AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA AND THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA ON CO-OPERATION IN THE FIELD OF DEFENCE

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Albania, referred to hereinafter as "the Parties",

Taking into consideration the necessity to contribute to strengthening of peace, trust, stability and relations between the countries in Europe and in the World in the spirit of the Charter of United Nations Organization, the Final Act of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Paris Charter for a New Europe,

Expressing their desire for a full membership in NATO as a basic, mutually assisted aim in the sphere of their national security,

Assembling positively the integration processes going on in Europe,

Expressing their desire for a mutually beneficial cooperation based on mutual respect, confidence and cooperation,

Agreed upon the following:

Article 1

PURPOSE OF AGREEMENT

1. The Present Agreement aims the accomplishment of the bilateral cooperation in the field of defence in compliance with the respective legislation.

Article 2

FIELDS OF CO-OPERATION

1. The cooperation and the exchange of information between the Parties cover the following spheres:

a. Defence policy and security policy.

b. Democratic control over the armed forces.

c. Alternative service.

d. Interoperability of the national armed forces with the armed forces of NATO member countries.

e. Exchange of information about joint initiatives within the framework of the Euro Atlantic Partnership Council.

f. Education of military and civilian staff, training and increasing the qualification of the staff.

g. Issues related to peace keeping and humanitarian operations.

h. Military science.

i. Logistics.

j. Military law.

k. Other spheres of mutual interest.

2. The detailed regulation related to specific spheres of cooperation in the above mentioned fields shall be settled by the Parties in the form of additional protocols, which shall become an integral part of the Present Agreement.

Article 3

FORMS OF CO-OPERATION

1. The cooperation between the Parties shall be conducted in the following forms:

a. Meetings of the ministers of defence and the chiefs of staff and their deputies or of other officials authorized by the Parties.

b. Exchange of experience between experts of the Parties in the spheres of action as provided in the Article 2 of the Present Agreement.

c. Organizing and conducting of joint activities in the framework of Partnership for Peace program.

d. Participation of military observers in the respective military exercises.

e. Organizing of joint discussions, consultations, meetings, and partici­pation in courses, symposiums and conferences.

Article 4

PLANS OF CO-OPERATION

1. In order the provisions of the Present Agreement to be applied, a working team consisting of representatives appointed by the Parties shall prepare annual co-operation plans.

2. The working team shall arrange annual meetings on reciprocal basis on the territory of each Party in turn to co-ordinate the co-operation plan for the coming year.

3. Authorized representatives shall sign the annual co-operation plan before 15^th December of the current year.

Article 5

ORGANIZATION OF VISITS

1. The Parties organize official and working visits on a reciprocal basis.

2. The transport expenses to the host Party are covered by the sending Party.

3. The host Party provides the following to the members of the delegation of the sending Party:

a. Food and accommodation.

b. Transport in accordance with the program of the visit.

c. Cultural program.

d. Emergency medical assistance.

4. Costs in the case of events involving groups of more then 10 guest participants (such as military sport teams, military bands or student groups) as well as all other expenses, which might arise in different spheres of co-operation, shall be borne according to a separate agreement between the Parties.

Article 6

PROTECTION OP INFORMATION

1. The Parties, in compliance with their legislation, provide the same protection on the classified information ensured by the Origin Party as they do for their classified information of the same level of classification.

2. Classified information shall be transmitted between the Parties in compliance with the respective legislation on protection of classified information in the State of the Origin Party. The classified information shall be transmitted through official diplomatic channels.

3. Any classified material or information received in the framework of the Present Agreement may not be released or disclosed to third Parties by direct or indirect way, without previous written approval of the Origin Party.

Article 7

final PROVISIONS

1. This Agreement enters info force on the date of its signing and will be in force for five years. It may be extended for another two years, unless one of the Parties notifies the other Party not later than 6 (six) months before the expiry of the Present Agreement, about its intention to terminate the Present Agreement.

2. The Present Agreement may be amended at any time by the mutual consent of the Parties. Amendments will be effected by exchange message or letter and will be numbered consequently.

3. Any dispute, which might arise during interpretation or application of the Present Agreement, shall be settled by consultations and negotiations between the Parties without referring to any national or international tribunal or third Party.

4. Each Party can terminate the Pre­sent Agreement by providing a 6-month advance written notification to the other Party.

5. Party is fully responsible for the use of classified information of the other Party and the prevention of its disclosure after termination of the Present Agreement unless responsibility is declined by the Origin Party.

Signed in Riga, Latvia on 28.01.2005 in two identical copies, each in Albanian, Latvian and English, all the texts being equally authentic.

In case of differences of interpretation, the English version shall prevail.