Agreement Between The Republic Of Latvia And Organisation For The Prohibition Of Chemical Weapons On The Privileges And Immunities Of The Organisation

Whereas Article VIII, paragraph 48, of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction provides that the Organisation shall enjoy on the territory and in any other place under the jurisdiction or control of a State Party such legal capacity and such privileges and immunities as are necessary for the exercise of its functions;

Whereas Article VIII, paragraph 49, of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction provides that delegates of States Parties, together with their alternates and advisers, representatives appointed to the Executive Council together with their alternates and advisers, the Director-General and the staff of the Organisation shall enjoy such privileges and immunities as are necessary in the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the Organisation;

Whereas notwithstanding Article VIII, paragraphs 48 and 49 of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, the privileges and immunities enjoyed by the Director-General and the staff of the Secretariat during the conduct of verification activities shall be those set forth in Part II, Section B, of the Verification Annex;

Whereas Article VIII, paragraph 50, of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction specifies that such legal capacity, privileges and immunities are to be defined in agreements between the Organisation and the States Parties,

Now, therefore, the Republic of Latvia and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have agreed as follows:

Article 1

DEFINITIONS

In this Agreement:

(a) "Convention" means the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction of 13 January 1993;

(b) "Organisation" means the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons established under Article VIII, paragraph 1, of the Convention;

(c) "Director-General" means the Director-General referred to in Article VIII, paragraph 41, of the Convention, or in his absence, the Acting Director-General;

(d) "Officials of the Organisation" means the Director-General and all members of the staff of the Secretariat of the Organisation;

(e) "States Parties" means the States Parties to the Convention;

(f) "Representatives of States Parties" means the accredited heads of delegation of States Parties to the Conference of the States Parties and/or to the Executive Council or the Delegates to other meetings of the Organisation;

(g) "Experts" means persons who, in their personal capacity, are performing missions authorised by the Organisation, are serving on its organs, or who are, in any way, at its request, consulting with the Organisation;

(h) "Meetings convened by the Organisation" means any meeting of any of the organs or subsidiary organs of the Organisation, or any international conferences or other gatherings convened by the Organisation;

(i) "Property" means all property, assets and funds belonging to the Organisation or held or administered by the Organisation in furtherance of its functions under the Convention and all income of the Organisation;

(j) "Archives of the Organisation" means all records, correspondence, documents, manuscripts, computer and media data, photographs, films, video and sound recordings belonging to or held by the Organisation or any officials of the Organisation in an official function, and any other material which the Director-General and the Republic of Latvia may agree shall form part of the archives of the Organisation;

(k) "Premises of the Organisation" are the buildings or parts of buildings, and the land ancillary thereto if applicable, used for the purposes of the Organisation, including those referred to in Part II, subparagraph 11(b), of the Verification Annex to the Convention.

Article 2

LEGAL PERSONALITY

The Organisation shall possess full legal personality. In particular, it shall have the capacity:

(a) to contract;

(b) to acquire and dispose of movable and immovable property;

(c) to institute and act in legal proceedings.

Article 3

PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES

OF THE ORGANISATION

1. The Organisation and its property, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall enjoy immunity from every form of legal process, except in so far as in any particular case the Organisation has expressly waived its immunity. It is, however, understood that no waiver of immunity shall extend to any measure of execution.

2. The premises of the Organisation shall be inviolable. The property of the Organisation, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from search, requisition, confiscation, expropriation and any other form of interference, whether by executive, administrative, judicial or legislative action.

3. The archives of the Organisation shall be inviolable, wherever located.

4. Without being restricted by financial controls, regulations or moratoria of any kind:

(a) the Organisation may hold funds, gold or currency of any kind and operate accounts in any currency;

(b) the Organisation may freely transfer its funds, securities, gold and currencies to or from the Republic of Latvia, to or from any other country, or within the Republic of Latvia, and may convert any currency held by it into any other currency.

5. The Organisation shall, in exercising its rights under paragraph 4 of this Article, pay due regard to any representations made by the Government of the Republic of Latvia in so far as it is considered that effect can be given to such representations without detriment to the interests of the Organisation.

