TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 06-803 

________________________________________________________________________ 

CULTURAL PROPERTY 

 Agreement Between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and LITHUANIA 

Signed at Vilnius October 15, 2002 
 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.” 
LITHUANIA 

Cultural Property 

 Agreement signed at Vilnius October 15, 2002; 

 Entered into force August 3, 2006. 

 
AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STAT

AMERICA

AND

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LI

ON

THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION OF C

CULTURAL PROPERTIES

The Government of the United States of America and the Governmen

of Lithuania (hereafter referred to as Parties) —

Desirous of successful mutual cooperation hi the fields of culture and 

of either state,

Convinced that such an agreement will contribute to the strengthen

contacts between the two states,

Bearing in mind the respect due to fundamental human fights, and se

understanding tolerance and fiiendship among all nations, racial and religious g

Convinced that each culture has a dignity and a value which must b

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

Desiring to enhance the protection of cultural heritage and provi

treasures of national and world culture without discrimination,

Considering that deterioration or disappearance of items of the c

constitutes a harmful impoverishment of the heritage of all the nations of the wo

Considering that the protection of cultural heritage can be effective 

both nationally and internationally among states working in close cooperation, 

Considering the principles of the Helsinki Final Act of the Confere

and Cooperation in Europe, and

Desirous of elaborating concrete steps in furtherance of the principle

the 1972 Conveition for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natura

respect to certain items of cultural heritage of the victims of genocide du

World War,
Have agreed as follows

ARTICLE 1

Each Party will take appropriate steps to protect and preserve the cultur

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

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

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

sites of historical significance, monuments, cemeteries, and memorials to th

archival and other authentic and documentary materials relating thereto.

The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania shall be the Exec

implementing this Agreement on the Lithuanian side. The United States Co

Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad shall be the Executive Agent f

this Agreement on the American side. Either Party may, by diplomatic n

change its Executive Agent.

ARTICLE 2

The Parties shall cooperate in identifying lists of appropriate items falling w

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

may publish such lists.

ARTICLE 3

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

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

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 the group concerned, referred to in Article 1, is unable, on it

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

to ensure such protection and preservation of cultural heritage within its te

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

PurPose.

ARTICLE 5

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

designated in the fists of items of cultural heritage. Such lists shall be publicl

communicated to competent federal, state and local authorities.

All properties of cultural heritage so designated shall be protected, preserved

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

shall be ensured.

Such lists of items of cultural heritage shall be designated by the Commissi

Article 6 hereof. The Commission may also designate properties for inclusi
any time.

ARTICLE 6

A Joint Cultural Heritage Commission is hereby established to oversee the 

lists referred to in Articles 2 and 5, and to perform such other functions as 

by the Parties. Each Party shall appoint 3 members of the Commission, wh

by alternates and advisers. Decisions of the Commission shall require 

members. The Parties shall cooperate in supplying the Commission with a

of cultural heritage and information necessary for the execution of its responsibi

Each Party through its representative on the Joint Cultural Heritage Co

referred to in the first paragraph hereof may request that special arrangemen

be worked out under the procedures of the JCHC to protect and preserve the 

in the territory of the other Party of groups not covered under Article 1, in 

cultural heritage is associated with the cultural heritage abroad of citizens 

Party and is in need for any reason of protection and preservation. The 

consider steps, within the scope of its laws and regulations, to respond to the re

ARTICLE 7

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

the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natura

other agreementfor the protection of cultural heritage.

ARTICLE 8

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

countries and the availability of funds.

ARTICLE 9

Disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement sha

the Agents referred to in the third paragraph of Article 1.

ARTICLE 10

This Agreement shall enter into force upon an exchange of notes by which t

each other about the fillfillment of their respective constitutional requireme

force. it may be amended by mutual written agreement of the Parties.

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

the other Party through diplomatic channels of its intention to terminate 

which notice shall be effective six months from the date of delivery.

DONE at 1444.1/5

this /6**Clay of Odle( 2002, in d

English and Lithuanian languages, each text being equally authentic.

FOR THE GOVE OF FOR THE GOVER

THE UNITED ST AMERICA: THE REPUBLIC O
JUNGTINIV AMERIKOS VALSTIN VYRIAUS

LIETUVOS RESPUBLIKOS VYRIAUSYBE

SUSITARIMAS

DEL TAM TIKRIJ KULTUROS OBJEKT1

APSAUGOS IR IgSAUGOJIMO

Jungtiniq Amerikos Valstijq Vyriausybe it Lietuvos Respubliko

(toliau — galys)

siekdamos sekmingo tarpusavio bendradarbiavimo abiejq valsty

kultikos paveldo srityse,

isitildnusios, kad toles susitarimas prisides prie daugybes abiejq v

gerinimo;

atsifvelgdamos biitinybg gerbti pagrindines imogaus teises it siek

visa tautq, etniniq it religiniq grupiq supratimq, tolerancij4 it draugystc,

jsitikinusios, kad kiekviena kultika yra verta pagarbos it pati yra v

privalu gerbti it saugoti, it kad visos kultfros yra bendro visos finonijos pave

siekdamos stiprinti kultikos paveldo apsaugq it uitikrinti, kad na

pasaulio kultikos lobiai taptq prieinami be disluiminacijos,

atsiivelgdamos j tai, kad kultikos paveldo objektq sunykimas ar prai

pasaulio vise} tautq paveldo nuslcurdinimk;

atsilvelgdamos j tai, kad kultfiros paveldo apsauga gali buti veiksmi

kai ji vykdoma nacionaliniu it tarptautiniu lygiu tarp glaudilai bendrad

valstybiq,

atsilvelgdamos j, Europos saugumo it bendradarbiavimo konferenc

baigiamojo akto principus it

noridarnos parengti konlcreias priemones, skirtas 1972 m. Pasau

gamtos paveldo aptaugos konvencijos principams bei tikslams jgyvendinti 

tam tikrus Antrojo pasaulinio karo genocido aukq kultfiros paveldo objektus,
susitari:

1 straipsnis

Kiekviena galis imsis atitinkamq veiksmq, kad apsaugotq ir igsaugottt vis

religion} ar etniniq grupiq (toliau — grupts), kurios gyvena ar gyveno 

jskaitant per Antrkjt pasaulint kart, vykdyto genocido aukas, kultaros paveld

giame Susitarime „lcultUros paveldas" — tai religion} apeigq vietos, istorin

objektai, paminklai, kapints ir mirusiesiems pagerbti skirtos vietos bei su 

archyvint ir kitokia autentigka doktunentint medtjaga.

