AGREEMENT ON CULTURAL CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt, hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties:

- recognizing the necessity to deepen and strengthen mutual respect,

- aware of the importance of friendly relations and general co-operation between both countries,

- convinced that cultural co-operation between the two countries and acquaintance of cultural heritage of Latvia and Egypt will further the understanding between the two nations,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Contracting Parties, on the basis of equality and mutuality, observing legislative acts of their respective countries and norms of the international law, will encourage and support exchange and co-operation between the relevant institutions of both countries in the field of culture, literature and arts.

Article 2

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

Article 3

The Contracting Parties will encourage co-operation between national libraries and museums of both countries as well as will encourage exchange of publications and experts in the spheres of common interests.

Article 4

The Contracting Parties will promote collaboration in archaeology and protection and preservation, research and restoration of cultural heritage and will encourage exchange of publications and experts in the relevant fields.

Article 5

The Contracting Parties will encourage development of co-operation in the field of opera and ballet, music and theatre, as well as support mutual exchange of artists, troupes of artists and performances.

Article 6

The Contracting Parties will develop diverse co-operation through exchange of books, periodicals and other publications on culture and art, and will encourage mutual participation in international book fairs organized in the territory of the respective country in accordance with its legislation.

Article 7

The Contracting Parties will consider possibilities of exchange of exhibitions in the field of fine and applied arts as well as folk art.

Article 8

The Contracting Parties will support co-operation in the field of cinematography and will promote exchange of films, and delegations in the film festivals taking place in both countries.

Article 9

The Contracting Parties will develop co-operation in the field of culture within UNESCO and other international organizations.

Article 10

The Contracting Parties agree that action programmes for the implementation of the present Agreement shall be worked out and the expenses involved in the cultural exchanges shall be decided through mutual consultations by the Contracting Parties.

The Contracting Parties agree that based on the present Agreement, the competent institutions of the Contracting Parties are entitled to work out separate programmes and contracts with their counterparts in each other's country in their related fields.

Article 11

The present Agreement shall enter into force on the date of exchanging Diplomatic notes indicating completion of the legal procedures by the respective Parties to this Agreement.

Article 12

This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five years and shall be extended automatically for other periods unless one of the Contracting Parties informs the other Contracting Party in writing of its decision to terminate it six months prior to its expiration.

In the case of termination of the present Agreement, according to this Article, all common programmes and projects, signed on the basis of the present Agreement, shall remain valid until the moment of their fulfilment.

Done at Cairo this 2 day of March 2005 in two originals in the Latvian, Arab and English languages, all copies being equally authentic.

In the case of any divergence in interpretation, the English text shall prevail.