The law regulates the import, transit and repatriation of cultural property between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the Hellenic Republic, in application of the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970). The agreement aims at regulating the movement of cultural artifacts, ensuring their legal provenance, and facilitating cooperation in the prevention of illicit trafficking.
The agreement defines that claims for repatriation by a Party are subject to a statute of limitation of one year after its authorities gain knowledge of where and with whom the cultural property is located, at the latest, however 30 years after the cultural property is illicitly exported. It also defines which are the competent authorities for the execution of the agreement, to cooperate directly with one another.
Law 3915/2011 (Α 20/17-02-2011) ratifies the Agreement between the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation and the Government of the Hellenic Republic on the import, transit and repatriation of cultural goods.
