British Museum surprised at cutting of Iran ties

'Cyrus Cylinder' was to be loaned to Teheran museum for July show

LONDON: The British Museum expressed "great surprise" at Iran's announcement on Sunday that it was cutting ties with the London institution over delays in the loan to Teheran of an ancient Persian treasure.

The museum said it had confirmed its intention to lend the Cyrus Cylinder and associated fragments of clay tablet to the National Museum of Teheran in the second half of July during a phone call to Iranian officials on Feb 2.

This was followed up with an email and faxed letter to Hamid Baghai, who heads Iran's cultural heritage and tourism organization, on Feb 5.

"The new announcement from Mr Baghai therefore comes as a great surprise," the museum said in a statement.

"The British Museum has acted throughout in good faith, and values highly its hitherto good relations with Iran. It is to be hoped that this matter can be resolved as soon as possible."

An official at Iran's cultural organization said it cut ties after the museum failed to meet a final deadline for the loan on Sunday and said it would complain to the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Many historians regard the cylinder, discovered in 1879, as the world's first declaration of human rights.

"The British Museum has a long standing policy of lending its unparalleled collection as widely as possible across the world to benefit the greatest number of world publics," the institution added.

"This cultural exchange is a vital part of the museum's commitment to being a museum for the world ... allowing valuable dialogues to develop independently of political considerations."

But Iran sees political reasons for the delay as it occurs in the wake of turmoil following Iran's disputed presidential election, the English-language Teheran Times reported yesterday.

"The British Museum is not only a cultural place but also is a political center," said Baghai.

The Teheran newspaper said Iran has been waiting to receive the Cyrus Cylinder on loan from the British Museum since 2005 after the National Museum of Iran loaned the British Museum a number of artifacts for the "Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia" show in London.

Source: China Daily/AFP