For the management of cases that do not fall within the provisions of the Convention of 1970 or other international agreements, in 1978 UNESCO appointed an Intergovernmental Committee for Promoting the Return of Cultural Property to its Countries of Origin or its Restitution in case of Illicit Appropriation. This platform of negotiations, mediation and exchange aims to facilitate the return of cultural goods such as the Parthenon marbles, and at the same time to develop prevention and sensitization measures for the public in relation to the efforts in combating illicit traffic of cultural goods. The aforementioned Committee is compsed by 22 member states and it has mainly an advisory role, as it provides the framework for negotiation, as well as searches for ways to facilitate bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the aim to achieve restitution or return of cultural property, and the information of the public in relation to this issue. However the recommendations of the Committee that refer to inter-state disagreements are not legally binding.
Contact information:
Dr Despo Pilidou
Department of Antiquities
Address: Museum 1, 1516 Nicosia
Tel.: +357 22865806