Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Hellenic Republic on the Mutual Protection of Classified Information

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Hellenic Republic, hereafter referred to as the Parties,

intending to ensure the mutual protection of all classified information, which has been classified in the State of one Party and transferred to the State of the other Party,

desiring to establish the rules of the mutual protection of classified information, which shall extend to all agreements on cooperation to be concluded between the Parties and the contracts to be awarded between the organizations of the States of the Parties, which provide for exchange of classified information,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

DEFINITIONS

1.1. "Classified Information" means:

- For the Republic of Latvia:

information, document or material, which contains state secret, namely military, political, economical, scientific, technical or any other information, which is included in the list approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and the loss or unsanctioned disclosure of which can impair national security, economical or political interests;

- For the Hellenic Republic:

any item, be it a document or material, determined to require protection against unauthorised disclosure, which has been designated as such by security classification.

1.2. "Classified Document" means any item containing Classified Information regardless of its form or physical characteristic, including, but not limited to, letter, note, minute, report, memorandum, signal/message, sketch, photograph, film, map, chart, plan, notebook, stencil, carbon, typewriter, ribbon, diskette etc. or other form of recorded information (e.g. tape recording, magnetic recording, punched card, tape, etc.).

1.3. "Classified Material" means any item of machinery or equipment, or weapons either manufactured or in process of manufacture.

1.4. "Contractor" means an individual or legal entity possessing the legal capability to undertake contracts.

1.5. "Classified Contract" means an agreement between two or more administrative entities or private organizations creating and defining enforceable rights and obligations between them, which contains or involves Classified Information.

1.6. "Designated Security Authority" means a Government authority and/or municipal institution, enterprise or establishment found by such institutions, the performance whereof is related to the use or protection of Classified Information and which possess the right to classify and declassify information.

1.7. "Competent Authority" means the authority, which in compliance with national laws and regulations is responsible for the protection of Classified Information and for the implementation of this Agreement. Such authorities are listed in Article 4 of this Agreement.

1.8. "Recipient Party" means the Party to which the Classified Information is transmitted as represented by the Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority.

1.9. "Originating Party" means the Party initiating the Classified Information as represented by the Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority.

1.10. "Third Party" means an international organization or a third State that is not a party to this Agreement.

1.11. "Need to Know" means that access to Classified Information may only be granted to a person who has a verified need to know by virtue of his/her official duties, within the framework of which the information was released to the Recipient Party.

Article 2

SECURITY CLASSIFICATIONS

2.1. The security classifications and their equivalents of the Parties are:

Republic of Latvia	Equivalent in English	Hellenic Republic
SEVIŠĶI SLEPENI	TOP SECRET	AKROS APORRITO (AKRWS APORRHTO)
SLEPENI	SECRET	APORRITO (APORRHTO)
KONFIDENCIĀLI	CONFIDENTIAL	EMISTEYTIKO (EMPISTEUTIKO)
-------	RESTRICTED	PERIORISMENIS CHRISIS (PERIORISMENHS CRHSHS)

2.2. The Republic of Latvia shall protect information of the Hellenic Republic classified PERIORISMENIS CHRISIS (PERIORISMENHS CRHSHS) as Latvian KONFIDENCIĀLI.

Article 3

PROTECTION OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

3.1. Access to Classified Information shall be limited to those persons who have a Need to Know, and who have been security cleared by the Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the Recipient Party, in accordance with its national laws and regulations, corresponding to the required classification level of the information to be accessed.

3.2. The Originating Party shall ensure that the Recipient Party is informed of:

3.2.1. The security classification of the Classified Information and of any conditions of release or limitations on its use, and that the Classified Documents are so marked.

3.2.2. Any subsequent change in security classification.

3.3. The Recipient Party shall:

3.3.1. In accordance with its national law and regulations, afford the same level of security protection to Classified Information as afforded by the Originating Party (subject to Article 2).

3.3.2. Ensure that security classifications are not amended and Classified Information is not declassified unless authorized in writing by the Originating Party.

Article 4

COMPETENT AUTHORITIES

4.1. The Competent Authorities of the States of the Parties are:

For the Republic of Latvia:

- The Constitution Protection Bureau;

For the Hellenic Republic:

- Hellenic National Defence General Staff / B Branch / CI Security Section;

- Armaments General Directorate / International Relations Department / Security Office.

4.2. The Competent Authorities shall provide each other with their official requisites.

4.3. In order to achieve and maintain comparable standards of security, the respective Competent Authorities shall, on request, provide each other with information about the security standards, procedures and practices for safeguarding Classified Information in the respective Party.

4.4. The respective Competent Authorities of the States of both Parties can conclude executive documents to this Agreement. Subject to prior consultation with the respective Competent Authorities, other Designated Security Authorities of the States of the Parties are also allowed to conclude executive documents to this Agreement.

Article 5

RESTRICTIONS ON USE

AND DISCLOSURE

5.1. Unless express written consent is given, the Recipient Party shall not disclose or use, or permit the disclosure or use of any Classified Information.

5.2. The Recipient Party shall not pass to the Third Party any Classified Information, supplied under the provisions of this Agreement, nor shall it publicly disclose any Classified Information without the prior written permission of the Originating Party.

Article 6

TRANSMISSION OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

6.1. Classified Information shall be transmitted normally by means of diplomatic, military and other courier services approved by the Competent Authorities. The Recipient Party shall confirm the receipt of Classified Information.

