CZECHS SUPPORT USG POSITION ON UNESCO PRINCIPLES

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000807

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

EUR/NCE FOR ERIC FICHTE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2016
TAGS: UNESCO KNAR PHUM SCUL EZ
SUBJECT: CZECHS SUPPORT USG POSITION ON UNESCO PRINCIPLES
RELATING TO LOOTED ART

REF: STATE 108279

Classified By: Acting Political-Economic Counselor
Karen C. Reider for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Poloff met separately with the Czech MFA's UNESCO Desk
Officer Karel Komarek and the Czech Ministry of Culture's
General Director of International Relations (EU Affairs) Ales
Grof, to discuss the draft UNESCO Principles Relating to
Cultural Objects Displaced in Relation to the Second World
War.


2. (C) Komarek and Grof said the Czechs agree that the
Principles, if adopted, should be nonbinding in nature and
should facilitate rather than undercut the existing framework
for art restitution. The Czechs, therefore, support the USG's
proposed edits to the draft Principles. Nevertheless, the
Czechs predict little progress will be made at the July 19-21
intergovernmental meeting in Paris at UNESCO, because no
progress has been made in the two years proceeding this
meeting.


3. (C/NF) As a separate concern, Komarek said the Czechs
oppose any claim for restitution made by Sudeten Germans
(the Germans expelled from Czech lands between 1945 and 1948
pursuant to the Benes decrees). Therefore, the Czechs propose
to limit the time frame covered by the Principles to the
years immediately preceding and including the Second World
War. The Czechs also propose to define the term "cultural
objects" narrowly to ensure that "objects" such as buildings,
household goods, or business property are not construed as
"cultural objects" for which a claim for restitution can be
made.
CABANISS