Cultural property constitutes a basic element of civilisation and national culture, and that familiarity with it leads to understanding and mutual appreciation between nations.
It is incumbent upon every state to protect the cultural propety existing within its territory and which constitues its national heritage against the damgers resulting from illicit export, import and transfer of ownership.
To avert these dangers, it is essential for every member state to become increasingly alive to the moral obligations to respect its own cultural heritage and that of all nations.
The objectives...cannot be achieved without close collaboration among member states.
The General Conference recommends that Member States should...take whatever legislative or other steps may be required to give effect, within their respective territories, to the principles and norms formulated in this recommendation.