New rules could “virtually kill the movement of historic arms” between countries “stone dead” and have a drastic impact on military collections, according to the Museums Association (MA).
The forthcoming UN Arms Trade Treaty, likely
to be ratified in spring next year, could harm museums' ability to
acquire or borrow items, as it seeks to regulate the transfer of
title or control over such equipment and the physical movement in
or out of a national territory.
MA director Mark Taylor said: "The next five
years will see a huge number of military anniversaries for which
museums worldwide are negotiating exchanges and loans."
He added that the International Committee of
Museums of Arms and Military History is lobbying the UN to ensure
an exemption for antique and museum arms and weapons, and he has
also written to the International Council for Museums to ask for
their support.
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