TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 09-1102.1 

________________________________________________________________________ 

CULTURAL PROPERTY 

 Agreement Between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and ALBANIA 

Signed at Washington July 12, 2004 
 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.” 
 ALBANIA 

 Cultural Property 

 Agreement signed at Washington July 12, 2004; 

 Entered into force November 2, 2009. 

 
AGREEMENT

BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF

AMERICA

AND

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

ON

THE PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION

OF CERTAIN CULTURAL PROPERTIES

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

Republic of Albania, (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 numero

contacts between the two states,

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

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

groups,

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

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

Desiring to enhance the protection of cultural heritage and provide access to

treasures of national and world culture without discrimination,

Considering that deterioration or disappearance of items of the cultural heritage

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

Considering that the protection of cultural heritage can be effective only if

organized both nationally and internationally among states working in close cooperation,

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

and Cooperation in Europe, and

Desirous of elaborating concrete steps in furtherance of the principles and purpos

of the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage wi

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

ARTICLE I

Each Party will take appropriate steps to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of all

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

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

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

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

as archival materials relating thereto.

ARTICLE 2

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

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

ARTICLE 3

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

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

Party in the 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, to ensure

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

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

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

for this purpose.

ARTICLE 5

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

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

and communicated to competent federal, state, and local authorities.

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

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

thereto shall be ensured.
Such a list of items of cultural heritage shall be designated by the Commission referred to

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

at any time.

ARTICLE 6

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

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

are delegated to it by the Parties. Each Party shall appoint one or more member(s) to the

JCHC, who may be assisted by alternates and advisers. Decisions of the JCHC shall

require the assent of all members. The Parties shall cooperate in supplying the JCHC with

access to the items of cultural heritage and information necessary for the execution of its

responsibilities.

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

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

of the JHCH to protect and preserve the cultural heritage in the territory of the other Party

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

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

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

of its laws and regulations, to respond to the request.

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

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

Cultural Heritage Department in the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of the Republic

of Albania shall be the Executive Agent for implementing this Agreement on the Albanian

side. Either Party may, by diplomatic note to the other, change the Executive Agent.

ARTICLE 7

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

the 1972 Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage or any

other agreement for the protection of cultural heritage.

ARTICLE 8

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

countries and the availability of funds.

ARTICLE 9

Disputes concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be submitted

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 by which the

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

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

agreement of the Parties.
This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by either Party giving six months

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

terminate this Agreement.

DONE at 61141" +rse" , on this 17— day of a: 2004, in

duplicate, in the Engli and Albanian languages, each text being authentic.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF

THE UNITED STA AMERICA:

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF

THE REPUB C OF ALBANIA:
MARREVESILTE

MIDIS

QEVERISE SE SHTETEVE TE BASHKUARA TE

AMERIKES

DHE

QEVERISE SE REPUBLIKES SE SHQIPERISE

PER MBROJTJEN DHE RUAJTJEN

PASURIVE TE CAKTUARA KULTURORE

Qeveria e Shteteve te Bashlcuara të Amerikes dhe Qeveria e Republikds se Shqiperisd (q8

me poshtd do te referohen Si Paid)

Me deshiren per nje bashkepunim të suksesshem reciprok në fushen e trashdgimisd

kulturore;

bindur se nje marreveshje e tine do te kontribuoje në forcimin e kontakteve të shumta

midis te dy shteteve;

Duke mbajtur parasysh respelctimin e te drejtave themelore td njeriut dhe duke dashur

forcimin e mirdkuptimit, tolerances dhe miqdsise midis td gjitha vendeve, grupeve racore

dhe fetare;

Te bindur se cdo kulturd ka dinjitetin dhe vlerdn e saj qd duhet të respektohet dhe te ruhet

dhe se te gjitha kulturat jand pjese e trashegimise se parbashket që i perket gjithe

njerdzimit;

Duke deshiruar td forcojnd mbrojtjen e trashdgimise kulturore dhe td sigurojne hyrje

thesaret kombetare dhe boterore pa dislcrimin;

