Agreement Between The Government of the Republic of Latvia and The Government of the Republic of Croatia on Cultural Cooperation

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Croatia (hereinafter referred to as ''the Contracting Parties''):

- Desiring to strengthen and develop friendly relations between the two countries and their peoples;

- Being convinced that cultural exchanges and cooperation will contribute to a better mutual knowledge and understanding between the citizens of the two countries;

- Resolved to implement the principles of the Helsinki Final Act (1975) and the Paris Charter for a New Europe (1990);

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Contracting Parties shall support cooperation in all the fields of culture and arts, getting the public of their respective countries acquainted with cultural heritage and contemporary cultural achievements of the other Party.

To this end the Parties shall encourage various forms of cooperation in the fields of literature, music, visual and performing arts, as well as in booktrade and publishing, film and other audiovisual media.

The Contracting Parties shall encourage cooperation in the fields of protection and preservation of cultural heritage.

Article 2

The Contracting Parties shall encourage direct contacts and exchanges between their respective cultural institutions, associations and individuals.

The Contracting Parties shall encourage cooperation between their libraries, archives, museums and art galleries, concert organizations as well as between other respective cultural institutions and profesional associations.

Article 3

The Contracting Parties shall exchange information on cultural life in their countries as well as on international events organized in both countries and will encourage participation of the other Contracting Party in these events.

Article 4

The Contracting Parties shall protect copyright and neighbouring rights in the field of culture and art in accordance with their national laws and regulations as well as international obligations undertaken by the respective countries.

Article 5

The present Agreement shall not affect any rights and duties the Contracting Parties have undertaken by signing of international agreements with other countries.

Article 6

The Contracting Parties shall encourage and implement cooperation within international intergovernmental organizations, especially in the area of European integration processes.

Article 7

The Contracting Parties have agreed that this Agreement shall not exclude the possibilities of other forms of cooperation which are not specified in it, but are in conformity with its objectives.

Article 8

This Agreement shall enter into force on the day of receipt through diplomatic channels of the last written notification of one Contracting Party to the other that all the conditions for its entering into force have been met as required by national legislation. This Agreement shall be applied temporarily from the day of its signature.

This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five years and thereafter shall be automatically renewed for successive periods of five years unless denounced in writing by either Contracting Party through diplomatic channels. In such a case the denunciation of the Agreement shall become effective upon expiry of six months from the date on which either Contracting Party has received the notice of denunciation.

In case of denunciation of this Agreement any programme of exchange, arrangement of project initiated under this Agreement and still in progress shall be implemented until completion thereof.

Done in Zagreb this 22 day of October 1999 in two originals, each in Latvian, Croatian and English languages, each of the three texts being equally authentic.

In case of any dispute on the interpretation of the text the English version shall prevail.

For the Government of For the Government of

the Republic of Latvia the Republic of Croatia

Karina Pētersone Božo Biškupič

Minister of Culture Minister of Culture