LONDON.-The Royal Academy of Arts is pleased to confirm that The Secretary of State for Culture, Rt Hon James Purnell MP, has signed the Commencement Order for Part 6 - Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007. The provision, which brings into force 'immunity from seizure' legislation, commenced at 00.01 on 31st December 2007.

Charles Saumarez Smith, Chief Executive, Royal Academy of Arts said: "We are very grateful to the Secretary of State for bringing forward the 'immunity from seizure' legislation to enable the exhibition From Russia: French and Russian Master Paintings 1870-1925 from Moscow and St Petersburg to come to London. We expect that the exhibition will go ahead and we anticipate that the Russian Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography will give final approval to the loans when the department reopens after the New Year holidays in time for the shipment of the works from Düsseldorf to London. We are very grateful to the Russian authorities for their co-operation.”