About concerning the imposition of import restrictions on categories of archaeological and ethnological materials of Uzbekistan

07.11.2023

Agreement

Between The Government of The Republic of Uzbekistan and The Government of The United States of America

[Registered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the State Register under the number № 4534-US-2023-H]

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the United States of America, hereinafter referred to as the «Parties»;

Acting pursuant to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, to which both countries are States party; and

Desiring to reduce the incentive for pillage of irreplaceable archaeological and ethnological material representing Uzbekistanʼs cultural heritage;

Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE I

1. The Government of the United States of America shall, in accordance with its legislation, including the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, restrict the importation into the United States of certain archaeological material ranging in date from 50,000 BCE to 1773 CE and certain ethnological material important to the cultural heritage of the people of Uzbekistan 600 to 1917 CE, identified in the list to be promulgated by the Government of the United States of America (hereinafter referred to as the Designated List), unless the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan issues a certificate which informs that such exportation was not in violation of its laws.

2. The Government of the United States of America shall offer for return to the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan any object or material on the Designated List forfeited to the Government of the United States of America.

3. Such import restrictions shall become effective on the date the Designated List is published in the U.S. Federal Register, the official United States Government publication providing fair public notice.

ARTICLE II

1. Both Parties shall publicize this Agreement and the reasons for it.

2. The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall continue to use its best efforts to maintain and share with the Government of the United States of America information about unauthorized excavations, thefts of cultural property, trafficking of cultural property, and other threats that jeopardize its cultural patrimony. To assist in these efforts, the Government of the United States of America shall use its best efforts to facilitate technical assistance to the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan as appropriate under available programs in the public and/or private sectors.

3. The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall continue to use its best efforts to take steps consistent with the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property to protect its cultural patrimony. To assist in these efforts, the Government of the United States of America shall use its best efforts to facilitate technical assistance to the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan as appropriate under available programs in the public and/or private sectors.

4. The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan shall continue to use its best efforts to engage other countries having a significant import trade in archaeological and ethnological material from Uzbekistan to deter a serious situation of pillage of cultural property.

5. Each Party shall use best efforts to encourage interchange of archaeological and ethnological material for cultural, educational, and scientific purposes, including long-term loans of such material to promote widespread public appreciation of and access to Uzbekistanʼs rich cultural heritage.

6. Each Party shall continue to endeavor to keep the other informed of the measures taken to implement this Agreement.

ARTICLE III

The obligations of both Parties and the activities carried out under this Agreement shall be subject to their respective laws and regulations, including those with respect to the availability of appropriated funds.

ARTICLE IV

1. This Agreement shall enter into force upon signature; it shall remain in force for a period of five (5) years, unless extended.

2. This Agreement may be extended and/or amended only by mutual written consent of the Parties.

3. The Parties shall review the effectiveness of this Agreement before the expiration of the five (5)-year period in order to determine whether this Agreement should be extended.

4. Either Party may notify the other, in writing through diplomatic channels, of its intention to terminate this Agreement prior to its date of expiry. In such a case the termination shall come into effect six (6) months after the date of notification.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective Governments, have signed the present Agreement.

DONE at Tashkent City, Uzbekistan this 7th day of November, 2023, in duplicate, in the Uzbek and English languages, both texts being equally authentic.

(signature)