Russian Federation's commitments regarding the return of cultural property
Doc. 7624
28 August 1996
MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION
presented by M. VALKENIERS and others
This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it
1. On its accession to the Council of Europe, the Russian Federation undertook "to negotiate claims for the return of cultural property to other European countries on an ad hoc basis that differentiates between types of property (archives, works of art, buildings, etc.) and of ownership (public, private or institutional); to return without delay the property of religious institutions; [and] to settle rapidly all issues related to the return of property claimed by Council of Europe member states, in particular the archives transferred to Moscow in 1945" (Opinion no.193, point 10.xii, xiii and xiv).
2. We have learnt that the Duma has passed a law stipulating that cultural property appropriated by Russia after the Second World War is now the property of Russia. This law is absolutely unacceptable.
3. The Assembly reminds the Russian Federation and the Duma that it must respect its commitments.
4. It asks the Russian delegation to the Assembly to put pressure on the Upper House not to adopt this law and to urge President Yeltsin not to sign it under any circumstances.
5. The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers urges the Russian Government to negotiate claims for the return of cultural property.
Signed[1]:
Valkeniers, Belgium, LDR
Beaufays, Belgium, EPP
Clerfayt, Belgium, LDR
Eyskens, Belgium, EPP
Ghesqui�re, Belgium, EPP
Maximus, Belgium, SOC
Staes, Belgium, EPP
Urbain, Belgium, SOC
Van der Maelen, Belgium, SOC
Weyts, Belgium, EPP
[1] SOC : Socialist Group
EPP : Group of the European People's Party
EDG : European Democratic Group
LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group
UEL : Group of the Unified European Left