6.2. If a large consignment containing Classified Information is to be transmitted the respective Competent Authorities shall mutually agree on and approve the means of transportation, the route and security measures for each such case.

6.3. Other approved means of transmission or exchange of Classified Information, including electromagnetic means may be used if agreed upon by the Competent Authorities.

Article 7

Translation, reproduction,

destruction

7.1. Documents containing SEVIŠĶI SLEPENI/ TOP SECRET/ AKROS APORRITO (AKRWS APORRHTO) information shall be allowed for translation and copying only on the written permission of the respective Competent Authority of the State of the Originating Party.

7.2. All translation of Classified Information shall be made by appropriately security-cleared individuals. Such translation should bear appropriate security classification markings and a suitable notation in the language into which it is translated indicating that the translation contains Classified Information of the State of the Originating Party.

7.3. When Classified Information is reproduced, all original security markings thereon also shall be reproduced or marked on each copy. Such reproduced information shall be placed under the same controls as the original information. The number of copies shall be limited to that required for official purposes.

7.4. Classified Information or material shall be destroyed or modified in such a manner so as to prevent reconstruction of Classified Information in whole or in part.

7.5. SEVIŠĶI SLEPENI/ TOP SECRET/AKROS APORRITO (AKRWS APORRHTO ) information and material shall not be destroyed. It shall be returned to the respective Competent Authority of the State of the Originating Party.

Article 8

CLASSIFIED CONTRACTS

8.1. Should the Party consider concluding a Classified Contract with a Contractor residing in the territory of the State of the other Party or with Contractor of the other Party residing in the territory of the State of the first mentioned Party, an assurance from the Competent Authority shall be obtained in advance that the proposed Contractor has a security clearance corresponding to the required classification level and has implemented appropriate security arrangements to ensure the protection of Classified Information. This assurance also involves the obligation to ensure that the security arrangements of the security cleared Contractor correspond to national legislation on protection of Classified Information and that these arrangements are supervised by the Competent Authority.

8.2. The Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the Contractor is responsible for ensuring that each piece of Classified Information, which has been either released to the Contractor of the other Party or generated in connection with a Classified Contract, has been assigned a security classification. By request of the Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the Contractor, the Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the other Party shall provide a security requirements list. The Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the other Party shall also provide the Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the Contractor with a notification stating that the Contractor has undertaken to observe national legislation on the protection of Classified Information. The Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the other Party shall submit to the Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the Contractor an appropriate notification of the Contractor's obligation to protect Classified Information.

8.3. The Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the Contractor shall confirm in writing the receipt of the requested security requirements list and forward list to the Contractor.

8.4. At all events, the Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the Contractor shall ensure that the Contractor will handle the parts of a contract, which require classification, in the same manner as Classified Information of the State of the Contractor in compliance with the classification level fixed in the security requirements list.

8.5. Should the Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority approve a classified subcontract the paragraphs 8.2 and 8.4 of this Article shall apply accordingly.

8.6. The Parties shall assure that a Classified Contract is concluded or, eventually, work on classified parts begins only after the Contractor has implemented security measures.

Article 9

VISITS

9.1. Security experts of the Designated Security Authorities or the Competent Authorities may periodically visit each other in order to discuss the procedures for the protection of Classified Information.

9.2. The prior approval of the Designated Security Authority or the Competent Authority of the host State shall be required in respect of visitors if access to Classified Information or to premises where Classified Information is developed, handled or stored is necessary.

9.3. The procedures related to visits shall be developed and agreed between the Competent Authorities.

9.4. Each Party shall guarantee the protection of personal data of the visitors according to the respective national laws and regulations.

Article 10

BREACH OF SECURITY

10.1. In case of a breach of security that results in a certain or suspect compromise of Classified Information, originated or received from the other Party, the Competent Authority in whose State the compromise occurred shall inform the Competent Authority of the other Party as soon as possible and carry out the appropriate investigation. The other Party shall, if required, cooperate in the investigation.

10.2. In case the compromise occurs in a country different from the Parties the Competent Authority of the despatching Party shall take the actions as of paragraph 10.1.

10.3. In any case, the other Party shall be informed of the results of the investigation and shall receive the final statement as to the reasons of the event and the extent of the damage.

Article 11

COSTS

Each Party shall waive claims to other Party for costs incurred under the implementation of this Agreement.

Article 12

FINAL PROVISIONS

12.1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the receipt of the last of the notifications between the Parties informing each other of the completion of the necessary internal procedures.

12.2. This Agreement shall remain in effect until terminated by either Party giving the other Party six months prior written notice of termination. Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, all Classified Information provided pursuant to this Agreement shall continue to be protected in accordance with the provisions set forth herein, until the Originating Party will dispense the Recipient Party from this obligation.

12.3. Each Party shall promptly notify the other Party of any amendments to its laws and regulations that would affect the protection of Classified Information under this Agreement. In such case, the Parties shall consult to consider possible amendments to this Agreement. In the meantime, Classified Information shall continue to be protected as described herein, unless requested otherwise in writing by the Originating Party.

12.4. This Agreement may be amended on the basis of mutual written consent of both Parties. Such amendments shall enter into force in accordance with paragraph 12.1. of this Article.

12.5. Any dispute regarding the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be resolved amicably by consultation between the Parties without recourse to outside jurisdiction.

Done in Athens on 27 March 2002 in two copies in the Latvian, Greek and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of different interpretation of the provisions of this Agreement the English text shall prevail.

For the	For the
Government of the	Government of the
Republic of Latvia	Hellenic Republic