6. The Organisation and its property shall be:

(a) exempt from all direct taxes; it is understood, however, that the Organisation will not claim exemption from taxes which are, in fact, no more than charges for public utility services;

(b) exempt from customs duties and prohibitions and restrictions on imports and exports in respect of articles imported or exported by the Organisation for its official use; it is understood, however, that articles imported under such exemption will not be sold in the Republic of Latvia, except in accordance with conditions agreed upon with the Republic of Latvia;

(c) exempt from duties and prohibitions and restrictions on imports and exports in respect of its publications.

7. While the Organisation will not, as a general rule, claim exemption from excise duties and from taxes on the sale of movable and immovable property which form part of the price to be paid, nevertheless when the Organisation is making important purchases for official use of property on which such duties and taxes have been charged or are chargeable, the Republic of Latvia will, whenever possible, make appropriate administrative arrangements for the remission or return of the amount of duty or tax.

Article 4

FACILITIES AND IMMUNITIES

IN RESPECT OF COMMUNICATIONS

AND PUBLICATIONS

1. For its official communications the Organisation shall enjoy, in the territory of the Republic of Latvia and as far as may be compatible with any international conventions, regulations and arrangements to which the Republic of Latvia adheres, treatment not less favourable than that accorded by the Government of the Republic of Latvia to any other Government, including the latter's diplomatic mission, in the matter of priorities, rates and taxes for post and telecommunications, and press rates for information to the media.

2. No censorship shall be applied to the official correspondence and other official communications of the Organisation.

The Organisation shall have the right to use codes and to dispatch and receive correspondence and other official communications by courier or in sealed bags, which shall have the same privileges and immunities as diplomatic couriers and bags.

Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to preclude the adoption of appropriate security precautions to be determined by agreement between the Republic of Latvia and the Organisation.

3. The Republic of Latvia recognises the right of the Organisation to publish and broadcast freely within the territory of the Republic of Latvia for purposes specified in the Convention.

4. All official communications directed to the Organisation and all outward official communications of the Organisation, by whatever means or whatever form transmitted, shall be inviolable. Such inviolability shall extend, without limitation by reason of this enumeration, to publications, still and moving pictures, videos, films, sound recordings and software.

Article 5

REPRESENTATIVES

OF STATES PARTIES

1. Representatives of States Parties, together with alternates, advisers, technical experts and secretaries of their delegations, at meetings convened by the Organisation, shall, without prejudice to any other privileges and immunities which they may enjoy, while exercising their functions and during their journeys to and from the place of the meeting, enjoy the following privileges and immunities:

(a) immunity from personal arrest or detention;

(b) immunity from legal process of any kind in respect of words spoken or written and all acts done by them, in their official capacity; such immunity shall continue to be accorded, notwithstanding that the persons concerned may no longer be engaged in the performance of such functions;

(c) inviolability for all papers, documents and official material;

(d) the right to use codes and to dispatch or receive papers, correspondence or official material by courier or in sealed bags;

(e) exemption in respect of themselves and their spouses from immigration restrictions, alien registration or national service obligations while they are visiting or passing through the Republic of Latvia in the exercise of their functions;

(f) the same facilities with respect to currency or exchange restrictions as are accorded to representatives of foreign governments on temporary official missions;

(g) the same immunities and facilities in respect of their personal baggage as are accorded to members of comparable rank of diplomatic missions.

2. Where the incidence of any form of taxation depends upon residence, periods during which the persons designated in paragraph 1 of this Article may be present in the territory of the Republic of Latvia for the discharge of their duties shall not be considered as periods of residence.

3. The privileges and immunities are accorded to the persons designated in paragraph 1 of this Article in order to safeguard the independent exercise of their functions in connection with the Organisation and not for the personal benefit of the individuals themselves. It is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to observe in all other respects the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article are not applicable in relation to a person who is a national of the Republic of Latvia.

Article 6

OFFICIALS OF THE ORGANISATION

1. During the conduct of verification activities, the Director-General and the staff of the Secretariat, including qualified experts during investigations of alleged use of chemical weapons referred to in Part XI, paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Verification Annex to the Convention, enjoy, in accordance with Article VIII, paragraph 51, of the Convention, the privileges and immunities set forth in Part II, Section B, of the Verification Annex to the Convention or, when transiting the territory of non-inspected States Parties, the privileges and immunities referred to in Part II, paragraph 12, of the same Annex.

