TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 03-722

________________________________________________________________________

CULTURAL PROPERTY

Agreement between the

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

and ESTONIA

Agreement Signed at Tallinn January 16, 2003 

 
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent

evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof

or authentication thereof.”
ESTONIA

Cultural Property

Agreement signed at Tallinn January 16, 2003;

 Entered into force July 22, 2003.
AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATE

AMERICA

AND

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ES

ON

THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION

OF CERTAIN CULTURAL PROPERTIES

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of 

of Estonia, (hereafter referred to as Parties)

Desirous of successful mutual cooperation in the field of cultural heritage,

Convinced that such an agreement will contribute to the strengthening of 

contacts between the two states,

Bearing in mind the respect due to fundamental human rights, and seekin

understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial and religious grou

Convinced that each culture has a dignity and a value which must be resp

preserved, and that all cultures form part of the common heritage belonging to all 

Desiring to enhance the protection of cultural heritage and provide acces

of national and world culture without discrimination,

Considering that deterioration or disappearance of items of the cultural he

constitutes an impoverishment of the heritage of all the nations of the world,

Considering that the protection of cultural heritage can be effective only 

both nationally and internationally among states working in close cooperation,

Considering the principles of the Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on 

and Cooperation in Europe, and

Desirous of elaborating concrete steps in furtherance of the principles an

the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritag

respect to certain items of cultural heritage of the victims of genocide,
Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1

Each Party will take appropriate steps to protect and preserve the cultural heritag

national, religious, or ethnic groups (hereafter referred to as "groups") that reside 

its territory, including victims of genocide during the Second World War.

The term "cultural heritage" for the purposes of this Agreement means places of w

sites of historical significance, monuments, cemeteries, and memorials to the dead

archival materials relating thereto.

ARTICLE 2

The Parties shall cooperate in identifying a list of appropriate items, which fall with

scope of Article 1, particularly those which are in danger of deterioration or destru

ARTICLE 3

Each Party will ensure that there is no discrimination, in form or in fact, against th

heritage of any group referred to in Article 1 or against the nationals of the other P

scope and application of its laws and regulations concerning:

(a) the protection and preservation of their cultural

heritage;

(b) the right to contribute to the protection and

preservation of their cultural heritage; and

(c) public access thereto.

ARTICLE 4

In cases where a group concerned, referred to in Article 1, is unable, on its own, t

adequate protection and preservation of its cultural heritage, each Party shall take 

to ensure such protection and preservation of cultural heritage within its territory a

invite the cooperation of the other Party and its nationals where assistance is requi

purpose.

ARTICLE 5

Properties of cultural heritage, referred to in Article 4, that are of special significan

designated in a list of items of cultural heritage. Such a list shall be publicly announ

communicated to competent federal, state, and local authorities.
All properties of cultural heritage so designated shall be protected, preserved, and 

the manner stipulated by valid legal internal regulations of either Party. Public ac

shall be ensured.

Such a list of items of cultural heritage shall be designated by the Commission ref

Article 6 hereof. The Commission may also designate properties for inclusion in 

any time.

ARTICLE 6

A Joint Cultural Heritage Commission (JCHC) is hereby established to oversee th

of a list referred to in Articles 2 and 5, and to perform such other functions as are 

it by the Parties. Each Party shall appoint one or more member(s) to the JCHC, w

assisted by alternates and advisers. Decisions of the JCHC shall require the assent 

members. The Parties shall cooperate in supplying the JCHC with access to the it

cultural heritage and information necessary for the execution of its responsibilities

Each Party through its representative on the JCHC referred to in the first paragra

may request that special arrangements, as appropriate, be worked out under the p

the JCHC to protect and preserve the cultural heritage in the territory of the other 

groups not covered under Article 1, in cases where such cultural heritage is associ

the cultural heritage abroad of citizens of the requesting Party and is in need for a

protection and preservation. The other Party will consider steps, within the scope 

and regulations, to respond to the request.

The United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad 

Executive Agent for implementing this Agreement on the American side. The Nat

Heritage Board of the Republic of Estonia shall be the Executive Agent for implem

Agreement on the Estonian side. Either Party may, by diplomatic note to the othe

Executive Agent.