Lietuvoje gio Susitarimo vykdomasis atstovas yra Lietuvos Respub

ministerija. Amerikoje gio Susitarimo vykdomasis atstovas yra Jungtiniq V

Atnerikos paveldui uf.sienyje igsaugoti. Kiekviena galis pateikusi diplom

galiai gali pakeisti savo vykdomajj, atstovk

2 straipsnis

galys bendradarbiauja siekdamos nustatyti atitinkamq objektq, kurie

straipsnis, swabs, ypad tq, kuriems igkyla sunykimo ar sunaikinimo pav

galls gali igspausdinti tokius skragus.

3 straipsnis

Kiekviena galls ultilcrins, kad kitos galies piliediq ar grupiq, nurodytq 

kultiiros paveldas nei juridigkai, nei faktiglcai nebus diskriminuojamas tailc

galies jstatymus ir kitus teises aktus, susijusius su:

a)jq kultroos paveldo apsauga ir igsaugojimu;

b)teise prisidtti prie jq kultruos paveldo apsaugos ir 

c) galimybe su juo susipeinti visuomenei.

4 straipsnis

Tais atvejais, kai 1 straipsnyje nurodyta gruptpati negali uttikrinti savo k

tinkamos apsaugos ir igsaugojimo, kiekviena galis imasi specialiq priem

teritorijoje ultikrintq tinkanut kulturos paveldo apsaugtt ir igsaugojima, ir, 

reikia paramos, kviedia bendradarbiauti kitk gait bei jos piliedius.

5 straipsnis

4 straipsnyje nurodyti ypatingos reilcgmts kultikos paveldo objektai ttraul

paveldo objektq skragus. Tokie skragai yra viegai skelbiami ir 

kompetentingoms valstybts, valstikt ir vietos valdijos institucijoms.

Visi gie nurodyti kultilros paveldo objektai turi butt saugomi, isaugoti 

kurios i§ galitt galiojanaiuose vidaus teists aktuose numatytu budu. M

visuomenei galimybc jais naudotis.

Tokius kultilros paveldo objektq skralus sudaro 6 straipsnyje nurodyta Kom

gali bet kuriuo metu nurodyti jtrauktinus j, skralk objektus.
6 straipsnis

giuo Susitarimu yra jsteigiama Jungtine lcultfiros paveldo komisija, kur

vykdoma veikla susijusi su 2 it 5 straipsniuose nurodytais skragais ir vykdo 

pavestas funkcijas. Kiekviena galls paskiria po tris Komisijos narius, kuriem

pavaduotojai ir patartjai. Komisijos sprendimai priimami visq nariq su

bendradarbiauja suteikiant Komisijai galimybc susipalinti su kultiiros pav

bei gauti informacija, bOtink jos pareigoms atlikti.

Kiekviena galls per savo atstovk Jungtineje lculttlros paveldo komisijoje

straipsnio 1 dalyje, gali pralyti, kad, remiantis Jungtines kultpros paveldo k

tvarka, bag parengti specialas planai, kaip apsaugoti it isaugoti 1 straipsny

grupiq kultOros paveldk kitos galies teritorijoje tais atvejais, kai toks kultriro

susijcs su pratandiosios galies piliaditl kulttiros paveldu uf.sienyje ir kai jj 

prief,asties reikia apsaugoti it igsaugoti. Vadovaudamasi savo jstatymais 

aktais kita galls aptaria veiksmus atsakant j tolkd pragymk.

7 straipsnis

Jokia §io Susitarimo nuostata neturi bUti aiglcinama kaip atleid ianti kurik n

isipareigojimq pagal 1972 m. Pasaulio kulturos ir gamtos paveldo apsaugos 

kuri nors kitk kultCuos paveldo apsaugos susitarimk

8 straipsnis

is Susitarimas jgyvendinamas vadovaujantis abiejq galiq jstatymais bei kita

ir pagal turimas legas.

9 straipsnis

Su gio Susitarimo ai§kinimu ar taikymu susijc gineai teikiami svarsty

treaiojoje pastraipoje nUrodytiems atstovams.

10 straipsnis

is Susitarimas jsigalioja pasikeitus notomis, kuriomis galys informuoja vie

kad jos iyykde atitinkamus konstitucinius reikalavimus del jsigaliojimo. J

raltu sutikus abiem galims.

gis Susitarimas galioja kol nebus nutrauktas vienai i§ galiq diplomatin

pateikus ralytinj prandimk apie savo ketinimk nutraukti j Susitarimk. Tok

jsigalioja praejus gdiems menesiams nuo pranegimo pateilcimo dienos.

PASIRAgYTAS 200_ m. d. dviem e

anglq ir lietuviq kalbomis, abu tekstai yra autentind.

JUNGTINIV AMERIKOS VALSTIJTJ LIETUVOS RE

VYRIAUSYBE U: VYRIAUSYBE

NOTE: Signed at Vilnius October 15, 2002.