EN
The article discusses historical and social conditions of the establishment of the A.S.O. of June 16, 1976. The provisions o f the Convention have been compared to an earlier international American instrument (the Roerich Pact) as well as to present recommendations and opinions o f the UNESCO on the protection o f cultural values. The author points out a relatively broad scope o f the activities of the Convention of the A.S.O. covering both the protection and popularization of cultural attainments and distinguishing out five categories of the values as well as specifying time criterions for some of them. Legally purchased goods of foreign origin have also been included by the Convention into the artistic heritage of American nations. The fundamental part of the provisions of the Convention refers to the problem o f creating the measures that would make possible the protection o f cultural values in the time of peace. It also puts a number of duties on the Secretariat General o f the Organization of American States.