Agreement Between The Government Of The Republic Of Latvia And The Government Of The State Of Israel On Cooperation In Combatting Illicit Trafficking And Abuse Of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances And Precursores, Terrorism And Other Serious Crimes

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the State of Israel, hereinafter referred to as "the Parties";

BEARING in mind the existing friendly relations between the two countries;

RECOGNISING the importance of bilateral cooperation in the prevention of illicit use of narcotic drugs;

RECALLING the United Nations Organization Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 20 December 1988, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 30 March 1961 as modified by the Protocol of 1972, and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 21 February 1971;

GREATLY CONCERNED by the universal suffering caused by the abuse of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursores;

DEEPLY DISTURBED by the continuation of terrorism which denies democratic values and human rights;

DESIRING to further promote the cooperation between the two Parties in combatting illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursores, as well as terrorism and other serious crimes, and to strengthen cooperation and channels of communication between their appropriate law enforcement authorities;

CONSCIOUS of the mutual advantages of such a cooperation for both Parties;

HAVE AGREED on the following:

Article 1

1. The Parties shall cooperate with and assist each other:

a. in the prevention, and prosecution of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursores concerning the two countries, and in the substances used in their illicit manufacture as enumerated in the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 30 March 1961 as modified by the Protocol of 1972, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 21 February 1971, and as recognized by the national legislations of the two Parties.

b. in drug abuse control.

2. In this respect the Parties shall endeavour to:

- exchange information and details concerning the use and illicit traffic of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursores and the modalities to combat them;

- coordinate the activities of their respective services concerned with the use and the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursores as well as the criminal activities deriving from it;

- share their knowledge and experience and mutually promote their study and research in the areas of prevention, existing methods and

organizational structures relating to the prevention and fight against the phenomenon of the use of narcotic drugs;

- send each other reports of origin and analysis of narcotic substances seized and copies of investigation documents, and also mutually exchange information on this matter to the extent that the matter concerns the other Party;

- organize meetings, lectures, seminars and courses for training workers in the field of the fight against drugs.

3. The Parties shall, when necessary, reciprocally invite the officials of each other's competent authorities for consultations with a view to improving cooperation in combatting illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursores.

4. The Parties shall notify each other through the diplomatic channels of the competent authorities responsible for the implementation of this Article.

Article 2

In the fight against terrorism, the Parties shall cooperate in the exchange of information and experience regarding the security measures taken for the protection of the public. The cooperation in terrorism matters shall be conducted by the police authorities of the Parties through their relevant units.

Article 3

In respect of the fight against other forms of serious crimes, the Parties shall attempt to accomplish, within the limits permitted by their national laws, exchange of information between their Police authorities.

Article 4

The cooperation within this Agreement shall also cover an exchange of information on new national laws and international conferences or meetings held in each other's country in areas covered by this Agreement.

Article 5

Neither Party shall disclose any confidential information regarding the other Party, nor transfer it to a third country, unless the consent of the other Party is received.

Article 6

1) The cooperation in the areas covered by this Agreement shall be subject to, and be carried out in accordance with, the national legislation of the two countries. In such cooperation, the Parties shall also endeavour to comply with the International Criminal Police Organization /Interpol norms and practices to the extent applicable under their national legislation.

2) Furthermore, the cooperation in the field of narcotic drugs will take place in accordance with the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 30 March 1961, as modified by the Protocol of 1972, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 21 February 1971, as well as the United Nations Organization Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 20 December 1988 when both Parties have ratified it, and to the extent applicable under their national legislation.

Article 7

Within the framework of the cooperation in the areas covered by this Agreement, police experts may be exchanged between the competent authorities of the Parties.

Article 8

The Parties shall cooperate in exchanging experiences on the use of advanced technology and the practical utilising of means and methods, and shall also cooperate in the organizing of seminars for the heads of the law enforcement authorities.

Article 9

An Latvian-Israeli Joint Committee composed of representatives of both Parties shall be established and shall meet at any time when necessary, at the request of either Party, alternately in Riga and Jerusalem.

The Committee shall be responsible for coordinating the activities under this Agreement, and may include, when needed, experts designated by the competent authorities responsible for the implementation of this Agreement.

Article 10

The procedural arrangements for the implementation of this Agreement shall be worked out jointly by the competent authorities of the two Parties.

Article 11

The implementation of the cooperation embodied in this Agreement shall be subject to the national legislation of each Party.

Article 12

Either Party may deny in whole or in part or may condition to comply with the request for assistance or cooperation in case this request harms its national sovereignty, endangers its security or basic interests.

Article 13

The provisions of the present Agreement does not affect the implementation of provisions of other bilateral or multilateral international treaties concluded by the Republic of Latvia or the State of Israel.

Article 14

This Agreement shall be valid for a period of five years and shall be automatically renewed each time thereafter for a period of one year unless one of the Parties notifies the other Party in writing, three months before its expiry date, of its intention to terminate the Agreement.

Article 15

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the second of the diplomatic notes by which the Parties notify each other that their internal legal requirements for the entering into force of the Agreement have been complied with.

Done at Jerusalem on the 27 day of July 1998, which corresponds to the 4th day of AV 5758, in duplicate, in the Latvian, Hebrew and English, languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergency of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

For the Government of the State of Israel Avigdor Kahalani Minister of Public Security

For the Government of the Republic of Latvia Andrejs Krastiņš Minister of Interior