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Cato Schiøtz is Martin Schøyen’s lawyer.
Photo: Aud Darrud / NRK
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– We has on repeated occasions discussed whether there is a legal basis for return in accordance with Norwegian law, and has demonstrated that the current provisions on return cannot be given retroactive effect for items acquired before January 2007.
Roland says that Schøyen has on several occasions been told to submit documentation for the objects, but has chosen not to respond to the requests.
– We hope he comes with more documentation, says Roland.
Schiøtz responds to this.
– The Ministry itself has emphasized that it is not possible to operate with the reverse burden of proof that the report provides instructions for. In fact, anyone who claims that something has been removed illegally must prove this. This is a consistently significant error in the report, says Schiøtz.
Value of many millions
Roland says that it is now up to Iraq to decide what they want to do next.
– It is their responsibility to claim the items. I do not know what they will do, but I would assume that a claim will come pretty soon.
Among the objects are several cuneiform scrolls from ancient Mesopotamia.
The most valuable tablet may be a floor plan of the mythical Tower of Babel, from the time of King Nebuchadnezzar II.
The drawing is considered to be worth many million DKK.
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The Tower of Babel is a mythical tower known from Genesis. Most modern scientists believe that the tower can be linked to a real temple in Babylon, Etemanki, built around 600 BC.
Photo: Pieter Brueghel the Elder
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