Duke marre parasysh se rrenimi ose zhdukja e objekteve te trashdgimise kulturore perben

varfdrim të trashegimise sd të gjitha kombeve te botes;

Duke mane parasysh se mbrojtja e trasheghnise kulturore mund t jetd e efelctslune vetem

në rast se organizohet ne nivel kombdtar dhe nddrkombetar, ne bashlcdpunim td ngushte

mes shteteve;

Duke marrd parasysh parimet e Aktit Perfimdimtar të Helsinkit, te Konferences pdr

Sigurim dhe Bashlcdomim nd Evrope dhe

Me ddshiren e nddrmarrjes se hapave konlcrete per të thelluar me tej parimet dhe qdllimet e

Konventds Se vitit 1972 per Mbrojtjen e Trashegimise Boterore Kulturore dhe Natyrore,

lidhje me objelcte të veganta të trashegimise lculturore të viktimave td genocidit,
bien dakord si von:

NEM 1

Secila Pale do te marrd masat e nevojshrne per t mbrojtur dhe ruajtur trashdgimind

kulturore te të gjitha grupeve kombdtare, fetare dhe etnike (qd ketu e md pas do te

referohen si "grupe") qd jetojne ose kand jetuar nd territorin e saj, perfshi dhe viktimat e

genocidit gjate Luftes se Dytd Botdrore.

Termi "trashegimi kulturore", i pdrdorur tie kdtd Marrdveshje kupton vendet e kultit,

qdndrat me rendesi historike, monumentet, varrezat dhe memorialet kushtuar të vdekurve

si dhe materialet arkivore qd lidhen me to.

NENI 2

Paldt do te bashkepunojnd në identifikimin e listds së objekteve tC duhura, cid perfshihen

brenda hapesirds sd nenit 1, vegandrisht ato që rrezikohen t rrenohen ose shIcaterrohen.

NENI 3

Secila Pale do te siguroje qC te mos kete dislcrimin, de jure ose de fakto, kunder

trashegimise kulturore të ndonje grupi te referuar ne nenin I ose lcunddr shtetasve te Pales

tjeter brenda hapesirds dhe zbatimit td ligjeve dhe rregulloreve lidhur me:

(a) mbrojtjen dhe ruajtjen e trashegimise sd tyre lculturore;

(b) tC drejten per te kontribuar per mbrojtjen dhe ruajtjen e trashegimise

sd tyre kulturore; dhe

(c) hyrjen e publikut ne to.

NENI 4

NC rastet kur nje grup i interesuar, qe permendet nC nenin 1, nuk eshte nC gjendje, vetem

per vetem, te siguroje mbrojtjen dhe ruajtjen e pershtashme te trashdgimisd SC tij kulturore,

secila Pale do te marrd masa td posacme per td siguruar nje mbrojtje dhe ruajtje te tilld

trashegimise lculturore brenda territorit tC saj dhe te ftojd per bashlcdpunim Palen tjeter dhe

shtetasit e saj kur dshte e nevojshme nje ndihmd e tilld per kete

NENI 5

Pasuritd e trashegimise kulturore, te permenduara tiC nenin 4, qd jand te nje rendesie

vecante, do te hyjne ne listen e objekteve tC trashegimise kulturore. Kjo listd do te shpallet

publikisht dhe do t'iu komunikohet autoriteteve kompetente federale, shtetdrore dhe lokale.

Td gjitha pasuritd e trashegimise kulturore, qC percaktohen site tilla, do te mbrohen, ruhen

dhe do td vendosen tabela sipas percaktimeve ne regulloret e brendshme ligjore

vlefslune tC smiles pald. Do te sigurohet hyrja e publikut nd to.

