Part II

THEFT OF ART WORKS AND CULTURAL OBJECTS. Such crimes pose a potential threat to the cultural heritage of all nations. Tombs and monu­ments were blown up in the days of the Egyptian pharaohs, too. But today's so­phisticated weapons used in perpetrating crime and high demand for cultural objects (which can be easily transported nowadays) have enabled international plunderers to work out a system through which they can deprive a whole region, or even a whole country, of its priceless cultural heritage. Every year art works worth an estimated $4.5 billion are stolen and sold on the world market. Inves­tigators are searching for 45,000 valuable works of art, as 2,000 new objects appear on the list every month.

THEFT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. The concept "theft of in­tellectual property" includes violation of the rights of authors and performers, and unlawful use of copyright marks and trademarks. The temptation to repro­duce protected works illegally and sell them cheaply or at their usual prices, is overwhelming, especially in countries with an underdeveloped economy. It is difficult to measure in monetary terms the extent of the damage done to the countries where intellectual property is produced and registered. The Asso­ciation of American Software Makers has estimated that illicit use of software alone causes losses of $7.5 billion annually. Copyright marks cannot be forged by small enterprises or lone entrepreneurs. This job requires skillful coordina­tion and a streamlined marketing system - a business that often requires collu­sion with government officials.

ILLICIT ARMS TRADE. Armed conflicts in hot spots worldwide are fueled by an international network of arms producers and suppliers. The scale of their activity defies statistical valuation. There are not many underworld arms dealers, but they are great tricksters who act in collusion with government agen­cies. Complete information on the illicit arms trade is unavailable, despite the fact that the origins of the arms and military equipment can be traced.

The most dangerous aspect of these crimes is illicit trafficking in ra­dioactive materials. All attempts at such deals have so far failed, with the goods not reaching the addressees. In a number of cases, the people who stole and transported radioactive materials, and those surrounding them were exposed to radiation. Acting on the recommendations of international organizations, many countries have already established control on the sources of radioactive materi­als.

HIJACKING OF PLANES. Airlines suffered a great deal from this crime in the 1970s and 1980s. Only in rare cases the culprits were lone crimi­nals who demanded ransoms. In most air crimes the terrorists made political demands in an attempt to demonstrate their power, make their organizations known, and propagate their ideologies.

Countermeasures against hijacking were swift and effective. Today there are much fewer cases of hijacking.

1. Why does theft of art work pose a serious threat to the culture of a nation?

2. What does the concept "theft of in­tellectual property" include?

3. Where is the theft of in­tellectual property most widely spread?

4. What is the most dangerous aspect of illicit arms trade?

5. What is the aim of political demands of hijacking?