UN Security Council Resolution

The UN Security Council Resolution 1483 which approved new post-war arrangements in Iraq - adopted by a 14-0 vote on 22 May 2003 - imposes a world-wide ban on trade in or transfer of Iraqi cultural property illegally removed since 6 August 1990.

Clause 7 of the Resolution states that [the Security Council]:
"Decides that all Member States shall take appropriate steps to facilitate the safe return to Iraqi institutions of Iraqi cultural property and other items of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific, and religious importance illegally removed from the Iraq National Museum, the National Library, and other locations in Iraq since the adoption of resolution 661 (1990) of 6 August 1990, including by establishing a prohibition on trade in or transfer of such items and items with respect to which reasonable suspicion exists that they have been illegally removed, and calls upon the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Interpol, and other international organizations, as appropriate, to assist in the implementation of this paragraph;"

Clause 6 of the Resolution also calls for action to implement previous Security Council resolutions demanding the return of Kuwaiti cultural property, including the National Archives of Kuwait, illegally removed to Iraq in 1990.

The reference in clause 7 to ..."other locations in Iraq" is particularly important, since under the country's Antiquities Acts 1936 - 1975 all movable antiquities over 100 years old have legal protection wherever they are located within the country - not just those in museum collections. The law also provides for close regulation of exports, archaeological excavations and chance archaeological finds, and all newly discovered antiquities etc. have been the legal property of the State since the days of the British Mandate in the 1920s.

Any antiquity discovered in, or removed without authority from, Iraq since shortly after the end of World War I are likely to be National property, and anything on the international art or antiquities market is likely to be clandestine and illegal. Consequently all transactions in such material since 6th August 1990 are likely to be affected by the new Security Council resolution, and subject to the Security Council's requirement, binding on all States, that such material be returned.

The full text of the 7 page Security Council resolution in .pdf format is now available on the UN web site at:http://ods-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N03/368/53/PDF/N0336853.pdf?OpenElement

An English translation of the Antiquities Acts 1936-1975 can be downloaded from my "Heritage in Peril" section of Culture & Development on the World Bank-based Development Gateway at: http://developmentgateway.org/download/181160/Iraq-Antiquities-Law.rtf/rtf