2. For other activities related to the object and purpose of the Convention, officials of the Organisation shall:

(a) be immune from personal arrest or detention and from seizure of their personal baggage;

(b) be immune from legal process in respect of words spoken or written and all acts performed by them in their official capacity;

(c) enjoy inviolability for all papers, documents and official material, subject to the provisions of the Convention;

(d) enjoy the same exemptions from taxation in respect of salaries and emoluments paid to them by the Organisation and on the same conditions as are enjoyed by officials of the United Nations;

(e) be exempt, together with their spouses from immigration restrictions and alien registration;

(f) be given, together with their spouses, the same repatriation facilities in time of international crises as officials of comparable rank of diplomatic missions;

(g) be accorded the same privileges in respect of exchange facilities as are accorded to members of comparable rank of diplomatic missions.

3. The officials of the Organisation shall be exempt from national service obligations, provided that, in relation to nationals of the Republic of Latvia, such exemption shall be confined to officials of the Organisation whose names have, by reason of their duties, been placed upon a list compiled by the Director-General of the Organisation and approved by the Republic of Latvia. Should other officials of the Organisation be called up for national service by the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Latvia shall, at the request of the Organisation, grant such temporary deferments in the call-up of such officials as may be necessary to avoid interruption in the continuation of essential work.

4. In addition to the privileges and immunities specified in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, the Director-General of the Organisation shall be accorded on behalf of himself and his spouse, the privileges and immunities, exemptions and facilities accorded to diplomatic agents on behalf of themselves and their spouses, in accordance with international law. The same privileges and immunities, exemptions and facilities shall also be accorded to a senior official of the Organisation acting on behalf of the Director-General.

5. Privileges and immunities are granted to officials of the Organisation in the interests of the Organisation, and not for the personal benefit of the individuals themselves. It is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to observe in all other respects the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia. The Organisation shall have the right and the duty to waive the immunity of any official of the Organisation in any case where, in its opinion, the immunity would impede the course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the Organisation.

6. The Organisation shall cooperate at all times with the appropriate authorities of the Republic of Latvia to facilitate the proper administration of justice, and shall secure the observance of police regulations and prevent the occurrence of any abuse in connection with the privileges, immunities and facilities mentioned in this Article.

Article 7

EXPERTS

1. Experts shall be accorded the following privileges and immunities so far as is necessary for the effective exercise of their functions, including the time spent on journeys in connection with such functions:

(a) immunity from personal arrest or detention and from seizure of their personal baggage;

(b) in respect of words spoken or written or acts done by them in the performance of their official functions, immunity from legal process of every kind, such immunity to continue notwithstanding that the persons concerned are no longer performing official functions for the Organisation;

(c) inviolability for all papers, documents and official material;

(d) for the purposes of their communications with the Organisation, the right to use codes and to receive papers or correspondence by courier or in sealed bags;

(e) the same facilities in respect of currency and exchange restrictions as are accorded to representatives of foreign Governments on temporary official missions;

(f) the same immunities and facilities in respect of their personal baggage as are accorded to members of comparable rank of diplomatic missions.

2. The privileges and immunities are accorded to experts in the interests of the Organisation and not for the personal benefit of the individuals themselves. It is the duty of all persons enjoying such privileges and immunities to observe in all other respects the laws and regulations of the Republic of Latvia. The Organisation shall have the right and the duty to waive the immunity of any expert in any case where, in its opinion, the immunity would impede the course of justice and can be waived without prejudice to the interests of the Organisation.

Article 8

ABUSE OF PRIVILEGE

1. If the Republic of Latvia considers that there has been an abuse of a privilege or immunity conferred by this Agreement, consultations shall be held between the Republic of Latvia and the Organisation to determine whether any such abuse has occurred and, if so, to attempt to ensure that no repetition occurs. If such consultations fail to achieve a result satisfactory to the Republic of Latvia and the Organisation, the question whether an abuse of a privilege or immunity has occurred shall be settled by a procedure in accordance with Article 10.

2. Persons included in one of the categories under Articles 6 and 7 shall not be required by the territorial authorities to leave the territory of the Republic of Latvia on account of any activities by them in their official capacity. In the case, however, of abuse of privileges committed by any such person in activities outside official functions, the person may be required to leave by the Government of the Republic of Latvia, provided that the order to leave the country has been issued by the territorial authorities with the approval of the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Latvia. Such approval shall be given only in consultation with the Director-General of the Organisation. If expulsion proceedings are taken against the person, the Director-General of the Organisation shall have the right to appear in such proceedings on behalf of the person against whom they are instituted.

