The meeting held to consider the implementation of the 1970 Convention and principally to elect the 18 members of the Subsidiary Committee in adherence with the procedure proposed by the States Parties and approved by the 190th session of the Executive Board (three members per regional group, respecting the principles of equitable geographical representation and rotation).
It started with an introductory speech by Francesco Bandarin, the Assistant Director-General for Culture. He said that the meeting reflects the political will of the international community to create the new and improved tools needed to build a common front against illegal trade of archaeological and artistic objects, especially from areas affected by conflicts and crisis. He noted that in Mali, for example, despite numerous logistical challenges on the ground, UNESCO is actively working with national authorities to train Malian police to protect their precious manuscripts, rebuild their earthen monuments, and create a regional network for the protection of cultural heritage. He concluded by urging more vigorous implementation of the convention in order to combat a scourge that deprives every day millions worldwide of the enjoyment of our common cultural heritage.
Thereafter the bureau was elected as follows:
Chairperson: Flora Van Regteren Altena (the Netherlands)
Vice-Chairs: Bulgaria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honduras, and Iraq
Rapporteur: Humaira Zia Mufti (Pakistan)
The agenda was then adopted.
Prior to the election, one issue led to a protracted debate, namely, the duration of the term of office of members of the Subsidiary Committee. Pursuant to the Rules of Procedure, the members shall be elected for a term of four years. However, the term of office of half of the members elected at the first election is limited to two. With the election of the 18 members of the Subsidiary Committee taking place at the extraordinary Meeting in 2013—that is, between the second ordinary meeting, which took place in 2012, and the third ordinary meeting, which will take place in 2014—it would be impossible for the first 18 members of the committee to have terms of two and four years, aligned on even years. The secretariat therefore proposed two options: option 1, terms of one year and three years; and option 2, terms of three years and five years. Both options were rejected mainly on the grounds that option 1 was too short and option 2 too long. Instead, the meeting decided to abandon the idea of aligning duration on even years. It resolved in favor of a midway solution. Nine members will serve for a term of four years, 2013–2017, while the remaining nine members will serve for two years, 2013–2015.
The result of the election is as follows:
Group 1: Greece, Italy, and Turkey
Group 2: Bulgaria, Croatia, and Romania
Group 3: Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru
Group 4: China, Japan, and Pakistan
Group 5(a): Chad, Madagascar, and Nigeria
Group 5(b): Egypt, Morocco, and Oman
After the election the chairperson drew lots to determine the nine members of the committee who will serve for four years (2013–2017). They are Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Ecuador, Mexico, Japan, Madagascar, Morocco, and Nigeria.
