AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan, hereinafter referred to as "the Parties",

Recognizing friendly relations between the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Azerbaijan,

Acknowledging the necessity of environmentally sound and sustainable development,

Desiring to initiate and continue regular bilateral cooperation between the Parties in the field of sustainable development and particularly - in the field of environmental protection,

Following the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, adopted at Rio de Janeiro on 14 June 1992, and taking into account the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, done at Aarhus on 25 June 1998, the United Nations Millennium Declaration, signed on 8 September 2000 and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and Action Plan, adopted at Johannesburg on 4 September 2002,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The authorized bodies responsible for implementation of the present Agreement are:

On behalf of the Republic of Latvia - Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Latvia;

On behalf of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Article 2

The Parties shall develop and extend mutual cooperation in the field of environmental protection and environmental pollution prevention in the interests of the both Parties, as well as promote further development of economic, scientific and technical contacts, in order to solve global and regional ecological problems by joint efforts.

Article 3

(1) Cooperation of the Parties in the field of environmental protection shall be carried out within the framework of their respective national laws and regulations and taking into account their international obligations in the following areas:

a) Management of protected nature areas;

b) Conservation of biodiversity;

c) Environmental impact assessment;

d) Global climate change;

e) Ozone layer protection;

f) Land protection;

g) Transboundary air pollution;

h) Waste management;

i) Water protection;

(2) The Parties may also agree on other areas of cooperation.

Article 4

(1) Cooperation in the field of environmental protection shall be carried out by mutual consent of the Parties in the following forms:

a) Joint scientific-technical research and programmes;

b) Elaboration of cooperation projects;

c) Exchange of scientific-technical information and documents on research anddevelopment activities and best environmental management practices;

d) Exchange of best available environmental technologies;

e) Exchange of experts;

f) Organization of training programmes, conferences and symposiums;

(2) The Parties may also agree on other forms of cooperation.

Article 5

The Parties shall promote establishment of direct contacts and development of cooperation between institutions, natural and legal persons of the both Parties dealing with the problems of environmental protection.

Article 6

(1) Main issues concerning implementation of the present Agreement and development of cooperation shall be discussed during meetings of the Ministers. Meetings of the Ministers shall be organized by agreement of the Parties on the initiative of either Party.

(2) In order to discuss current issues of cooperation, the Parties may arrange meetings of their representatives by agreement.

(3) Within a month after signing the present Agreement, the Parties shall communicate each other the names of responsible contact persons for coordination and implementation of the cooperation under the present Agreement.

Article 7

(1) The Parties shall finance implementation of the present Agreement on equal basis. Each Party shall cover expenses for participation of its representatives in all joint events; however the receiving Party shall assure premises and necessary equipment to hold joint events. Information to be transferred to the other Party shall be provided free of charge.

(2) In specific cases the Parties may agree otherwise on financing the implementation of the present Agreement.

Article 8

Any disputes that may arise concerning interpretation or application of the present Agreement shall be resolved by negotiations and consultations between the Parties.

Article 9

The present Agreement shall not prejudice the rights and obligations arising out of other effective agreements concluded by the Parties.

Article 10

The Parties shall not be responsible for liabilities of natural or legal persons arising out of contracts and agreements concluded with reference to the present Agreement.

Article 11

Amendments and Addendums shall be made to the present Agreement on the basis of mutual consent of the Parties. Such Amendments and Addendums shall be executed as separate protocols that form an integral part of the present Agreement and enter into force according to the provisions of Article 12.

Article 12

(1) The present Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last written notification through diplomatic channels by which the Parties notify each other that the constitutional requirements necessary for its entry into force have been fulfilled.

(2) The present Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of time.

(3) Either Party may terminate the present Agreement by giving written notification of its intention through diplomatic channels to the other Party at any time. Any such termination shall take effect six (6) months after the date of receipt of the notification by the other Party.

(4) Termination of the present Agreement shall not affect the validity of activities initiated and contracts signed for the implementation of the present Agreement.

Done at Baku, on 25^th June, 2009, in two original copies, each in the Latvian, Azerbaijani and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation of the present Agreement, the English text shall prevail.