Amendments to the Law on Culture with regard to the flow of cultural goods

The Law on Culture itself as initially adapted made an ambitious attempt to address the whole diversity of issues related to protection, promotion and safeguarding culture and heritage in the whole diversity of issues that need to be considered at larger policy level in Azerbaijan. The Law made it clear that the national cultural policy is based on the principles of equal opportunities to create and use cultural values and to preserve the heritage (both tangible and intangible) in Azerbaijan. This policy aims to give the right to every person to create, use and disseminate cultural values, irrespective of her or his social and material status, nationality, race, religion and gender. The Law aimed to guarantee freedom of intellectual and creative expression and to provide a legal basis for the development of national culture as a constituent part of world culture. In 2018, a number of revisions to the 2012 "Law on Culture" were passed by the Parliament and approved by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This includes in particular the revisions to Article 42 concerning the export of cultural goods. The new wording of the article notably introduced the possibility of exporting cultural goods on the basis of the certificate issued by the relevant executive authority, which needs to include the serial number, name of the manufacturer or information about the author, the date of creation of the product. The state fee for compiling the certificate on export of cultural goods has been fixed at the price of 20 AZN (10 USD). Finally, the new article also codified the established practice of facilitated procedure for temporary export of cultural property in connection with exhibitions, tours, restoration work, presentations, as well as international cultural events.