AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND
ON BILATERAL DEFENCE CO-OPERATION

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Republic of Poland, hereinafter referred collectively to as the "Contracting Parties" and individually as a "Contracting Party";

Confirming their commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, done in San Francisco on 26 June 1945;

Desiring to enhance defence co-operation in the context of European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO);

Considering defence co-operation to be a vital element of security and stabilisation of particular significance for joint activities in the field of transformation, construction and improvement of the global security system;

Having regard to the provisions of the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the status of their forces, done in London on 19 June 1951, hereinafter referred to as "the NATO SOFA";

Have agreed on the following:

ARTICLE 1
GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. This Agreement outlines general provisions on bilateral defence co-operation between the Contracting Parties based on principles of equality, mutual benefits and partnership.

2. The bilateral defence co-operation between the Contracting Parties within the framework of this Agreement shall be developed in the areas and forms described in this Agreement.

3. The authorities competent for application of this Agreement shall be: the Minister of National Defence in co-operation with the minister competent for economy matters on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Ministry of Defence on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Latvia.

ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS

In this Agreement the term:

1) "military personnel" means members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Latvia and of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland;

2) "civilian personnel" means the civilian employees of the Armed Forces, ministries and state agencies competent for defence matters of the Republic of Latvia and of the Republic of Poland;

3) "Sending Party" means a Contracting Party who sends its military or civilian personnel to the territory of the Republic of Latvia or the Republic of Poland in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement;

4) "Receiving Party" means a Contracting Party who receives the military or civilian personnel of the Sending Party in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 3
AREAS OF BILATERAL DEFENCE CO-OPERATION

Bilateral defence co-operation between the Contracting Parties shall include the following areas:

1) defence planning;

2) functioning of the Armed Forces in modern democratic societies, including the application of treaties in the field of defence, security and arms control as well as confidence and security building measures;

3) military activities of international organizations;

4) organization of the armed forces, military units structure and logistic support as well as military personnel policy and management;

5) military education and training of the military and civilian personnel;

6) military exercises;

7) military police activities;

8) Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) activities;

9) military research and science;

10) initiatives in the field of armament and military equipment, including supply of modern armament and military equipment, research and development, maintenance and overhaul of armament and equipment;

11) technical aspects of modernization of the armament and military equipment;

12) military information systems and military information and communication technologies;

13) military medicine;

14) military geography;

15) environment protection in relation to pollution incurring from the activity of military units;

16) military museums, including exchange of museum exhibits.

ARTICLE 4
FORMS OF BILATERAL DEFENCE CO-OPERATION

Bilateral defence co-operation between the Contracting Parties shall be carried out in the following forms:

1) meetings of ministers competent for defence matters and their representatives, in which from the Republic of Poland the representatives of the minister competent for economy affairs or his/her representative shall participate, if issues mentioned in Article 3 subparagraphs 10 and 11 are involved;

2) exchange of experience at expert level;

3) political-military consultations, conferences and seminars;

4) studies and practical trainings in higher military schools and in military research and development institutions, as well as exchange of lecturers and trainees;

5) expert consulting on research, overhaul and modernization of armament and military equipment;

6) participation in military exercises;

7) exchange of information, documentation and training materials;

8) organization of cultural and sports events for military and civilian personnel.

ARTICLE 5
LEGAL STATUS OF MILITARY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL

Legal status of military and civilian personnel of the Sending Party during their stay on the territory of the Republic of Latvia or of the Republic of Poland shall be governed by the provisions of the NATO SOFA, where applicable.

ARTICLE 6
FINANCING OF ACTIVITIES

If not otherwise agreed by the Contracting Parties, financing of activities within the framework of this Agreement shall be carried out in accordance with the following principles:

1) the Sending Party shall cover the costs of:

a) travel to and from the territory of the Receiving Party;

b) meals and accommodation;

c) personnel insurance coverage, including health and injury coverage, if necessary;

2) the Receiving Party shall cover the costs of:

a) cultural programme during official visits;

b) domestic transportation within the programme of an official visit;

c) first medical aid to the military and civilian personnel of the Sending Party, in accordance with the principles set forth in its national law;

3) arrangements on financing of activities other than those stated in Article 6 paragraphs 1 and 2, related to particular projects, may be set forth differently in separate agreements or arrangements.

ARTICLE 7
MUTUAL PROTECTION OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION

The mutual protection of classified information exchanged in connection with this Agreement shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Republic of Latvia on mutual protection of classified information, done in Warsaw on 26 February 2003.

ARTICLE 8
SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

Disputes related to interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be resolved exclusively by the Contracting Parties through negotiations, in a friendly and constructive manner.

ARTICLE 9
FINAL PROVISIONS

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the latter notification in written form, through which the Contracting Parties inform each other on completion of their national legal procedures necessary for this Agreement to enter into force.

2. This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period.

3. This Agreement may be terminated by each Contracting Party through a notification in written form. Termination shall take effect 180 days after the day of the receipt of such notification.

4. This Agreement may be amended at any time through a mutual consent of the Contracting Parties in written form. Amendments shall enter into force in accordance with the provisions of Article 9 paragraph 1 of this Agreement.

5. On the day of this Agreement's entry into force the Agreement between the Ministry of defence of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Poland on co-operation in military domain, done in Riga on 16 September 1992 shall expire.

Done in Riga on 13^th June, 2014 in duplicate in the Latvian, Polish and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA Raimonds Vējonis Minister of Defence

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND Tomasz Siemoniak Minister of National Defence