The cultural partnership between the United States and Libya has advanced, marked by the transfer of a significant artifact back to Libya. On April 17, Dr. Mohammed Shakshouki, the Chairman of the Libyan Department of Antiquities, and Dr. William M. Griswold, the Director of the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA), finalized an agreement in Cleveland, Ohio. This agreement officiates the return of a 2,200-year-old statue to Libya.
The Cleveland Museum of Art acquired the statue in 1991. Recent joint research determined that the statue rightfully belongs to Libya. Although legal ownership has been transferred, the artifact will continue to be displayed at the museum, labeled as Libyan property, following the conditions set in the U.S.-Libya Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Chargé d’Affaires Jeremy Berndt stated: “We are proud of this important milestone and our partnership with the Department of Antiquities. The United States remains committed to supporting the Libyan people in preserving and protecting their cultural heritage from theft and trafficking and sharing U.S. expertise in this field.”
This achievement comes as part of the ongoing efforts since the establishment of the MoU in 2018, during which U.S. and Libyan authorities facilitated the return of seven statues to Libya.