Conference the study of the constitution and reconstitution of national archival heritages.
The deliberations, in which took part the representatives of the archival administrations
and associations of archivists of the following 45 countries:
Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia,
Congo, Czechoslovakia, France, F.R.G., Ghana, Greece, Guyana, Hungary, India,
Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Ivory-Coast, Kenya, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Morocco,
Netherlands, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Rumania, Senegal, Spain, Sri-Lanka,'
Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, U.R.S.S., U.K., U.S.A., Upper-Volta|
Yugoslavia;
have led to the conclusions indicated below.
The Round Table noted with satisfaction the progress achieved on the theorical level
since adoption of the Resolution 4.212 by the 19th Session of the General Conference of
Unesco. It expressed its full satisfaction regarding the success of the recent bilateral
negociations between, firstly, Austria and Yugoslavia, and, secondly, Indonesia and the
Netherlands.
In accordance with the conclusions of the consultative meeting held in Paris, 16-18 March
1976, which were presented in the form of a draft resolution, the Round Table reaffirms
the right of each state to the recovery of archives which are part of its archival heritage
and which are now kept outside its territory, as well as the right of each national
community to have access, under agreed conditions, to records belonging to other
countries and relevant to its own history and to copy them.
Considering the scope of unresolved archival claims, particularly of those originating
from the colonial system;
Considering that the settlement of these claims falls exclusively within the competence
of the public authorities of the countries concerned;
Considering that this settlement should be achieved through bilateral or multilateral
negociations;
The Round Table recommends:
a. That the opening of negotiations regarding problems of ownership of archives on the
one hand, and rights to access and copying, on the other hand, be promoted among
all interested parties.
b. That the preparation of the technical files intended for use in such negotiations be
entrusted to professional archivists.
The Round Table underlines that the principle of the respect of the integrity of archive
groups should be used as a controlling principle in the settlement of disputed archival
claims.
The Round Table nevertheless recognizes that the concept of functional pertinence may
be relevant in particular circumstances.
The Round Table underlines the advantage of referring to all of the criteria deriving
trom the principle of provenance for determining the patrimonial ownership of disputed
archives, and also emphasizes the value of the concept of common patrimoy as a
regulator in establishing the right of access to archives for the authorities and the citizens
ot countries participating in the patrimony.
The Round Table recognizes the legitimate right of the public authorities and citizens of
countries which formed part of larger political entities, or which were administered by
foreign powers, to be informed on their own history. The legitimate right to information
exists or itself, independently of the ownership of archives.
The Round Table considers that the settlement of conflicting claims may be facilitated
and accelerated in the coming years through a coherent international action. Without
prejudice to possible other international actions, the Round Table considers that the
immediate efforts of ICA should Be directed to the implementation of the following
projects: 6
a. the inventorying of all archive groups, including displaced archives, relating to the
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history of other countries in the custody of both public and private repositories in
each country;
b. the publication of a representative collection of agreements and conventions on the
transfer of original records and on access to archives;
c. the preparation of a treatise on the principles and terms recommended for use in the
settlement of disputed claims, to which would be annexed one or more draft model
agreements;
d a study of ways and means of financing microfilm operations which are expected to
increase as bilateral agreements are concluded. This study should consider the
feasibility of a special international fund administrated by Unesco.
In consequence of the above, the Round Table requests the Executive Committee of
ICA to integrate these four projects in the Medium Term Plan of the organization.
Moreover it requests the Executive Committee to appoint a small group of experts to
contribute to the implementation of the three latter projects.
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