Yemen’s leadership reaffirms commitment to international partnership for the recovery of stolen artifacts.

International Partnership for Heritage Recovery

President Dr. Rashad Mohammed Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, has renewed Yemen’s commitment to partnering with the international community and global cultural institutions. This partnership aims to protect humanity’s cultural heritage and recover Yemeni artifacts that face looting due to the dire conditions caused by the Houthi coup.

In a recent event, President Alimi expressed gratitude on behalf of Yemen’s leadership, government, and people for the recovery of fourteen valuable Yemeni artifacts from New Zealand.

A Historic Moment in New York

During a ceremony organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, President Alimi remarked, “This is a historic moment as we witness the return of fourteen precious artifacts that were in New Zealand.”

The event attracted notable attendees, including U.S. Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking, members of the Yemeni community, and representatives from the U.S. government. President Alimi expressed deep appreciation to the Hig family from New Zealand for their initiative to communicate with the Yemeni government and their commitment to returning these invaluable artifacts to the Yemeni people.

Gratitude for International Support

President Alimi also expressed his thanks to the governments of the United States and New Zealand for their efforts in recovering these artifacts. He welcomed the temporary hosting of the artifacts at the Metropolitan Museum, emphasizing the importance of preserving, studying, and displaying them to a wide audience in New York.

He stated, “These precious artifacts traveled thousands of kilometers illegally, but today they return as witnesses to the civilizations that flourished in Yemen thousands of years ago. They return to tell the world stories from our ancestors and document the ingenuity of the Yemeni people in art, craftsmanship, and culture.”

Strengthening Cultural Understanding

President Alimi viewed this collaboration as a golden opportunity to enhance cultural understanding and reaffirm the importance of preserving humanity’s shared cultural heritage. He noted that this achievement resulted from coordinated efforts among Yemeni, American, and New Zealand authorities, reflecting a deep commitment to safeguarding global cultural heritage.

The president expressed his deep sorrow over the looting and destruction of Yemeni heritage due to the ongoing war with the Iranian-backed Houthi militia. He remained hopeful that partnerships between Yemen and global cultural institutions, including the prestigious museum, would continue to flourish in the future to protect and promote Yemeni heritage.

A Call to Action

In closing, President Alimi urged everyone to become guardians of heritage, stating, “Appreciating the past is the guarantee for the future.”

During the ceremony, U.S. Special Envoy Tim Lenderking, Metropolitan Museum Director Max Hollein, and Dr. Kim Benzel, the museum’s Near Eastern Art curator, emphasized the significance of the Yemeni-American partnership in protecting Yemeni cultural heritage as a vital aspect of global civilization.

Their remarks highlighted the cultural value of the artifacts loaned to the Metropolitan Museum, which likely date back to the Qatabanian state that thrived in Shabwa Governorate.

The event also saw the attendance of Yemen’s Ambassador to the United States, Mohammed Al-Hadhrami, underscoring the importance of this cultural milestone for Yemen.

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