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GERMAN COURT TO RULE ON STOLEN CYPRIOT TREASURES IN MID MARCH
February 24, 2015
Some of the artefacts seized from Dikmen's apartments
On March 16 the German Court of Appeals will issue its final decision
on the fate of the remaining 85 treasures stolen by a Turkish art
smuggler from the north as effort to reach an amicable settlement by
February 13 has failed, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Tuesday.
The treasures, including fragments of church wall paintings, icons,
a manuscript of an Armenian gospel and 40 prehistoric antiquities,
were found in 1997 in the possession of Turkish dealer in illicit
antiquities Aydin Dikmen in apartments he maintained in Munich. A
total of 173 looted treasures found in Dikmen`s possession in Munich
have already been repatriated to Cyprus.
CAN said it had learned that although the German judge in December made
a final attempt for an out-of-court friendly settlement by February
13, and despite the fact that there was a mutual proposal on behalf
of the lawyers of the two sides, the Turkish dealer raised new claims
which were rejected by the Cypriot side. Furthermore, the Turkish
side responded to the Cypriot side`s proposals after the deadline,
giving a negative answer.
Following this development, the German Court of Appeals is expected
to issue its final decision on March 16.
A first conciliation procedure was proposed in 2008, but the effort
collapsed.
One of the biggest cases of illicit trading in antiquities involving
Dikmen was the plundering of the wall paintings from the church of
Ayios Euphemianus and the 6th century wall mosaics from the Church
of Panayia Kanakaria.
In October and November 1997 the German Police raided apartments
maintained by the Turkish dealer in Munich. The number of works of
art they uncovered, hidden behind a false wall, was massive.
The records kept by Dikmen have been submitted as evidence at the
Bavarian Court. The detailed way in which he kept his records was
unprecedented, according to CAN. They included photographs and sketches
prior to the theft of the mosaics and wall paintings, photos taken
during their removal and after. (CNA)
http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/02/24/german-court-to-rule-on-stolen-cypriot-treasures-in-mid-march/
February 24, 2015
Some of the artefacts seized from Dikmen's apartments
On March 16 the German Court of Appeals will issue its final decision
on the fate of the remaining 85 treasures stolen by a Turkish art
smuggler from the north as effort to reach an amicable settlement by
February 13 has failed, the Cyprus News Agency reported on Tuesday.
The treasures, including fragments of church wall paintings, icons,
a manuscript of an Armenian gospel and 40 prehistoric antiquities,
were found in 1997 in the possession of Turkish dealer in illicit
antiquities Aydin Dikmen in apartments he maintained in Munich. A
total of 173 looted treasures found in Dikmen`s possession in Munich
have already been repatriated to Cyprus.
CAN said it had learned that although the German judge in December made
a final attempt for an out-of-court friendly settlement by February
13, and despite the fact that there was a mutual proposal on behalf
of the lawyers of the two sides, the Turkish dealer raised new claims
which were rejected by the Cypriot side. Furthermore, the Turkish
side responded to the Cypriot side`s proposals after the deadline,
giving a negative answer.
Following this development, the German Court of Appeals is expected
to issue its final decision on March 16.
A first conciliation procedure was proposed in 2008, but the effort
collapsed.
One of the biggest cases of illicit trading in antiquities involving
Dikmen was the plundering of the wall paintings from the church of
Ayios Euphemianus and the 6th century wall mosaics from the Church
of Panayia Kanakaria.
In October and November 1997 the German Police raided apartments
maintained by the Turkish dealer in Munich. The number of works of
art they uncovered, hidden behind a false wall, was massive.
The records kept by Dikmen have been submitted as evidence at the
Bavarian Court. The detailed way in which he kept his records was
unprecedented, according to CAN. They included photographs and sketches
prior to the theft of the mosaics and wall paintings, photos taken
during their removal and after. (CNA)
http://cyprus-mail.com/2015/02/24/german-court-to-rule-on-stolen-cypriot-treasures-in-mid-march/