Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy introduced seven historical artifacts from the Early Bronze Age and Roman periods, which were returned to Türkiye by Swiss authorities on June 2, at Bodrum Castle.

Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy introduced seven historical artifacts from the Early Bronze Age and Roman periods, which were returned to Turkey by Swiss authorities on June 2, at Bodrum Castle.

The return of the artifacts was carried out within the scope of the "Agreement on the Prevention of Smuggling of Cultural Heritage," signed between Turkey and Switzerland in 2022. The artifacts, dating back to the Late Bronze Age and Roman periods, were brought to Türkiye under the coordination of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums after it was determined that they had been removed from Anatolia without permission.

Minister Ersoy, who examined the artifacts at Bodrum Castle, recalled that a cooperation protocol regarding cultural property smuggling was signed with Switzerland in 2022, emphasizing that this agreement has borne fruit. Ersoy noted that the artifacts seized in Switzerland were returned under the protocol, after contacting Turkish authorities. Minister Ersoy stated that meticulous work by the Anti-Smuggling Department and museum experts had proven the artifacts' Anatolian origin and that they had been removed without permission.

Ersoy expressed his pleasure at the return of the artifacts to the collection and stated that they would display them at Bodrum Castle. He said, "This isn't the first or the last artifact, you know. Our Anti-Smuggling Department continues its efforts with great dedication to tracking artifacts removed without permission from Anatolia worldwide. Similar efforts will lead to the return of even larger artifacts to the country."

Ersoy emphasized that the fight against smuggling is carried out not only through international collaborations but also at the local level, stating that educating citizens and villagers, particularly in Anatolia, plays a critical role. He said, "Our Anti-Smuggling Department primarily educates villagers and citizens in Anatolia, primarily at the origin points of historical artifacts. Why? Thanks to their tip-offs or the particularly close surveillance of our law enforcement officers, we are currently seizing very large artifacts before they even leave our country. Thanks to the General Directorate of Security's Anatolian, Heritage, and Treasure operations, the Gendarmerie General Command's deterrent measures against illegal excavations, and the General Directorate of Customs Enforcement's effective work at border gates, over 900,000 artifacts have been brought to our museums in the last five years without being taken abroad."