Cyprus General Information
General information on U.S. Protection
of Cypus Ethnological & Archaeological Materials
I.
U.S. Actions
II.
Categories of Artifacts Subject to Import Restriction
III. Import Regulations
IV. For More Information
I.
U.S. Actions
On April 12, 1999, the U.S. imposed an emergency import restriction
on Byzantine ecclesiastical and ritual ethnological material
from Cyprus unless such material is accompanied by an export permit
issued by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. On August 29,
2003, the U.S. extended this emergency import restriction through
September 4, 2006.
On July 16, 2002, the
U.S. and Cyprus signed a Memorandum of Understanding to protect
certain categories of Pre-Classical and Classical archaeological
material from Cyprus. As of July 19, 2002, these materials may
not enter the U.S. unless such material is accompanied by an export
permit issued by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus.
On August 31, 2006, the U.S. and Cyprus agreed to amend the 2002
MOU to include the import restrictions on both categories of materials.
The revised agreement retains its original timetable.
II.
Categories of Artifacts Subject to Import Restriction
Pre-Classic and Classical
Materials: A description of these artifacts was published by U.S.
Customs on July 19, 2002, in the Federal
Register. The categories subject to import restriction include
objects of ceramic, stone, and metal, including vessels, sculpture,
mosaics, inscriptions, architectural elements, and jewelry. They range
in date from approximately the 8th millennium B.C. to 330 A.D.
Byzantine Ritual and
Ecclesiastical Ethnological Materials: A description of these
artifacts was published by U.S. Customs on 12 April 1999, in the Federal
Register. The categories subject to import restriction include
bronze, silver, and gold ceremonial vessels and objects used in church
rituals, such as censers and liturgical crosses; icons and carved
wooden doors, ivory and bone objects engraved with biblical scenes,
ecclesiastical vestments, wall paintings, and mosaics pavements.
Objects listed
in the Federal Register notices (see links, at right) may enter
the U.S. if they have an export permit issued by the Government of Cyprus
or verifiable documentation that they left Cyprus prior to the effective
date of the restrictions: July 19, 2002 for archaeological materials,
and April 12, 1999, for Byzantine ethnological materials.
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FROM THE FOLLOWING:
Cyprus
General Information Page
Cyprus
Information Page on Byzantine Ritual and Ecclesiastical Ethnological Material
Cyprus
Information Page on Pre-Classical and Classical Archaeological Material
Cyprus
Image Collections: Ethnological & Archaeological Materials
2002
Agreement
2002
Federal Register Notice (Designated List: Archaeology)
2006
Amendment to Agreement
1999
Federal Register Notice (Designated List: Ethnology)
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