26th January 2006, 09:42 AM
Hi Tile Man. I hear what you're saying, and the debate itself is interesting, but as far as I understand it the Convention is binding on the Government, and since they've signed it, they should implement it - whatever stink the CIA causes. In that sense the debate is irrelevant. The Convention says that procedures for the authorisation and supervision of archaeological activities shall be applied, and that's what Government has to do. Anything less is inadequate, is a cop-out on their part, and defeats the whole purpose of signing the thing in the first place.