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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Protocol on return of cultural property from Serbia to Croatia signed

Belgrade/ Zagreb, 23 March 2012

Minister of Culture, Media and Information Society Predrag Markovic and Croatian Minister of Culture Andrea Zlatar-Violic signed today in Zagreb the Protocol on the return of cultural property from Serbia to Croatia.

Predrag Markovic, left, and Andrea Zlatar-Violic

After the signing of the protocol on the premises of the Croatian State Archives, Markovic said the so far 23, 600 objects have been returned from Serbia to Croatia, while a further 1,065 are in the process of identification.

He explained that the protocol stipulates that the items in question be returned by the end of 2013, at the speed at which the Croatian side provides conditions for their accommodation.

Markovic pointed out that the process of return is harmonised with international rules, the entire documentation on cultural property has been completed, all the necessary export licenses obtained and all standards have been met regarding the collection and transport of the property.

Markovic said that the Serbian Ministry of Culture allocated RSD14,353,896 for conservation and restoration works in the period from 2008 to 2012.

Zlatar-Violic also said that signing of this document is of great importance, adding that during nearly ten years, numerous items were returned, including collections from the museum and the Franciscan monastery in Vukovar and the materials and artifacts from Jasenovac.

After the signing of the protocol, the Minister met with President of Croatia Ivo Josipovic who expressed satisfaction with the signing of the document because it helps solve one of the outstanding issues between the two countries.

Josipovic expressed his appreciation to everyone who participated in this process, and noted that some of these items are owned by the Serbian Orthodox Church and that they are very important for the preservation of Serbs’ identity in Croatia.