Njd lista e tine e objekteve tC trashegimisd kulturore do te percaktohet nga Komisioni

cilit i referohet neni 6 qd vijon. Komisioni gjithashtu mund ta perfshijd pasuri nC kete lista

nC cdo kohd.
NENI 6

Nje Komision i Pdrbashket i Trashdgimise Kulturore (KPTK) krijohet ne menyre q8 te

mbikeqyre veprimet e listes se permendur ne nenet 2 dhe 5, dhe te Icryej8 funksione te

tjera, sic i jane deleguar atij nga Palat. Secila Pale do te caktoje nje ose disa anetare ne

KPTK, q8 mund te ndihmohen nga zevendasat ose keshilltaret e tyre. Vendimet e KPTK-se

do te kerkojne miratimin e te gjithe andtarave. Pal& do ta bashkepunojne per t'i siguruar

KPTK-se te drejt8n per te pare objelctet e trashdgimise kulturore dhe informacionin e

nevojshem me qellim qe te zbatojd pergjegjesite e veta.

Secila Pale nepermjet pdrfaqesuesit te saj ne KPTK, q8 permendet ne paragrafin e pare sa

me siper, mund te kerkoje hartimin e rregulloreve te posacme, si ta shikoje te pdrshtaslune,

sipas procedurave te KPTK-se te mbrojtur dhe ruajtur trashEgimine kulturore ne

territorin e Pales tjetdr, te grupeve qe nuk pdrfshihen ne nenin 1, ne rastet kur nje

trashegimi e fille kulturore eshtd e lidhur me trashegimine kulturore jashte vendit te

shtetasve te Pales kerkuese dhe q8 ka nevoje, per arsye te ndryshme, te mbrohet dhe te

ruhet. Pala tjeter do te konsideroje hapat, brenda shtrirjes se ligjeve dhe rregulloreve te saj,

per t'iu pergjigjur kesaj kerkese.

Komisioni i Shteteve t8 Bashkuara per Mbrojtjen e Trashegimis8 Kulturore te Amerikes

Jashte do te jete Agjenti Elczekutiv per zbatimin e kesaj Marreveshjeje per Palen

amerikane;

Drejtoria e Trashegimise Kulturore, ne Ministrine e Kuhugs, Rinise dhe Sporteve ta

Republikes se Shqiperise do te jetd Agjenti Ekzekutiv per zbatimin e kesaj marreveshjeje

per Palen shqiptare. Secila Pale, me note diplomatike t8 drejtuar tjetres, mund te ndryshoje

Agjentin Elczekutiv.

NENI 7

Asgja ne kete Marr8veshje nuk do te perpilohet per te liruar ndonjeren prej Pal8ve nga

detyrimet e saj sipas Konventds se vitit 1972 per Mbrojtjen e Trashegimise Boterore

Kulturore dhe Natyrore ose ndonje marraveshje tjeter par mbrojtjen e trashegimise

kulturore.

NENI 8

Kjo Marreveshje do te zbatohet ne perputhje me ligjet dhe rregulloret e te dy vendeve dhe

mundesine e fondeve.

NENI 9

Mosmarraveshjet lidhur me interpretimin ose zbatimin e kesaj marreveshjeje do t'u

paraqiten Agjenteve qa pennenden ne paragrafin e trete t8 nenit 6.

NENI 10

Kjo Marreveshje do te hyje ne fuqi pas shkembimit te notave diplomatike me ane te se

cilave secila Pale informon tjetren per plotesimin e kerkesave ligjore perkatese per hyrjen

ne fuqi te kesaj Marreveshjeje. Ajo mund te ndryshohet me marreveshje reciproke me

shkrim nga Palet.
PER QEVERINE E

SHTETEVE It BASHKUARA

TR AMERIKES

Kjo Marraveshje do te qendroja na fuqi deni sa ta zgjidhet nga njara prej Palave duke

njofluar me shkrim 6 muaj parpara, neparmjet kanaleve diplomatike, Palen tjetar per

synimin e zgjidhjes sa kasaj Manaveshjeje.

Bare na 2004, na dy kopje,

na gjuhan shqipe dhe angleze, secili tekst i njejta autentikisht

PER QEVERINE E

REPUBLIICES SE

SHQIP SE

NOTE: The Albanian text of this Agreement was signed July 12, 2004 in Washington, DC.