The relevance of the “Zakon o denacionalizaciji” (Law on Denationalisation) to cultural heritage lies primarily in its provisions related to the restitution of cultural property. The law explicitly addresses the return of movable and immovable cultural heritage items that were confiscated or nationalized during the post-war period.
Key Points on Cultural Heritage:
Restitution of Cultural Property:
The law mandates the return of movable property that has cultural, historical, or artistic value to its original owners or their heirs, provided it was confiscated under nationalization laws. This includes objects that are part of collections in public museums, galleries, or similar institutions.
Cultural objects are to be returned to their original owners unless they have become integral parts of public collections in national museums or other cultural institutions.
Conditions for Restitution:
The law specifies that items of cultural and natural heritage can only be returned if they are not considered part of public collections essential to the nation’s cultural legacy. If an item is part of a public collection, the owner may be compensated rather than having the item returned.
Restitution may involve the return of ownership rights or the payment of compensation when the physical return of the object is not possible.
Impact on National Collections:
The law ensures that the restitution of cultural heritage does not disrupt the integrity of public cultural collections. If an item is crucial to such a collection, compensation may be provided instead of physical restitution.
Cultural Heritage Protection:
The law aligns with broader efforts to protect and preserve cultural heritage by regulating the return of significant cultural items and ensuring their proper management if they remain within public institutions.
In summary, the “Zakon o denacionalizaciji” is relevant to cultural heritage as it provides a legal framework for the restitution of cultural property that was nationalised, balancing the rights of original owners with the need to preserve public cultural heritage.
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