UNESCO Cultural Property Convention Signatories

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

RIN 1515-AB78

19 CFR PART 12

[T.D. 95-71]

UNESCO Cultural Property Convention Signatories

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document amends the Customs Regulations by republishing

the list of signatory nations to the 1970 United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organization Convention on the Means of

Prohibiting and

[[Page 47467]]

Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of

Cultural Property. Because of the dissolution of the U.S.S.R. and other

political changes in Europe, there have been many changes to the list

in recent years. Rather than noting each change, Customs is publishing

a new list which replaces the existing list.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 13, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donnette Rimmer, Intellectual Property

Rights Branch, 202-482-6960.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

In 1983, the United States enacted the ``Convention on Cultural

Property Implementation Act'' (19 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) which accepted

the 1970 United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and

Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of

Cultural Property (823 U.N.T.S. 231 (1972)). As a party to the

Convention, the U.S. actively participates in efforts to eliminate

illicit traffic in cultural property, that is, items of importance for

archaeology, prehistory, history, literature, art or science.

When a country ratifies, accepts or accedes to the Convention,

Customs accords that country all rights and privileges under the

Convention and adds its name to the list of signatory countries to

provide the public notification of this fact.

There have been numerous additions and changes to this list in

recent years with the reunification of Germany (the reunified state has

not acceded to the Convention, while the former East Germany had); the

dissolution of the former U.S.S.R.; and other political changes in

eastern Europe. Rather than noting each change, Customs has determined

to publish a new list of signatory nations which will replace the

current version in the Customs Regulations.

Inapplicability of Notice and Delayed Effective Date

Because this amendment merely implements a statutory requirement

and involves a matter in which a majority of the public is not

particularly interested, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), no notice of

proposed rulemaking or public procedure is necessary. For the same

reason, a delayed effective date is inappropriate.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

This document is not subject to the provisions of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). That Act does not apply to any

regulation such as this for which a notice of proposed rulemaking is

not required by the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et

seq.), or any other statute.

Executive Order 12866

The amendment does not meet the criteria for a ``significant

regulatory action'' under E.O. 12866.

Drafting Information

The principal author of this document is Peter T. Lynch,

Regulations Branch, Office of Regulations and Rulings, U.S. Customs

Service. However, personnel from other offices participated in its

development.

List of Subjects in 19 CFR Part 12

Customs duties and inspections, Imports, Cultural property.

Amendment to the Regulations

Part 12 of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR Part 12), is amended as

set forth below:

PART 12--SPECIAL CLASSES OF MERCHANDISE

1. The general authority citation for Part 12 and the relevant

specific authority citation continue to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301, 19 U.S.C. 66, 1202 (General Note 20,

Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS)), 1624.

* * * * *

Secs. 12.104-12.104i also issued under 19 U.S.C. 2612.

* * * * *

2. In Sec. 12.104b, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 12.104b State Parties to the Convention.

(a) The following is a list of State Parties which have deposited

an instrument of ratification, acceptance, accession or succession, the

date of such deposit and the date of entry into force for each State

Party:

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Date of entry into

State party Date of deposit force

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Algeria............................................... June 24, 1974 (R)................ Sept. 24, 1974.

Angola................................................ Nov. 7, 1991 (R)................. Feb. 7, 1992.

Argentina............................................. Jan. 11, 1973 (R)................ Apr. 11, 1973.

Armenia, Republic of.................................. Sept. 5, 1993 (S)................ See Note 1.

Australia............................................. Oct. 30, 1989 (Ac)............... Jan. 30, 1990.

Bangladesh............................................ Dec. 9, 1987 (R)................. Mar. 9, 1988.

Belarus............................................... Apr. 28, 1988 (R)................ July 28, 1988.

Belize................................................ Jan. 26, 1990 (R)................ Apr. 26, 1990.

Bolivia............................................... Oct. 4, 1976 (R)................. Jan. 4, 1977.

Bosnia-Herzegovina.................................... July 12, 1993 (S)................ See Note 2.

Brazil................................................ Feb. 16, 1973 (R)................ May 16, 1973.

Bulgaria.............................................. Sept. 15, 1971 (R)............... Apr. 24, 1972.

Burkina Faso.......................................... Apr. 7, 1987 (R)................. July 7, 1987.

Cambodia.............................................. Sept. 26, 1972 (R)............... Dec. 26, 1972.

Cameroon.............................................. May 24, 1972 (R)................. Aug. 24, 1972.

Canada................................................ Mar. 28, 1978 (Ac)............... June 28, 1978.

Central African Republic.............................. Feb. 1, 1972 (R)................. May 1, 1972.

China, People's Republic of........................... Nov. 28, 1989 (Ac)............... Feb. 28, 1990.

Columbia.............................................. May 24, 1988 (Ac)................ Aug. 24, 1988.

Cote d'Ivoire......................................... Oct. 30, 1990 (R)................ Jan. 30, 1991.

Croatia............................................... July 6, 1992 (S)................. See Note 2.

Cuba.................................................. Jan. 30, 1980 (R)................ Apr. 30, 1980.

Cyprus................................................ Oct. 19, 1979 (R)................ Jan. 19, 1980.

Czech Republic........................................ Mar. 26, 1993 (S)................ See Note 4.

Dominican Republic.................................... Mar. 7, 1973 (R)................. June 7, 1973.

Ecuador............................................... Mar. 24, 1971 (Ac)............... Apr. 24, 1972.

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Egypt................................................. Apr. 5, 1973 (Ac)................ July 5, 1973.

El Salvador........................................... Feb. 20, 1978 (R)................ May 20, 1978.

Georgia, Republic of.................................. Nov. 4, 1992 (S)................. See Note 1.

Greece................................................ June 5, 1981 (R)................. Sept. 5, 1981.

