12 July 1995

Doc. 7356

MOTION FOR A RECOMMENDATION

on the restitution of the Romanian national treasure

presented by Mr SEVERIN, Romania, SOC

and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

      The Assembly,

1.       Considering that the Bolshevik authorities, which came to power in Russia in 1917 as a result of the communist revolution that took place in this country, confiscated without any right, without any legitimacy nor any valid judgment, Romania's state treasure, deposited willingly by the Romanian Government in Russia under the safeguard of the Russian Government in autumn 1916, in order to protect it from being captured during the first world war;

2.       Noting that the above-mentioned treasure has not yet been given back except for a small amount, despite repeated requests made by the Romanian Government;

3.       Paying attention to the process by which Romania's treasure is returned by the Russian Government, within the admission procedure of the Russian Federation as a full member of the Council of Europe,

4.       Recommends that the Committee of Ministers take the appropriate measures to make the Russian Government return the treasure to Romania, as proof of the sincerity of the democratisation process within the Russian Federation and as a contribution to the elimination of the tension which still exists amongst the European states.

Signed:

(see overleaf)

Signed:

Severin, Romania, SOC

Németh, Hungary, LDR

Gricius, Lithuania, LDR

Severinsen, Denmark, LDR

Kelam, Estonia, EDG

Jaani, Estonia, EPP

Newall, United Kingdom, EDG

Ragnarsdóttir, Iceland, EDG

Columberg, Switzerland, EPP

Ruffy, Switzerland, SOC

Err, Luxembourg, SOC

Rodeghiero, Italy, LDR

*       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