In a phone conversation with his Dutch counterpart, Rianne Letschert, Romanian Minister of Culture Demeter Andras expressed his "appreciation and gratitude" for the efforts made by the Dutch authorities to recover the Cotofenesti helmet and the Dacian bracelets.
"After today's press conference held by the Dutch authorities, I had a phone conversation with my counterpart from the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mrs. Rianne Letschert, Minister of Education, Culture and Science. I told her that we are delighted by this news, which now makes it possible to return an invaluable treasure to its rightful home. It is a moment that brings us joy and deep satisfaction. I also expressed our appreciation and gratitude for the efforts made by the Dutch authorities in the process of recovering the Cotofenesti helmet and the Dacian bracelets. This development is an important step and a clear signal of the effectiveness of our cooperation. We value the professionalism, coordination and commitment of all the authorities and institutions involved, and we thank them for their sustained efforts in this endeavor. I was confident from the beginning. The determination of all the authorities involved has given me hope and confidence throughout this period," Demeter wrote Thursday on Facebook.
He stressed that the recovery of these ancient artifacts is important not only for Romania, but also for the shared responsibility to protect Europe's cultural heritage.
"We remain fully committed to continuing this joint effort, both for completing the recovery process and for strengthening our cooperation in the field of cultural heritage protection," the Culture minister noted.
The Cotofenesti golden helmet and two of the three Dacian gold bracelets stolen last year from the Drents Museum in the Netherlands and subsequently recovered have been returned to Romania, the Dutch Prosecution Service announced on Thursday in a press release published on its website.
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