Doc. 8636
26 January 2000

Relocating historic artefacts in their countries of origin

Written Declaration No. 299

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

1.       The Assembly asserts, as a general principle, that historic artefacts should be housed in their countries of origin where their significance can be fully understood and appreciated.

2.       Owain Glyndwr, who led the last Welsh war of independence, sent a letter in 1406 to Charles IV of France seeking diplomatic recognition of Wates as a separate state. Now known as the Pennal Letter, it bears the only known representation of the Welsh hero's signature and seal. It is now in the possession of the French National Library, but is not on display because it is insignificant in the history of France. However it is of preeminent importance to the history of Wales.

3.       The year 2000 is the 600^th anniversary of the establishment of the First Welsh Parliament. It would now be appropriate if Owain Glyndwr's artefacts were returned to Wales which now has, for only the second time in 600 years, its own government situated on Welsh soil.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Flynn, United Kingdom, SOC

Arnau, Spain, SOC

Belohorska, Slovaquia, GDE

Biga-Friganovic, Croatia, SOC

Cox, United Kingdom, SOC

Cryer, United Kingdom, SOC

Etherington, United Kingdom, SOC

Fyfe, United Kingdom, SOC

Gibula, Poland, SOC

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Hancock, United Kingdom, LDR

Hegyi, Hungary, SOC

Herczog, Hungary, SOC

Jones, United Kingdom, SOC

Judd, United Kingdom, SOC

McCafferty, United Kingdom, SOC

McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC

O'Hara, United Kingdom, SOC

Ponsonby, United Kingdom, SOC

Pulgar, Spain, PPE/DC

Rapson, United Kingdom, SOC

Smith, United Kingdom, SOC

Tabajdi, Hungary, SOC

Vermot-Mangold, Suisse, SOC

Vis, United Kingdom, SOC

__________________________

      Total = 25

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group