ARTICLE 7

Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to relieve either Party of its obligatio

the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritag

other agreement for the protection of cultural heritage.

ARTICLE 8

This Agreement shall be implemented in accordance with the laws and regulations 

countries and the availability of funds.

ARTICLE 9

Disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement sha

to the Agents referred to in the third paragraph of Article 6.
ARTICLE 10

This Agreement shall enter into force upon an exchange of diplomatic notes 

Parties inform each other about the fulfillment of their respective legal requir

necessary for this Agreement's entry into force. It may be amended by mutua

agreement of the Parties.

This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by either Party giving s

prior written notice through diplomatic channels to the other Party of its inten

terminate this Agreement.

DONE at 

re, liinn , on thistiot day of Unuary 2003, in dup

English and Estonian languages, each text being equally authentic.

FOR 111E GOVERNMENT OF FOR Int GOVERNM

•

THE D STATES RICA: THE REPUBLIC OF E

•
AMEERIKA UHENDRIIKIDE VALITSUSE

JA

EESTI VABARIIGI VALITSUSE

VAHELINE

TEATAVATE KULTUURIVAARTUSTE

KAITSE JA SAILITAMISE

KOKKULEPE

Ameerika Uhendriikide valitsus ja Eesti Vabariigi valitsus (edaspidi "lepingupo

pidades silmas edukat koostO6d kultuuriparandi kaitsel,

veendunud, et kokkulepe aitab kaasa kahe riigi arvukate suhete tugevnemisele

pidades silmas pohilisi inimaigusi ja ptiiides edendada koigi rahvaste, rassi- ja u

vahelist mOistmist, sallivust ja saprust,

veendunud, et kOik kultuurid vaarivad lugupidamist ja sailitamist ning et kultuu

inirnkonna ilhisest parandist,

soovides taustada kultuuriparandi kaitset ning vaima1dada koigile juurdepaas 

rahvuskultuuri rikkustele,

arvestades, et kultuuriparandisse kuuluva vara havimine vOi kahjustumine muu

vaesemaks ki5ik maailma rahvad,

arvestades, et kultuuriparandi kaitse saab olla tahus vaid siis, kui riigid teevad 

koostOOd nii riiklikul kui rahvusvahelisel tasandil,

arvestades Euroopa Julgeoleku- ja Koostbijkonverentsi Helsingi l'Oppakti pOhim

soovides astuda konkreetseid samme 1972.a Ulemaailmse kultuuri- ja looduspa

konventsiooni pahimatete ja eesmarkide toetamiseks genotsiidiohvrite kultuuri

kuuluva vara suhtes,
on kokku leppinudjörgmises.

ARTIKKEL 1

Lepingupooled astuvad vajalikke samme kaigi oma territooriumil elavate voi e

rahvus-, usu- voi etniliste gruppide (edaspidi "grupid"), sealhulgas Teise maail

toimunud genotsiidi ohvrite kultuuriparandi kaitsmiseks ja sailitamiseks.

Kaesolevas kokkuleppes tahendab "kultuuriparand" kultusekohti, ajaloolise ta

kohti, monumente, kalmistuid, malestusmarke Mug asjakohaseid arhiivimaterja

ARTIKKEL 2

Lepingupooled abistavad teineteist artikliga 1 hOlmatud vara loetelu koostamise

erilist tahelepanu havimisohus vai halvenevas seisukorras kultuuriparandile.

ARTIKKEL 3

Lepingupooled tagavad, et ei kehtesta uhegi artiklis 1 nimetatud ruhma kultuu

teise lepingupoole kodaniku suhtes vormiliselt ega sisuliselt diskrimineerivaid 

Oigusakte, mis kasitlevad:

(a) nende kultuuriparandi kaitset ja sailitamist;

(b) Oigust osaleda nende kultuuriparandi kaitsmisel ja sailitamisel; f

(c) avalikkuse juurdepaasu nende kultuuriparandile.

