There has been quite a bit of coverage over Iran’s decision to block cultural events with the UK following the British Museum’s decision to further delay their planned loan of the Cyrus Cylinder.

From:
Fars News Agency

News number: 8810261670
19:10 | 2010-01-16
Official Warns British Museum against Delay in Sending Cyrus Cylinder to Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Vice-President Hamid Baqaei on Saturday called on the British Museum to put an end to the delayed implementation of an agreement held earlier between the two sides and send the Cyrus Cylinder to Iran, warning that Tehran may drop all relations with the Museum in case the delay is prolonged any further.

“We are currently holding negotiations with the British Museum. We will cut all our cultural relations with the museum if we realize later that the British Museum has been wasting time and seeking excuses to shrug off our requests,” said Baqaei, who is also Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO).

He also cautioned that Iran would refer the case to the UNESCO or other international bodies in case of further delays in the sending of the artifact to Iran, but added that the evidence existing on the case shows that the British side does not intend to turn down Iran’s request.

Earlier in October, The Spokesman of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Hassan Mohseni said that after talks between the Keeper of British Museum on the Middle-East section John Curtis and the Iranian officials, two sides agreed to display the cylinder in Iran for four months from January 16.

Mohseni further stated that the two sides also reached agreement on packaging, protection and insurance of the artifact.

He added that Iran will make every effort to keep the valueless cylinder extremely safe when it arrives in the country.

The Iranian cylinder was discovered in 1879 and it is now being kept in ancient Iran section of the British Museum.

From:
Reuters

Iran may cut British Museum ties in antiquity row
Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:42pm GMT

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran will cut its links with the British Museum and ask bodies such as UNESCO to reconsider their own ties if the museum does not keep a promise to lend Iran an ancient Persian treasure, Iranian media reported on Sunday.

Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization said in October it had set a two-month deadline for the British Museum to allow the public display in Iran of the so-called Cyrus Cylinder, linked to the Persian ruler’s 6th century BC conquest of Babylon.

The Museum, which houses a vast collection of world art and artifacts, said in September that plans to hand over the 2,500-year-old clay cylinder had been delayed due to unspecified “practicalities.”

“If we find out for certain that the British Museum does not want to send the Cyrus Cylinder to Iran and is simply trying to kill time, we will cut all our ties with that organization,” the daily Arman quoted Hamid Baqaie, head of Iran’s Cultural, Handicraft and Tourism Organization, as saying.

“We will also ask all international cultural organizations, such as the UNESCO, to reconsider ties with the British Museum for not honoring their commitments.”

No one at the British Museum was available to comment.

Iran’s disputed presidential election in June plunged the country into political turmoil, with street protests that have turned into violent clashes with security forces.

Iran is already at odds with Britain and other Western powers over the Islamic state’s nuclear energy program, which the West suspects is for military aims. Iran denies this, saying it aims solely to produce electricity.

Cyrus is regarded as one of ancient Persia’s greatest historical figures, creating one of the world’s first empires two centuries before Alexander conquered the region.

Cyrus won Babylon in today’s Iraq in 539 B.C. and freed Jews held in captivity there. He is also credited with authoring a decree inscribed on the cylinder named after him, which some have described as the first charter of human rights.

(Editing by Louise Ireland)

From:
Scotsman

Iran warning to British Museum over treasure
Published Date: 18 January 2010
By Louise Ireland

IRAN will cut its links with the British Museum and ask bodies such as Unesco to reconsider their own ties if the museum does not keep a promise to lend Iran an ancient Persian treasure, Iranian media reported yesterday.
Iran’s cultural heritage organisation said in October that it had set a two-month deadline for the British Museum to allow the public display in Iran of the so-called Cyrus Cylinder, linked to the Persian ruler’s sixth-century BC conquest of Babylon.

The Museum said in September that plans to hand over the 2,500-year-old clay cylinder had been delayed due to “practicalities”.

“If we find out for certain that the British Museum does not want to send the Cyrus Cylinder to Iran and is simply trying to kill time, we will cut all our ties with that organisation,” Hamid Baqaie, the head of Iran’s cultural, handicraft and tourism organisation, was quoted as saying.