Unesco welcomes return of cultural property to Algeria

United NationsEducational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(Unesco) welcomed the return to Algeria of the Mask of Gorgone and French painter Jean-François Millet's painting "La Béquée", stolen from Algeria. The Mask of Gorgone, stolen from Hippone museum (Annaba) in 1996 and, French painter Jean-François Millet's painting "La Béquée" stolen from Oran's municipal museum in 1985, was respectively restored to Algeria on 10 and 13 April. In a letter sent to minister of Culture Khalida Toumi, dated on 14 April and Unesco's representative in the Maghreb in Rabat, Michael Millward praised the Algerian government for its work, considered as "a successful example of international cooperation." In his letter, the representative of Unesco appreciated the "tireless" work of the Ministry of Culture as part of the 1970 Convention on measures against illicit transfer of cultural property.