ARTIKKEL 4

Juhul, kui artiklis 1 nimetatud grupp ei suuda ise oma vahenditega tagada oma

kultuuriparandi piisavat kaitset ja sailitamist, astuvad lepingupooled samme om

territooriumil paikneva kultuuriparandi kaitsmise ja sailitamise tagamiseks fling 

abivajadusel teise lepingupoole ja tema kodanike poole.

ARTIKKEL 5

Kultuuriparandisse kuuluva vara nimekirjas margitakse ara, milline artiklis 4 ni

vara on erilise tahtsusega. Nimekirjad tehakse illdsusele teatavaks ning saadeta

padevatele fOderaal-, riigi- ja kohalikele asutustele.

Erilist tahtsust omavana margitud kultuuriparandisse kuuluvat vara kaitstakse, 

ja tahistatakse kummagi lepingupoole kehtivate siseriiklike Oigusaktidega etten

Lepingupooled tagavad avalikkuse juurdepaasu nimetatud varale.

Kultuuriparandisse kuuluva vara nimekirja koostab artiklis 6 nimetatud komisjo

Komisjon vOib nimekirja igal ajal taiendada.

ARTIKKEL 6

Artiklites 2 ja 5 nimetatud nimekirja funktsioneerimise kontrollimiseks ning tei

lepingupoolte delegeeritud Olesannete taitmiseks luuakse kaesolevaga Kultuuri

Uhiskomisjon (JCHC). Lepingupooled nimetavad komisjoni kumbki Uhe vOi m

keda vOivad abistada asetaitjad ja nOustajad. Komisjoni otsuste vastuvOtmisek

kaigi liikmete nausolek. Lepingupooled tagavad komisjonile Uhiselt juurdepaas

kultuuriparandisse kuuluvale varale ning komisjoni Ulesannete taitmiseks vajali

informatsioonile.
AMEERIKA END

VALITSUSE EL

Lepingupooled vaivad oma esindaja kaudu 'bikes 1 nimetatud Kultuuriparand

Uhiskomisjonis (JCHC) taotleda, et komisjon tOOtaks vaimaluse korral vAlja e

lepingupoole territooriumil elavate artiklis 1 nimetatuga halmamata gruppide

kultuuriparandi kaitsmiseks ja sailitamiseks juhul, kui tegemist on lepingupool

vAlismaal paikneva kultuuriparandiga ning mis tahes pahjusel on vajalik selle k

Teine lepingupool piiiiab taotluse rahuldada, kaaludes oma siserii

Oigusaktide raames vaimalike sammude astumist.

Ameerika poolel on kaesoleva kokkuleppe taitevorganiks Ameerika Uhendriik

vAlismaal paikneva kultuuriparandi kaitse komisjon. Eesti poolel on kokkulep

taitevorganiks Eesti Vabariigi Muinsuskaitseamet. Lepingupooled vaivad taite

muuta, teatades sellest teisele poolele diplomaatilisel teel.

ARTIKKEL 7

Kaesoleva kokkuleppe satteid ei ole lubatud kasutada lepingupoolte vabastam

Ulemaailmse kultuuri- ja loodusparandi kaitse konventsiooni vai mane teise

kultuuriparandi kaitsekokkuleppega ette nahtud kohustuste taitmisest.

ARTIKKEL 8

Kokkulepet rakendatakse kooskalas lepingupoolte siseriiklike Oigusaktidega n

arvestades rahaliste vahendite olemasolu.

ARTIKKEL 9

Kokkuleppe talgendamise ja kohaldamise vaidlusi lahendavad artikkel 6 laigus 

nimetatud asutused.

ARTIKKEL 10

Koldculeppe jaustumiseks on vajalik diplomaatiliste nootide vahetamine, mille

lepingupooled teavitavad teineteist kokkuleppe jaustumiseks vajalike siseriikli

tingimuste taitmisest. Kokkulepet vaib muuta lepingupoolte kirjalikul kokkule

Lepingupool vaib kokkuleppe lapetada, teatades lopetamise soovist teisele le

kirjalilcult diplomaatiliste kanalite kaudu kuus kuud ette.

KOOSTATUD -rAlti"Adis "..,i4Animbt;1 2°4'1 kahes eksemplaris i

keeles; mOlemad tekstid on veirdselt autentsed.

EESTI V

VALITS