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TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 18-223.1
 

CULTURAL EXCHANGES, 

PROPERTY AND COOPERATION 

Archaeological Material 

Memorandum of Understanding 

Between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and BELIZE 

Signed at Belmopan February 23, 2018 
 

 

 

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.” 
 

 

 

 

 

 

BELIZE 

Cultural Exchanges, Property and 

Cooperation: Archaeological Material 

Memorandum of understanding 

signed at Belmopan 

February 23, 2018; 

Entered into force February 23, 2018; 

With effect from February 27, 2018. 
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING 

BETWEEN 

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STA TES OF AMERICA 

AND 

THE GOVERNMENT OF BELIZE 

CONCERNING THE IMPOSITION OF IMPORT RESTRICTIONS 

ON CATEGORIES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL MATERIAL OF BELIZE 

The Government ofthe United States ofAmerica and the Government ofBelize; 

Acting pursuant to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means ofProhibiting and Preventing 

the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer ofOwnership ofCultural Property, to which both 

countries are States party; 

Desiring to reduce the incentive for pillage ofirreplaceable archaeological material representing 

Belize's rich cultural heritage; and 

Recalling the Memorandum ofUnderstanding between the Government ofthe United States of 

America and the Government ofBelize Concerning the Imposition oflmport Restrictions on 

Categories of Archaeological Material Representing the Cultural Heritage ofBelize from the 

Pre-Ceramic (Approximately 9000 B.C.), Pre-Classic, Classic, And Post-Classic Periods ofthe 

Pre-Columbian Era through the Early and Late Colonial Periods, done at Belize City, Belize, 

February 27, 2013 (''the prior MOU"); 

Have agreed as follows: 

ARTICLE I 

1. 	 The Government of the United States ofAmerica shall, in accordance with its legislation, 

including the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, continue to restrict the 

importation into the United States of certain archaeological material that is at least 250 years 

old, ranging in date from the Pre-Ceramic (from approximately 9000 B.C.), Pre-Classic, 

Classic, and Post-Classic Periods ofthe Pre-Columbian era through the Early and Late 

Colonial Periods, which may include categories ofscwpture, vessels, and other objects made 

ofmaterials such as stone, metal, ceramic, bone, shell, wood, and glass identified in the list to 

be promulgated by the Government ofthe United States ofAmerica (hereinafter referred to 

as the Designated List), unless the Government ofBelize issues a license which certifies that 

such exportation was not in violation ofits laws. 
2. 	 The Government ofthe United States ofAmerica shall offer for return to the Government of 

Belize any object or material on the Designated List forfeited to the Government ofthe 

United States ofAmerica. 

3. 	 Such import restrictions went into effect on March 5, 2013, and shall continue to be effective 

from the date of publication ofthe Designated List in the U.S. Federal Register, the official 

U.S. Government publication providing fair public notice. 

ARTICLE II 

1. 	 Both Governments shall publicize this Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MOU) and the 

reasons for it. 

2. 	 The Government ofBelize shall continue to use its best efforts to maintain and share with the 

Government ofthe United States ofAmerica information about unauthorized excavations, 

thefts of cultural property, trafficking of cultural property, and other threats that jeopardize 

its cultural patrimony. 

3. 	 The Government ofBelize 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 Export, 

Import, and Transfer of Ownership ofCultural Property to protect its cultural patrimony. To 

assist in these efforts, the Government ofthe United States ofAmerica shall use its best 

efforts to facilitate technical assistance to the Government ofBelize as appropriate under 

available programs in the public and/or private sectors. 

4. 	 The Government ofBelize shall continue to use its best efforts to engage other countries 

having a significant import trade in archaeological material from Belize to deter a serious 

situation ofpillage of cultural property. 

5. 	 Each Government shall use best efforts to encourage further interchange of archaeological 

material for cultural, educational, and scientific purposes, including long-term loans of such 

material to promote widespread public appreciation of and access to cultural heritage. 

6. 	 Each Government shall continue to endeavor to keep the other informed ofthe measures 

taken to implement this MOU. 

ARTICLE III 

The obligations of both Governments and the activities carried out under this MOU shall be 

subject to their respective laws and regulations, including with respect to the availability of 

appropriated funds. 
ARTICLE IV 


1. 	 This MOU supersedes the prior MOU and shall enter into force upon signature with effect 

from February 27, 2018; it shall remain in force for a period offive (5) years, unless 

extended. 

2. 	 This MOU may be extended and amended only by mutual written consent ofthe Parties. 

3. 	 The Government ofthe United States ofAmerica and the Government ofBelize shall review 

the effectiveness ofthis MOU before the expiration ofthe five (5)-year period in order to 

determine whether the MOU should be extended. 

4. 	 Either Party may notify the other, in writing through diplomatic channels, ofits intention to 

terminate this MOU prior to its date of expiry. In such a case the termination shall come into 

effect six ( 6) months after the date ofnotification. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized by their respective 

Governments, have signed the present MOU. 

DONE at f;etM O/tZt1, this rebrua/y ~' ?o/6'in duplicate, in the English language. 

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF FOR THE GOVERNMEN OF 

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: