Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Giorgio Silli, on a mission to Mexico (March 27-28)

On 27 and 28 March, Giorgio Silli, the Italian Undersecretary of State, took part in a mission to Mexico to return 43 pre-Columbian archaeological artefacts (vases, sculptures and votive offerings dating from the III to the XIV century AD). These artefacts, of great historical, artistic and cultural value, were stolen over the years, and recovered in Italy by Carabinieri Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.

The archaeological artefacts were returned on board of the first Rome-Mexico City direct flight operated by Aeromexico on 26 March. On the same flight were also the Italian Undersecretary, Silli, and the Mexican Ministry of Culture, Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, sent to Rome to take over the heritage recovered by Carabinieri.

On 28 March, in the presence of the United Mexican States President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Under-Secretary Silli participated in the ceremony for the restitution of the artefacts. The event was a chance to praise the recovery operation carried out by the Carabinieri Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage within the framework of a broader and fruitful cooperation with the Guardia Nacional.

Moreover, during the mission, Undersecretary Silli had the opportunity to meet Italian entrepreneurs working in the country and visit the Pirelli factory in Silao, Guanajuato State.