Agreement on Cooperation in the Forest Sector Between the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus, hereinafter referred to as - the Parties, taking into account the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Belarus on Economic, Scientific and Technical Co-operation dated on April 21, 2004, and expressing their intention to develop mutual cooperation in the forest sector in a consistent manner and on the long-term basis, have agreed on the following:

Article 1

The Parties shall cooperate in the forest sector on the basis of equality and mutual advantage in accordance with the existing laws of the countries of the Parties.

Article 2

1. The mutual cooperation between the Parties shall be carried out in the following spheres:

1.1. legal, administrative and economical aspects of forest governance, including issues of illegal logging and trade;

1.2. multi-functional use of forests and developing of economical functions of forests;

1.3. conservation and sustainable use of forest genetic resources and biological diversity;

1.4. protection of forest against fire;

1.5. protection of forest against pests and diseases;

1.6. silviculture;

1.7. game management;

1.8. forest monitoring.

Article 3

1. The cooperation within the framework of the present Agreement shall be carried out in the following ways:

1.1. exchange of work experience and exchange of delegations of scientists and specialists;

1.2. exchange of scientific and technical information;

1.3. implementation of joint programmes and projects in the forest sector as well as performance of joint research projects on the issues of mutual interest.

Article 4

The Parties shall contribute to establishment and developing of direct contacts in the forest sector between legal entities of the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Belarus.

Article 5

The exchange of scientific and technical information, results of scientific investigations, the implementation of joint programmes and projects as well as other cooperation forms specified in Articles 3 and 4 hereof shall be carried out in accordance with the existing laws of the countries of the Parties on a mutually advantageous and equivalent basis.

Article 6

In order to coordinate the implementation of the present Agreement, the Parties shall establish a joint working group in accordance with the existing laws of the countries of the Parties.

Article 7

The working group specified in Article 6 will draft an Action Plan for the cooperation to be approved by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Belarus.

Article 8

1. The present Agreement shall come into legal effect on the date of signing thereof.

2. This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of 5 years. After this term the Agreement shall be automatically extended for the next five-year period provided that no one of the Parties has notified the other Party in written on its intention to terminate the Agreement at least three months before the date of expiration of the current validity period.

3. The present Agreement may be amended or supplemented upon mutual consent of the Parties. Any amendments and additions to the Agreement shall be made in written.

4. Any obligations that are under process of performance but are not yet finished on the date of termination of the Agreement, shall be subjected to the terms and conditions of the Agreement until full completion thereof.

5. Signed in duplicate at Minsk on August 25, 2005 in the Latvian, Russian and English languages all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of interpretation of this Agreement, the English text shall prevail.