Agreement Between The Government Of The Republic Of Latvia And The Government Of The Hellenic Republic On Mutual Abolition Of Visa Reqiurements

The Government of the Republic of Latvia an the Government of the Hellenic Republic (hereinafter referred to as the "Contracting Parties"),

desiring to facilitate travels of their nationals and to develop friendly relations between the two countries,

have agreed as follows:

Article 1

1. Nationals of the Republic of Latvia, holding valid ordinary, diplomatic or service passports may enter the territory of the Hellenic Republic without a visa for stays up to three months within period of six months effective from the date of first entry into the territory of one States which has brought into force the Convention of 19 June 1990 implementing the Shengen Agreement of 14 June 1985 on the gradual abolition of controls at the common borders.

2. Greek nationals holding valid ordinary, diplomatic or service passports may enter the territory of the Republic of Latvia without a visa for stays of up to three months within a period of six months.

Article 2

1. Nationals of either Contracting Party holding valid diplomatic or service passports who are appointed to the diplomatic mission or consular post of that Contracting Party in the territory of the other Contracting Party or are representatives to international organisations residing on the territory of the other Contracting Party may enter into that territory without a visa, stay there for the period of their assignments and leave the country without a separate permission.

2. Nationals of one Contracting Party who are members of the family of the persons reffered to in paragraph 1 and who form part of their household, may enter into the territory of the other Contracting Party, stay there during the period of the assignment of the above mentioned persons without a visa and leave it without a separate permission if they themselves are holders of a valid diplomatic or service passport.

Article 3

Excluding the provisions of paragraph 1 of article 2 exemption does not grant the right to work to the citizens of the Contracting Parties in the territory of other Contracting Party.

Article 4

Nationals of either Contracting Party may enter and leave the territory of the other Contracting Party at each border crossing point open for international passenger traffic, provided that they meet the conditions required by national legislation of the other Contracting Party for the entry, movement or sojourn of foreigners.

Article 5

Nationals of either Contracting Party will be obligated to respect the laws of the other Contracting Party during their sojourn on its territory.

Article 6

1. Each Contracting Party will reserve the right to refuse the entry or to terminate the term of stay on its territory of citizens of the other Contracting Party for reasons of national security, public health and order.

2. Each Contracting Party undertakes to readmit, without special formalities, into its territory, any of its own nationals.

Article 7

1. The Contracting Parties will exchange through diplomatic channels specimens of their valid travel documents mentioned in Article 1 of the present Agreement not later than the date of exchange of notifications, as provided for in Article 11.

2. If either Contracting Party modifies its travel documents mentioned in Article 1 of the present Agreement or introduces any new travel documents after entry into force of the present Agreement it will provide the other Contracting Party with the specimens of such documents through diplomatic channels within thirty (30) days from their introduction.

Article 8

1. Either Contracting Party may temporarily suspend the application of the present Agreement wholly or partially, except that of paragraph 2 of article 6, for reasons of national security or public order.

2. Either Contracting Party will immediately notify the other Contracting Party through diplomatic channels for the introduction or the withdrawal of such measures.

Article 9

The present Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period of time. Either Contracting Party may terminate it at any moment with a thirty (30) day previous notice in writing through diplomatic channels.

Article 10

Any amendment of the present Agreement agreed upon by Contracting Parties will effected by exchange of notes and will enter into force according to the procedure described in Article 11.

Article 11

1. The present Agreement shall enter into force one month after the date of exchange of notifications between the Contracting Parties informing each other of the completion of their relevant internal procedures.

2. The present Agreement will be applied in provisionally order from the 1st of April 1999.

Done in Athens on 17 of March, 1999 in two originals each in the Latvian, Greek and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any difference in its interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT  OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC YANNOS KRANIDIOTIS ALTERNATE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA VALDIS BIRKAVS MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS