The Cultural Exchange Treaty

Purpose

The Purpose of this Treaty is as follows

1. To promote cross regional co-operation in all aspects of cultural research and education.

2. To allow all citizens of the region to take ownership of their own culture and traditions.

3. To allow all citizens of the region to experience and appreciate the culture and traditions of their neighbours.

4. To promote greater respect and understanding between the nations of the world

To these ends the signatories of this treaty agree to the following

1. The remains of any human ^[1] found must be returned to the nation of origin if that nation requests it. The repatriation should be carried out with 12 months and costs will be meet by the nation requesting it. Any disputes will be handled using Appendix 1

2. A standardised regional method of cataloguing artefacts will be drawn up and all attempts should be made to digitalise this allowing access to scholars of all levels across the region.

3. Any artefacts discovered which are thought to be non-native are to be catalogued as in Article 2. These artefacts should then be made available to the native nation on the same conditions as Article 1 after approval has been given by the panel of scholars. The panel of scholars shall follow the guidelines as set out in Appendix 1.

4. Scholars of all nations should not be prevented from accessing sites of interest in other nations as long as the following conditions are meet.

i ) The study does not interfere with research already being undertaken at the site.

ii) Non destructive techniques are used.

iii) Scholars undertaking the study comply with all local customs and laws

iv) If an area is considered "off limits" by the government of the nation then alternative methods of study must be contemplated.

v)A nation may reserve the right to refuse entry if the nation has evidence of actions, speech or beliefs that contradict those customs and or laws of the host nation.

5. Each nation will establish a faculty at a University which is devoted to the study of non-native history and cultures.This faculty is to administer a course designed for exchange students. Furthermore these Universities are to offer outreach schemes to local schools where visiting students teach home nation students about the culture of their own lands.

6. Each nation is to make available for loan a series of artefacts they believe represent a overview of their nations history. These are to be made available for loan to any Treaty nation for a period of 6 months. It is the financial responsibility of the nation loaning the artefacts to cover safe transport costs and to compensate the home nation should any loss or damage occur.

7. The establishment of a Cultural Treaty Organisation which will oversee the administration of the following.

i ) A register of sites which are of interest to more than one nation. The process for admission onto this register shall be as follows. Applications will be made by the government of the nation in which the site is located. Applications to be on this register will be submitted to the panel described in Article 8. A simple 3/4 majority of scholars from treaty signatory nations will enrol sites onto the register.

ii) A quarterly Historical and Cultural Journal which will contain peer reviewed articles by scholars from across the region. This will be open to all citizens of member nations.

iii) An annual conference to take place where the aims of this Treaty can be discussed and promoted.

iv)The establishment of a Cultural Tourism Board which will examine ways of funding and supporting companies offering cultural opportunities to tourists.

v) Each nation shall host an annual Culture Day on the anniversary of this Treaty being signed, this shall be organised to showcase each member nations culture and presents an opportunity for each nation to put on exhibitions of their own culture in all other member states to celebrate the day.

8.Should any disputes arise between nations over the issues of repatriation of artefacts or remains an international panel of scholars will be created that will arbitrate such matters. The panel will consist of one scholar from each nation, the scholars of the nations in dispute will be excluded from passing judgement on the matter disputed. The panel of scholars will use an independent set of guidelines (Appendix 1) to judge disputes.

9. Any nation wishing to join at a latter date may do so as long as they meet the following criteria
i) Agree to uphold the Articles of this Treaty
ii) Obtain the backing of at least two other Treaty nations

Signed:- Queen Alison Cullen of United Moreland

Signed:-
Signed by Doge Augusto Tyre

Signed:-
Approved and ratified by the Order of Commerce

Signed Malka McCracken, Minister of Education, Queendom of Morheim

Signed, Aemisa Kriasxi

Signed, Dr. Mexilina

Signed Gustav Holm, Minister for Culture (Teutonic Union)

Crown Princess Elinora Capalla, the Principality of Ignatz

APPENDIX 1 - Guidelines for Scholars


1. The panel will be made up of one scholar per nation.

2. The chair of the panel will be held by one nation for one calendar year, this will then rotate. We suggest this work alphabetically to avoid disputes.

3. Upon any dispute arising between nations the chair will convene a meeting of the panel. If the chair's nation is involved then they will be disqualified from the meeting and the next country alphabetically will take over the lead of the meeting, that is obviously unless they too are involved in the dispute, in which case it simply rotates to the next.

4. The first role of the chair during the meeting will be to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement between nations.

5. Should this negotiation fail the chair will instigate an investigation into the dispute.

6. Once the investigation is complete the chair will call for a meeting between the nations involved and the panel. During this meeting all sides may present their case.

7. The panel will retire and discuss their decision, they have the option of awarding artefacts to either nation or awarding "Shared custody" (this will
be defined as 6 months in each)

8. In the events of a split vote the Chair will have the casting vote.

9. Should any nation fail to comply with the decision of the panel they will forfeit the right to remain part of this treaty.

10. All nations signed to this treaty agree that military threats or use of force will not be used to solve disputes or influence the panel.

11. Disputes must be brought to the attention of the panel with 24 months of an artefact being catalogued.