Washington, DC, January 21, 2026 — The Ambassador of Italy to the United States Marco Peronaci hosted the “Custodians of Culture” event last night at Villa Firenze to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Memorandum of Understanding between Italy and the United States on the imposition of restrictions on the import of archaeological material from Italy, characterized by a repatriation ceremony and a high-level debate on the protection of cultural heritage.
The anniversary celebration follows the signing in Rome, on December 5, 2025, of the renewal of the Memorandum by the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli and the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah B. Rogers. First concluded in 2000, the agreement has become a pillar of international efforts to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property.
Opening the evening, Ambassador Peronaci underlined the broader meaning of the agreement. “This year marks the 25th anniversary of this agreement between Italy and the United States, first signed in 2000 and which has become a model for the last quarter of a century. It is an agreement that does not only concern the regulatory aspect, but concerns values: it reaffirms that cultural heritage is not a commodity, but a shared heritage that must be protected from illicit trafficking and exploitation”. Ambassador Peronaci also underlined that, thanks to bilateral cooperation between our countries, more than 5,000 artifacts have been recovered and returned to Italy.
Darren Beattie, Senior Bureau Official for Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, stressed: “Protecting cultural heritage is not just about preserving the finds; it means safeguarding the identity, memory, traditions and foundations of civilization for future generations. For over a quarter of a century, our team at the Office of Educational and Cultural Affairs has collaborated with law enforcement and Italian counterparts to ensure that these unique treasures continue to inspire the world for years to come.”
Charles Wall, Deputy Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Scott Schelble, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI’s International Operations Division, underlined the importance of bilateral cooperation with Italy on this issue. Subsequently, General Antonio Petti, head of the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, intervened, underlining Italy’s specialized competence in the field of cultural heritage protection.
This was followed by a ceremony for the return to Italy of confiscated works of art, some of which were exhibited in a small but significant exhibition set up last night at Villa Firenze. Tangible proof of what international cooperation in this area can achieve.
After the ceremony, Channah Norman, an art and museum lawyer, sparked a conversation with Deborah Lehr, founder of the Antiquities Coalition and CEO of the Meridian International Center, and Chase F. Robinson, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art. The panel addressed topics such as transnational strategies to protect cultural heritage, investigative and legal approaches to cultural property cases, provenance research in museums, and the growing role of technology in promoting transparency and accountability in this area.
The evening ended with a visit to the exhibition of confiscated works of art, celebrating a quarter of a century of Italian-American cooperation and reaffirming the shared commitment of our two countries to safeguarding cultural heritage as a common good.
The event also inaugurated “Villa Firenze Talks”, a new series hosted at the Residence of the Ambassador of Italy to bring together politicians, experts, academics and industry leaders to strengthen transatlantic dialogue and cooperation on global challenges, from geopolitics and security to innovation, emerging technologies and cultural heritage.
Embassy PR – Google translated from Italian.
