AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA
AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO
ON CULTURAL COOPERATION
The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of
the Republic of Kosovo, hereinafter referred to as the
"Contracting Parties",
aiming to further the development and strengthening of
relations between the Contracting Parties in the field of
culture;
motivated by a mutual desire to promote cultural and
historical identity and shared values in the areas of culture and
cultural heritage;
have agreed as follows:
Article 1
1. The purpose of this Agreement is to develop and support
cultural cooperation between the two countries in the effort to
build and encourage good relations and to facilitate the regional
dialog and the European dialogue on integration.
2. The Contracting Parties, in line with the principles of
equality and mutual benefit, and in accordance with their
respective laws and regulations, shall encourage and facilitate
exchanges and co-operation between the two countries in the field
of culture and provide appropriate opportunities for contacts and
joint activities between the organizations, institutions and
persons that are active in this field.
Article 2
The Contracting Parties shall promote direct cooperation
between their relevant cultural institutions, associations and
individuals in the fields of literature, libraries, archives,
museums, visual arts, theatre, cinematography, music, opera and
ballet, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and in other
cultural areas.
Article 3
The Contracting Parties shall, for the purpose of closer
understanding between the nationals of both countries and for the
development of cooperation, encourage above all:
(a) mutual visits by actors, writers, painters, musicians,
dancers and other representatives of culture and the arts;
(b) exchange of art exhibitions and performances;
(c) exchange and dissemination of films, books, periodicals
and other publications and
(d) any other cooperative activities as the Contracting
Parties may agree upon.
Article 4
The Contracting Parties shall exchange information about
conferences, contests, festivals and other international
activities in the fields of culture and the arts taking place in
their respective countries and encourage the participation of the
representatives of the other Contracting Party in these
events.
Article 5
The Contracting Parties shall encourage co-operation and
research activities between the national libraries, archives and
museums of both countries, and the exchange of publications and
experts in spheres of mutual interest.
Article 6
1. The Contracting Parties shall encourage, in the fields of
cinematography, audio-visual and multimedia, direct co-operation
between the corresponding institutions of the two countries.
2. This co-operation shall include film weeks to be held
mutually in both countries, the exchange of experts and
researchers, training of and collaboration between multimedia
producers.
3. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate in activities
related to film festivals, organized in accordance with specific
festival rules and procedures.
Article 7
1. The Contracting Parties shall promote co-operation and
share the best practices in the fields of study, protection,
preservation and restoration of cultural heritage in both
countries, based on the respective national laws and regulations,
international conventions and recommendations on cultural
heritage.
2. The Contracting Parties shall foster the exchange of
heritage experts, restorers, conservators, archaeologists, and
architects.
3. The Contracting Parties shall ensure that measures are
adopted to prohibit and prevent illicit import, export and
transfer of ownership in works of art, documents and other
objects of historical or archaeological value according to their
national laws and regulations and in the application of
international law.
Article 8
The Contracting Parties shall collaborate on the preservation
of oral and intangible cultural heritage and invite traditional
art groups to participate in international festivals organized in
each country as well as encourage the exchange of experts to
participate in seminars and workshops on amateur art.
Article 9
1. The Contracting Parties shall promote activities leading to
improve literary production through realization of translation
and co-edition projects, the exchange of writers, participation
in book fairs, and related activities organized in the territory
of the country of the other Contracting Party.
2. The Contracting Parties shall also endeavour to strengthen
the links among their respective publishing houses in order to
enrich literary production.
Article 10
The Contracting Parties shall, in accordance with their
national laws and regulations and international law, encourage
cooperation between the appropriate authorities to ensure mutual
protection of copyright and related rights.
Article 11
The Contracting Parties shall promote the development of
direct contacts and co-operation between professional
associations and non-governmental organisations of both countries
in all fields covered by this Agreement.
Article 12
In order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement,
the Contracting Parties shall elaborate and adopt periodic
triennial programmes of exchange defining the organisational and
financial terms of co-operation as far as the available funding
allows.
Article 13
Any disputes arising from the interpretation or implementation
of this Agreement shall be settled through mutual consultations
and negotiations between the Contracting Parties.
Article 14
This Agreement may be amended with the mutual written consent
of the Contracting Parties through additional protocols which
shall form an integral part of this Agreement and enter into
force in accordance with the procedure set in paragraph 1 of
Article 15.
Article 15
1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day
after the receipt of the last written notification through
diplomatic channels, informing that all necessary internal
procedures for its entry into force have been fulfilled.
2. This Agreement shall remain in force indefinitely. Either
Contracting Party may terminate this Agreement by notifying the
other Contracting Party, in writing through diplomatic channels,
of its intention to terminate this Agreement. Such termination
shall take effect ninety (90) days after the date of such
notification. Unless otherwise agreed by the Contracting Parties,
the termination of this Agreement shall not affect the projects
or programs already undertaken under this Agreement and not yet
completed at the time of such termination.
Signed in duplicate at Riga on 30th November 2012
in the Latvian, Albanian, Serbian and English languages, all
texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence of
interpretation, the English text shall prevail.
FOR THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA
Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Latvia
Edgars Rinkevics
|
FOR THE GOVERNMENT
OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOSOVO
Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Republic of Kosovo
Enver Hoxhaj
|