Director General of Culture of the Government of Aragon, Pedro OlukiHe criticized the “resounding silence” of the Catalan government regarding the conflict over the Siena frescoes. In statements to ABC, after the sectoral conference held on Wednesday in … Madrid to the autonomous regions With the Minister of Culture, Oloki described Catalonia’s repeated silence “with regard to this and all other issues” as “worrying”. He added: “But this completely concerns them, and this silence is, to say the least, disturbing.”
Uluki demanded that Ernest Urtasun commit to returning the frescoes from the Monastery of Siena, so that the works “return to their homeland in compliance with the court rulings, and in the development of the rule of law and the cultural rights of the people of Aragon.” The Director General also called for “respect and consideration for Aragonese technicians” who enjoy “the highest national and international esteem.” He remembered that Natalia Martinez de Bessonin charge of the artistic teams, “is the leading national and international expert in the preservation and transfer of mural collections.”
Aragon and Catalonia are waiting for the court to rule on the death sentence to determine the criteria for transfer
For Aragon, the return of the Siena murals “represents a fundamental issue” in its cultural relations with the government of Spain. He stressed that the guiding axis can only be compliance with the ruling, which stipulates three points: “Aragon’s ownership of the fresco complex, the obligation to return the paintings to the monastery, and the full validity of the transfer.” All three things are preordained. Aragon and Catalonia are waiting for the court to rule on the death sentence to determine the criteria for transfer.
Urtasun limited his statements to the press to demanding “respect for the work of technicians.” “It is not a good idea for us in politics to criticize these actions, not the actions of Aragon, not the actions of MNAC, not the actions of General State, nor the actions of IPCE.” The minister defended that “what is important is that the technicians work together, within the framework of the MNAC Board of Trustees, which is the one that justice interrogates, and the solution is found.”