Grenada............................................... Sept. 10, 1992 (Ac).............. Dec. 10, 1992.

Guatemala............................................. Jan. 14, 1985 (R)................ Apr. 14, 1985.

Guinea................................................ Mar. 18, 1979 (R)................ June 18, 1979.

Honduras.............................................. Mar. 19, 1979 (R)................ June 19, 1979.

Hungary............................................... Oct. 23, 1978 (R)................ Jan. 23, 1979.

India................................................. Jan. 24, 1977 (R)................ Apr. 24, 1977.

Iran.................................................. Jan. 27, 1975 (Ac)............... Apr. 27, 1975.

Iraq.................................................. Feb. 12, 1973 (Ac)............... May 12, 1973.

Italy................................................. Oct. 2, 1978 (R)................. Jan. 2, 1979.

Jordan................................................ Mar. 15, 1974 (R)................ June 15, 1974.

Korea, Democratic People's Republic of................ May 13, 1983 (R)................. Aug. 13, 1983.

Korea, Republic of.................................... Feb. 14, 1983 (Ac)............... May 14, 1983.

Kuwait................................................ June 22, 1972 (Ac)............... Sept. 22, 1972.

Lebanon............................................... Aug. 25, 1992 (R)................ Nov. 25, 1992.

Libya................................................. Jan. 9, 1973 (R)................. Apr. 9, 1973.

Madagascar............................................ June 21, 1989 (R)................ Sept. 21, 1989.

Mali.................................................. Apr. 6, 1987 (R)................. July 6, 1987.

Mauritania............................................ Apr. 27, 1977 (R)................ July 27, 1977

Mauritius............................................. Feb. 27, 1978 (Ac)............... May 27, 1978.

Mexico................................................ Oct. 4, 1972 (Ac)................ Jan. 4, 1973.

Mongolia.............................................. June 23, 1991 (Ac)............... Aug. 23, 1991.

Nepal................................................. June 23, 1976 (R)................ Sept. 23, 1976.

Nicaragua............................................. Apr. 19, 1977 (R)................ July 19, 1977.

Niger................................................. Oct. 16, 1972 (R)................ Jan. 16, 1973.

Nigeria............................................... Jan. 24, 1972 (R)................ Apr. 24, 1972.

Oman.................................................. June 2, 1978 (Ac)................ Sept. 2, 1978.

Pakistan.............................................. Apr. 30, 1978 (R)................ July 30, 1981.

Panama................................................ Aug. 13, 1973 (Ac)............... Nov. 13, 1973.

Peru.................................................. Oct. 24, 1979 (Ac)............... Jan. 24, 1980.

Poland................................................ Jan. 31, 1974 (R)................ Apr. 30, 1974.

Portugal.............................................. Dec. 9, 1985 (R)................. Mar. 9, 1986.

Qatar................................................. Apr. 20, 1977 (Ac)............... July 20, 1977.

Romania............................................... Dec. 6, 1993 (R)................. Mar. 6, 1994.

Russian Federation.................................... Apr. 28, 1988 (R)................ See Note 3.

Saudi Arabia.......................................... Sept. 8, 1976 (Ac)............... Dec. 8, 1976.

Senegal............................................... Dec. 9, 1984 (R)................. Mar. 9, 1985.

Slovak Republic....................................... Mar. 31, 1993 (S)................ See Note 4.

Slovenia, Republic of................................. Oct. 10, 1992 (S)................ See Note 2.

Spain................................................. Jan. 10, 1986 (R)................ Apr. 10, 1986.

Sri Lanka............................................. Apr. 7, 1981 (Ac)................ July 7, 1981.

Syria................................................. Feb. 21, 1975 (Ac)............... May 21, 1975.

Tadjikistan, Republic of.............................. Aug. 11, 1992 (S)................ See Note 1.

Tanzania.............................................. Aug. 2, 1977 (R)................. Nov. 2, 1977.

Tunisia............................................... Mar. 10, 1975 (R)................ June 10, 1975.

Turkey................................................ Apr. 21, 1981 (R)................ July 21, 1981.

Ukraine............................................... Apr. 28, 1988 (R)................ July 28, 1988.

United States of America.............................. Sept. 2, 1983 (Ac)............... Dec. 2, 1983.

Uruguay............................................... Aug. 9, 1977 (R)................. Nov. 9, 1977.

Yugoslavia............................................ Oct. 3, 1972 (R)................. Jan. 3, 1973.

Zaire................................................. Sept. 23, 1974 (R)............... Dec. 23, 1974.

Zambia................................................ June 21, 1985 (R)................ Sept. 21, 1985.

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Code for reading second column: Ratification (R); Acceptance (Ac); Accession (A); Succession (S).

Notes:

1. The Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Georgia, and the Republic of Tadjikistan each deposited a

notification of succession in which each declared itself bound by the Convention as ratified by the USSR on

April 28, 1988 and which entered into force on July 28, 1988.

2. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia each deposited notification of succession in which

each declared itself bound by the Convention as ratified by Yugoslavia on Oct. 3, 1972 and entered into force

on January 3, 1973.

3. The Government of the Russian Federation informed the Director General of UNESCO that the Russian Federation

continues without interruption the participation of the USSR in all UNESCO Conventions. The instrument of

ratification was deposited by the former USSR on April 28, 1988. and entered into force on July 28, 1988.

4. The Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic each deposited a notification of succession in which each declared

itself bound by the Convention as accepted by Czechoslovakia on Feb. 14, 1977 and which entered into force on

May 14, 1977.

[[Page 47469]]

* * * * *

George J. Weise,

Commissioner of Customs.

Approved: August 21, 1995.

Dennis M. O'Connell,

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.

[FR Doc. 95-22644 Filed 9-12-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820-02-P