Switzerland and Mexico sign agreements on cultural property repatriation

The Swiss Confederation and the Mexican Government , through the Ministry of Culture , signed agreements for cultural heritage repatriation and the strengthening of film co-productions , informed the Mexican institution in a press release.

The signing took place at Mexico's National Museum of Anthropology ( Museo Nacional de Antropología ) and was attended by Maria Cristina García Cepeda , Secretary of Culture and Alain Berset , vice president of the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation . Regarding cultural property, the documents provide a protection framework for illicit imports and regarding film production, they involve project support.

"With this collaboration, a dialogue nurtured for 70 years is renewed. We added plurality, respect and friendship proposals to strengthen our mutual ties as nations towards the future," said García Cepeda.

Mexico's Secretary of Culture tweeted in Spanish: “The Film Co-Production Agreement with Switzerland promotes the creation, entrepreneurship, and distribution of our film industries.”

The agreements establish better financing conditions for Mexican and Swiss producers from the Mexican Institute of Cinematography ( Instituto Mexicano de Cinematografía ) and the Swiss Federal Office of Culture . The documents also establish new common rules concerning the importation, transit, and return of cultural property up to 1500 AD , illegally trafficked both from Switzerland and Mexico.

Alain Berset said that in the first agreement an action was taken against illegal trafficking in cultural property, facilitating its repatriation, as well as establishing a project financing framework for the protection of cultural heritage in danger.

Regarding the film co-production agreement, Berset said that it strengthens the cooperation maintained for several years and he celebrated that Switzerland was a Guest Country of Honor last year, on the 70 years commemoration of Switzerland and Mexico relations.

The press release issued by the Mexican Ministry of Culture can be read in Spanish at the following link: http://bit.ly/2izPvpU

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