ended a 40 year fuel subsidy riot police the fire tear gas to break up prolly and potest

has responded with fireworks. and so the headlines keep it here on al-jazeera more news to come our trafficking continues. just off one of caracas his main highways the media media family collects as much water as possible from the mountain above. a nationwide blackout left millions without power a regular water supplies. but this water is not part of all the health ministry is recommending people treat it with chlorine but with none available at the end then maybe hopes that boiling it 1st will make it safe for her family to drink doctor might be a little bit says the increased consumption of untreated water in the last 3 weeks is making an already catastrophic situation worse of anyone you know made all right i think we don't have the precise numbers yet but we know that in the public and private hospitals there's been an acute increase of cases of severe diarrhea that

require hospitalization including children under 2 years of age which can be fatal local and international public health experts describe the crisis as a complex humanitarian emergency. with the absence of common legislation and with skyrocketing prices trafficking has taken on industrial proportions. that it will be in the majority or the evolution is very hard to put those having to make that this bill is even i do not need to look it up but it will but all you need to know that you're going to join us and repeat this story to us a lot don't be so messed up a 2nd job but out of check it out don you're going to be the face of the bus if you have your genetics unit i don't know if they're that us both out these brothers account if you look at it like that. today jews have direct access to the

markets over the need to do is post their object on line where you can be sold anonymously in recent years the number of websites sell. archaeological artifacts has increased our hundredfold on one of them we found this clay nail probably from a rock officially this type of object has been banned from sale since 2004 but on these platforms no one cares about origin export licenses or legal documents it's the final stage of what has become global trafficking. believed to be the 3rd highest illegal trade in the world antiquities trafficking was rarely in the public eye. yes it has gone unnoticed for years but footage of destruction by the islamic state of iraq and the levant isis has caused a major international commotion. only being here oh me me me me

me me let the. music to treat music. live music. this will show on your hike you. see. and she thought about i gather the. street by me a classic is it on me hi can you talk of. the age of the tweet. are produced song battle in the city limits. and i'm going to cover i said petition that can one demented he said you have. the stage destruction by eisel hides

another reality much harder to measure mass looting. since its founding has been suspected of part financing its activities through antiquities trafficking. see pool could it be leased since now and again my guess would not stay. in pretty than that to security that 3 said maddon it took until it is like you think . this was a key subject at a press conference to present the new red list published by i called the international council of museums for 15 years i come has been publishing lists of rare objects from various countries which threatened to turn up on the international art market this time it concerned antiquities from iraq and syria

suspected of financing eisel operations as proof that the subject is being taken seriously several international figures attended the meeting including richard stengel representing the us government who would launch the offensive or you might . go and essentially has these the department. also why. are you going to. good evening i'm delighted to be here. what we have seen over the last year is i saw as weaponization of information and the cultural destruction that they're practicing is the 7 ization culture so this is a destruction of history and destruction of culture and a destruction of human beings thousands of human beings at the risk of being too graphic i would say that burying or selling an artifact is where finances

the beheadings of muslims in the middle east. don't sell don't tax one quick solution you. know by now selling is a very good slogan it's obviously impossible to completely police it and to be certain about it. one of the things that we've seen is that i still is using existing criminal markets that have existed over 102030 years in the region are using those people as middlemen to finance their operations. but how do we know what exactly is going on in the field absa the association for the protection of syrian archaeology has been recording cases of plundering in syria the association based in strasbourg and founded in 2011 at the outbreak of the country's civil war

is headed by syrian archaeologist. according to information gathered by hobson i saw isn't the only armed group plundering sites in syria all the actors in the conflict are to blame. louis. lieutenant walks here young. man year old you dno. more active. an example. again easy. to list but. this is the most complex here like you see on the dodge. city many of the many people. associate. with asiri. what's the extent of this trafficking and how

do the local networks that supply it operate to find the answers you need to go into the field most makes regular visits to turkey. to meet other members of his association. early in the war as correspondents could easily cross the turkish syrian border but turkey recently closed entry into its territory. was the same your stock of. the c.e.o. but they are. not the sessions on the piece they did that you. push it up to cover. we see you. got to get it kitty don't use it on the whole case for to increase never be you know he has lost the most depressing able to come up it will be to fuck you. little easy but look at him it can on the jobless get into

a semi no citigroup good if they snap you. and i limited my starting a check one moment most new vanishing point book at home he's repeated on your people be early. did not know me. see it can't have it in this world i don't why did you speak. nobody. should have been meant for levy investment on those you prove a point so why the close one way am it not to respond it's there you are going to continue to contact. b.s.

guy that could go to others or more you know not only can you. not so long ago it was still possible to cross the border and large quantities of merchandise to live here in gaza untapped 60 kilometers from the syrian border. according to several sources this turkish city is a hub for the trafficking of objects plundered by isis. bush. doesn't have is full of antiquities stores in one window check most sports what he thinks artifacts smuggled in from syria. before.

that to destroy me. that you can then stop the pollution i'm ashley initials looks like a scripture when he says here are some. you know a little bit. but since i didn't. know it was below sound with respect to the unique i'm actually happy to say that there's been so if you were to sit through the normal most if you still miss if it be simple in. syria then the celery in you. shouldn't. allow this year a lot of the yellow new york. there was another the one on the muslim american

ramadan i'm going there may have some or not and they are. not going to be a lot of the gun that is ron marz image i like to get that someone almost. over me. it gives them with a paltry. amount a small group. called one of these objects as you sample if not for you know visual if what. can rationally. because we won't create a rope she called police well sure because it would not be speaking to police issue immediately peña nieto live. in or a. city react to treat you don't want your blood to the drug. is you but they. managed to have always. found that kitty.