Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MOSCOW2421
2007-05-24 10:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
RUSSIA: REORGANIZATION STALLS REVIEW OF ART
how-toVZCZCXRO5227 PP RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHPOD RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHMO #2421 1441056 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 241056Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0544 INFO RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
UNCLAS MOSCOW 002421
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR L/CID/VPADMANABHAN; EUR/RUS/JARMSTRONG;
EUR/OHI/JBECKER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNAR PGOV PHUM PREL RS SCUL
SUBJECT: RUSSIA: REORGANIZATION STALLS REVIEW OF ART
RESTITUTION CASES
REF: SECSTATE 22823
This message is sensitive but unclassified and is not
intended for Internet distribution.
UNCLAS MOSCOW 002421
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR L/CID/VPADMANABHAN; EUR/RUS/JARMSTRONG;
EUR/OHI/JBECKER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNAR PGOV PHUM PREL RS SCUL
SUBJECT: RUSSIA: REORGANIZATION STALLS REVIEW OF ART
RESTITUTION CASES
REF: SECSTATE 22823
This message is sensitive but unclassified and is not
intended for Internet distribution.
1. (SBU) Summary. Ministry of Culture Deputy Director for
the Preservation of Cultural Artifacts Yuri Godovanets told
us on May 17 that review of art restitution cases are at a
standstill until Presidential Decree number 320, which
transfers responsibility over restitution to MinCulture's
Department of Legal Affairs and International Relations, is
implemented by mid-June. End summary.
.
2. (SBU) Per reftel, Econoff had delivered the Drey Art
claim on March 21 to both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
the MinCulture. Econoff coordinated with British emboffs who
delivered the identical claim to the MFA. British emboffs
told us that Godovanets refused to accept their copy of the
Drey claim destined for MinCulture and said that the MFA copy
should suffice.
.
3. (SBU) Econoff met with Godovanets on May 17 to discuss
this and the Goya painting restitution case. He said that
his agency, the Federal Service for Monitoring Legal Matters
for Mass Communication and Preservation of Cultural Artifacts
(Rossokhrankultura),is currently undergoing reorganization
ordered by Presidential Decree no. 320 signed on March 12 and
he would no longer be the point of contact for restitution
cases. His service will now report directly to PM Fradkov and
work more closely on intellectual property issues. He told us
the new point of contact is Vladimir Viktorovich Karyakin in
the Department of Legal Affairs and International Relations
at MinCulture. Reorganization needs to be completed within
90 days of the decree's signing.
BURNS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR L/CID/VPADMANABHAN; EUR/RUS/JARMSTRONG;
EUR/OHI/JBECKER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNAR PGOV PHUM PREL RS SCUL
SUBJECT: RUSSIA: REORGANIZATION STALLS REVIEW OF ART
RESTITUTION CASES
REF: SECSTATE 22823
This message is sensitive but unclassified and is not
intended for Internet distribution.
1. (SBU) Summary. Ministry of Culture Deputy Director for
the Preservation of Cultural Artifacts Yuri Godovanets told
us on May 17 that review of art restitution cases are at a
standstill until Presidential Decree number 320, which
transfers responsibility over restitution to MinCulture's
Department of Legal Affairs and International Relations, is
implemented by mid-June. End summary.
.
2. (SBU) Per reftel, Econoff had delivered the Drey Art
claim on March 21 to both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
the MinCulture. Econoff coordinated with British emboffs who
delivered the identical claim to the MFA. British emboffs
told us that Godovanets refused to accept their copy of the
Drey claim destined for MinCulture and said that the MFA copy
should suffice.
.
3. (SBU) Econoff met with Godovanets on May 17 to discuss
this and the Goya painting restitution case. He said that
his agency, the Federal Service for Monitoring Legal Matters
for Mass Communication and Preservation of Cultural Artifacts
(Rossokhrankultura),is currently undergoing reorganization
ordered by Presidential Decree no. 320 signed on March 12 and
he would no longer be the point of contact for restitution
cases. His service will now report directly to PM Fradkov and
work more closely on intellectual property issues. He told us
the new point of contact is Vladimir Viktorovich Karyakin in
the Department of Legal Affairs and International Relations
at MinCulture. Reorganization needs to be completed within
90 days of the decree's signing.
BURNS