Article 9

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND VISAS

1. The Republic of Latvia shall recognise and accept as valid the United Nations laissez-passer issued to the officials of the Organisation, in accordance with special Organisation arrangements, for the purpose of carrying out their tasks related to the Convention. The Director-General shall notify the Republic of Latvia of the relevant Organisation arrangements.

2. The Republic of Latvia shall take all necessary measures to facilitate the entry into and sojourn in its territory and shall place no impediment in the way of the departure from its territory of the persons included in one of the categories under Articles 5, 6 and 7 above, whatever their nationality, and shall ensure that no impediment is placed in the way of their transit to or from the place of their official duty or business and shall afford them any necessary protection in transit.

3. Applications for visas and transit visas, where required, from persons included in one of the categories under Articles 5, 6 and 7, when accompanied by a certificate that they are travelling in their official capacity, shall be dealt with as speedily as possible to allow those persons to effectively discharge their functions. In addition, such persons shall be granted facilities for speedy travel.

4. The Director-General, the Deputy Director(s)-General and other officials of the Organisation, travelling in their official capacity, shall be granted the same facilities for travel as are accorded to members of comparable rank in diplomatic missions.

5. For the conduct of verification activities visas are issued in accordance with paragraph 10 of Part II, Section B, of the Verification Annex to the Convention.

Article 10

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

1. The Organisation shall make provision for appropriate modes of settlement of:

(a) disputes arising out of contracts or other disputes of a private law character to which the Organisation is a party;

(b) disputes involving any official of the Organisation or expert who, by reason of his official position, enjoys immunity, if such immunity has not been waived in accordance with Article 6, paragraph 5, or Article 7, paragraph 2, of this Agreement.

2. Any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement, which is not settled amicably, shall be referred for final decision to a tribunal of three arbitrators, at the request of either party to the dispute. Each party shall appoint one arbitrator. The third, who shall be chairman of the tribunal, is to be chosen by the first two arbitrators.

3. If one of the parties fails to appoint an arbitrator and has not taken steps to do so within two months following a request from the other party to make such an appointment, the other party may request the President of the International Court of Justice to make such an appointment.

4. Should the first two arbitrators fail to agree upon the third within two months following their appointment, either party may request the President of the International Court of Justice to make such appointment.

5. The tribunal shall conduct its proceedings in accordance with the Permanent Court of Arbitration Optional Rules for Arbitration Involving International Organisations and States, as in force on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

6. The tribunal shall reach its decision by a majority of votes. Such decision shall be final and binding on the parties to the dispute.

Article 11

INTERPRETATION

1. The provisions of this Agreement shall be interpreted in the light of the functions which the Convention entrusts to the Organisation.

2. The provisions of this Agreement shall in no way limit or prejudice the privileges and immunities accorded to members of the inspection team in Part II, Section B, of the Verification Annex to the Convention or the privileges and immunities accorded to the Director-General and the staff of the Secretariat of the Organisation in Article VIII, paragraph 51, of the Convention. The provisions of this Agreement shall not themselves operate so as to abrogate, or derogate from, any provisions of the Convention or any rights or obligations which the Organisation may otherwise have, acquire or assume.

Article 12

FINAL PROVISIONS

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of deposit with the Director-General of an instrument of ratification of the Republic of Latvia. It is understood that, when an instrument of ratification is deposited by the Republic of Latvia it will be in a position under its own law to give effect to the terms of this Agreement.

2. This Agreement shall continue to be in force for so long as the Republic of Latvia remains a State Party to the Convention.

3. The Republic of Latvia and Organisation may enter into such supplemental agreements as may be necessary.

4. Consultations with respect to amendment of this Agreement shall be entered into at the request of the Republic of Latvia or the Organisation. Any such amendment shall be by mutual consent expressed in an agreement concluded by the Republic of Latvia and the Organisation.

Done in The Hague in duplicate on 25 September 2000, in the Latvian and English languages, each text being equally authentic.

 

For the Republic For the Organisation

of Latvia, for the Prohibition

of Chemical Weapons,

Kārlis Eihenbaums Josē M.Bustami

Permanent Representative Director-General