MOCTEZUMA'S HEADDRESS TO BE PRESENTED IN MEXICO

NEGOTIATIONS CONDUCTED FOR 3 YEARS BY THE MEXICAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS (SRE) AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ANTHROPOLOGY AND HISTORY (INAH) OF THE AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENT, ARE ABOUT TO REACH A HISTORICAL AGREEMENT THAT WOULD BRING MOCTEZUMA'S HEADDRESS TO MEXICAN TERRITORY. FRIENDLY RELATION SUSTAINED BETWEEN THE MEXICAN AND AUSTRIAN GOVERNMENTS WOULD ACHIEVE A GOOD-WILL EXCHANGE THAT WOULD CRYSTALLIZE THE DREAM OF MILLIONS OF MEXICANS OF ADMIRING THE FEATHER HEADDRESS ATTRIBUTED TO THE LAST MEXICA TLATOANI (RULER). THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATION PROJECT BETWEEN MUSEUMS HEADED TOWARDS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE HEADDRESS, WHICH EFFORTS HAVE BEEN INTENSIFIED DURING THE ADMINISTRATION OF PRESIDENT FELIPE CALDERON. FEBRUARY 2010 CONSTITUTED A BI-NATIONAL COMMISSION IN CHARGE OF CONDUCTING SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF THE PIECE TO DETERMINE ITS PHYSICAL STATE AND IDENTIFY THE NECESSARY RESTORATION PROCESSES THAT WOULD ALLOW ITS EVENTUAL TRANSPORT AND EXHIBITION IN THE COUNTRY. WHEN THE PROJECT ENDS, A UNIQUE PUBLICATION WILL BE PRODUCED TO SHOW THE ARTISTIC, CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL VALUE OF THE FEATHER HEADGEAR. MEXICO AND AUSTRIA ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRE-HISPANIC PIECE AS COMMON CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND, IN THAT SPIRIT, ASSUME THE RESPONSIBILITY.