Italy warns Getty Museum on negotiations

Italian officials warned Wednesday that negotiations with the J. Paul Getty Museum over allegedly looted antiquities are close to breaking down and suggested the Los Angeles museum could face sanctions if a comprehensive deal is not reached next year.

Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli reiterated previous demands that the museum return 47 ancient Greek and Roman artifacts that he said were "unequivocally" smuggled out of Italy over the last 25 years. Last month, the Getty announced it would return 26 of the requested objects _ a decision the Italians called unilateral and unsatisfactory.

"We are at the last chapter, either there is a deal and all the requested pieces are returned to Italy, or there will be a break" in the negotiations, Rutelli said at a news conference in Rome. "If no deal emerges in 2007, clearly the ministry will ... consider its initiatives toward an institution that is unwilling to cooperate with us."

Rutelli said no deadline had been set but he hoped the Getty would respond to Italy's demands at the beginning of the year.

Italy is aggressively campaigning to recover antiquities it says were smuggled out of the country and sold to museums worldwide. It has already signed separate deals this year with New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and Boston's Museum of Fine Arts for the return of a total of 34 artifacts _ including Hellenistic silverware, Etruscan vases and Roman statues _ in exchange for loans of other treasures.

Italy's efforts also include the criminal prosecution of former Getty curator Marion True and art dealer Robert Hecht, on trial in Rome for allegedly knowingly receiving dozens of archaeological treasures that were stolen from private collections or dug up illicitly. The two Americans deny wrongdoing.

Culture Ministry officials have said sanctions could include suspension of work with Italian institutions on cultural studies, excavations, exhibits or artwork loans.

The Getty Trust released a statement Wednesday in response to Rutelli's comments saying it was "saddened" efforts to resolve the issue had been stalled by a 40-year-old claim for a Greek statue found in international waters.

"We continue to look forward to resolving outstanding issues," it added.

The museum's decision to return 26 artifacts _ including sculptures, pottery and frescoes _ left out some of the most prized and contested treasures, including the "Statue of a Victorious Athlete," a Greek bronze believed to date from around 300 B.C.

The museum claims the bronze was found in international waters in 1964 off Italy's eastern coast and that Italy has no claim on it. The Getty denies knowingly buying any illegally obtained objects and has said it remains open to resuming discussions with the ministry on all contested pieces.

Rutelli said Wednesday that a new opinion published by state lawyers found the statue belongs to Italy even if it were found in international waters, as it was brought into the country and then exported illegally.