JAKARTA - Minister of Culture Fadli Zon encourages the acceleration of the repatriation of Indonesian cultural objects that are still in a number of European countries. The issue was discussed when Fadli received the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union, Andy Rachmianto, at the Ministry of Culture's office, Jakarta, Monday, May 4.
The meeting placed repatriation as the main agenda of Indonesian cultural diplomacy. For the government, the return of cultural objects is not only a matter of museum collections, but also concerns history, identity, and justice for the nation.
Fadli appreciated Andy's role, which was considered to understand cultural issues and actively open communication with the Belgian government.
"We are happy that Mr. Andy is there. The Ambassador also understands the culture," said Fadli.
During the meeting, Andy conveyed that communication with the Belgian Government was already underway. The next step is to strengthen coordination and prepare concrete steps, including the preparation of a memorandum of understanding or MoU as a basis for cooperation.
Fadli asked that the preparation of the MoU be carried out quickly and constructively. He wants the document to also include discussions on the repatriation of Indonesian cultural objects.
According to Fadli, repatriation must be supported by a study on the origin of the collection or provenance. Historical research is needed so that the return process has a strong basis and does not stop at general claims.
The Ministry of Culture is also encouraging similar steps with a number of other countries, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Russia, India, France, and the United States.
The government is currently continuing to collect Indonesian cultural collections abroad. The Ministry also opens opportunities for research support through the Indonesian Raya Fund to strengthen the process of tracing and returning.
In addition to repatriation, the meeting discussed strengthening cooperation between Indonesia and the European Union. One of the highlights was the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-EU relations in a high-level forum in Singapore in 2027.
The Ministry of Culture emphasized that cultural diplomacy must produce concrete results. The goal is not only the promotion of Indonesian culture abroad, but also the restoration of cultural heritage that has been away from its original land.
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