| Popis: |
As stated in the 2001 Siracusa Declaration on the Submarine Cultural Heritage in the Mediterranean Sea, this sea is unique in that it embodies the common historical and cultural roots of many civilizations. Most Mediterranean States are parties to the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, which provides a remedy to the dubious regime established by Article 303, paragraph 3, of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. According to the English official text, this provision, which gives priority to admiralty law, could be understood as an invitation to the looting of underwater cultural heritage. However, Mediterranean States seem rather slow in addressing the matter in a constructive way, despite the existing dangers, as demonstrated by the four expeditions undertaken by Mr Ballard in the area between Italy and Tunisia; the removal of the Victorious Youth statue; and the dispute over the shipwreck of the liner Ancona. The Mediterranean States have not yet negotiated a regional treaty and only recently have they resorted to the cooperation mechanism provided by the 2001 Convention in order to create a coordination committee composed of eight States that will manage the protection of underwater cultural heritage on the Skerki Bank site. |
