The Government of the Republic of Latvia, the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as Parties),

According to the Articles 1, 2 and 4 of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia, the Government of the Republic of Estonia and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania on Cooperation in Protection of Witnesses and Victims of 17 March 2000 (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement),

Taking into account the Agreement between Government of the Republic of Latvia and Government of the Republic of Estonia concerning Mutual Protection of Classified Information of 26 May 2000, the Agreement between Government of the Republic of Latvia and Government of the Republic of Lithuania on the Mutual Protection of Classified Information of 26 May 2000 and the Agreement between Government of the Republic of Estonia and Government of the Republic of Lithuania on Mutual Protection of Classified Information of 26 May 2000,

Taking into account also the Agreement between the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Latvia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Estonia and the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Lithuania on Liaison Officers of the Baltic States of 13 November 1998, as well as Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961,

Being assured that it is necessary to establish the procedure of transfer with regard to the officers of witnesses and victims' protection services of the Parties and persons under protection,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

1. The transfer within the framework of this Protocol shall mean the arrival, stay, transit and departure of the officers of witnesses and victims' protection services of the Parties and persons under protection accompanied by them.

2. The Parties shall appoint competent institutions with sufficient authority to provide transfer of the officers of witnesses and victims' protection services of the Parties and persons under protection accompanied by them.

3. The transfer procedure under this Protocol shall be carried out in accordance with the legislation of each Party, which regulates protection of classified information, as well as with respective international agreements of the Parties and shall be co-ordinated among institutions of each Party and among the Parties.

Article 2

1. The Parties shall ensure that the procedure of transfer is used only with regard to:

1.1. the officers of witnesses and victims' protection services crossing the state borders of the Parties;

1.2. the persons under protection crossing the state borders of the Parties, but in mandatory escort of the officers of witnesses and victims' protection services;

1.3. the means of transport, used for crossing the state borders of the Parties;

1.4. the goods, money and other objects, allowed by the legislation of each Party not to be declared at crossing the state border.

Article 3

1. In the case of necessity the Head of the witnesses and victims' protection service shall provide a request to the Head of the institution competent for state border crossing of each Party to cross the state border of the Parties without checking the person, identification documents and documents of the means of transport and that such state borders crossing is not recorded in particular in the databases of the state border guard and customs services.

2. The officers of the witnesses and victims' protection services of the Parties shall inform responsible competent institution of:

2.1. the time period and border crossing point of the Parties;

2.2. the responsible officer of the witnesses and victims' protection service of the Party crossing the state border, specifying the name, last name, special identification number (if available) and contact data;

2.3. the amount of persons crossing the state borders of the Parties;

2.4. the means of transport crossing the state borders, indicating transport mode and registration number.

3. The detailed regulation of the procedure of transfer may be defined by the Head of the institution competent for state border crossing of each Party harmonizing it with the Head of the witnesses and victims' protection service of the Party. However, the absence of such definition shall not prevent the transfer.

Article 4

1. The Parties shall ensure that during the transfer the officers of witnesses and victims' protection service of the receiving Party protect and escort the officers and persons under protection of the coming Party.

2. The witnesses and victims' protection service of the receiving Party shall ensure that escorted officers and persons under protection and means of transport move without delay, stopping and checking in the territory of the receiving Party.

Article 5

1. In order to implement the provisions of this Protocol efficiently, discreetly and expediently the Parties shall appoint one Liaison Officer from the officers of witnesses and victims' protection services of each Party in accordance with the legislation and international agreements of the Parties.

2. The Liaison Officers of the Parties may have deputies and assistants from the officers of witnesses and victims' protection services.

Article 6

The competent institutions referred to in Article 1 of this Protocol shall be appointed within 30 days after entering into force of this Protocol.

Article 7

1. This Protocol shall be integral part of the Agreement.

2. This Protocol shall come into force, when the Depositary receives the last notification about completion of all necessary internal procedures. Each Party shall have the right to withdraw from this Protocol with six months prior written notification of such intention.

3. This Protocol may at any time be amended with the agreement of all Parties. The amendments shall come into force pursuant to the paragraph 2 of this Article.

Signed in Riga, on 25 November 2005 in three original copies, each of the copies in the Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian and English languages, all of these texts being authentic. In case of divergence in interpretation, the English text shall prevail.