New York's Met Museum to return 14 stolen artifacts to Cambodia

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New York's Metropolitan Museum (the Met) has agreed to return 14 looted cultural treasures in its possession to Cambodia after several years of negotiations, the Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said in a statement on Saturday.

The repatriation includes several masterpieces, such as the breathtaking sculpture of a 10th-century female goddess (Uma) from the ancient royal capital of Koh Ker, a 10th-century bronze head of Avalokiteshvara, which has a matching torso now at the National Museum of Cambodia, and a 10th-11th century Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara sculpture, the statement said.

Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona said the return of these artifacts, held by the Met, is of utmost importance not only for Cambodia but for humankind.

This undated photo shows a 10th-11th century Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara sculpture to be returned to Cambodia from the United States. /CFP

"The enormous importance to the Cambodian people of these returns is difficult to overstate," she said in the statement. "We have many more treasures at the Met (that) we also hope will be returned to Cambodia."

The minister said this repatriation shows once again Cambodia's continuing commitment to finding and bringing back its ancestors' souls that departed from its motherland.

Sackona also called on other museums and private collectors to return their looted collections of Cambodian antiquities.

"These returns contribute to the reconciliation and healing of the Cambodian people who went through decades of civil war," she said. "We look forward to further returns and acknowledgments of the truth regarding our lost national treasures."

(With input from Xinhua)