HC Deb 12 January 1993 vol 216 cc725-7W
Mr. Dowd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he proposes to sign the 1970 UNESCO convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property; how many countries have signed the aforementioned convention; and if he will list them.

Mr. Key

I have been asked to reply.

Her Majesty's Government have no plans to ratify the 1970 UNESCO convention on the means of prohibiting and preventing the illicit import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property. The 76 contracting states are:

  • Algeria
  • Angola
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Bangladesh
  • Belarus
  • Belize
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Burkina Faso
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Central African Republic
  • China (People's Republic of)
  • Columbia
  • Cote D'Ivoire
  • Croatia (Republic of)1
  • Cuba
  • Cyprus
  • Czechoslovakia
  • Democratic People's Republic of Korea
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Georgia (Republic of)2
  • Greece
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Guinea
  • Honduras
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Iran (Islamic Republic of)
  • Iraq
  • Italy
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
  • Madagascar
  • Mali
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Mongolia
  • Nepal
  • Nicaragua
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Panama
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Republic of Korea
  • Russian Federation3
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Slovinia (Republic of)4
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Tadjikistan (Republic of)5
  • Tunisia
    • 727
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine
  • United Republic of Tanzania
  • United States of America
  • Uruguay
  • Yugoslavia
  • Zaire
  • Zambia
1 This State lodged a notification of succession on 1 July 1992, by which it stated that it was bound by the Convention which Yugoslavia ratified on 3 october 1972. 2 This State lodged a notification of succession on 4 November 1992, by which it stated that it was bound by the Convention that the USSR ratified on 28 April 1988. 3 The instrument of ratification was deposited by the USSR on 28 April 1988. The Director-General has been informed that the Russian Federation would continue the participation of the USSR in UNESCO Conventions. 4 This State lodged a notification of succession on 28 October 1992, by which it stated that it was bound by the Convention which Yugoslavia ratified on 3 October 1972. 5 This State lodged a notification of succession on 8 November 1992, by which it stated that it was bound by the Convention that the USSR ratified on 28 April 1988. Note: The German Democratic Republic accepted the Convention on 16 January 1974. However, on the occasion of the unification of the two German States, it was agreed upon that the united Germany would determine its position with regard to the international treaties adopted by the German Democratic Republic. Germany has not made its position known concerning this Convention.