The Ministry of Defence of the
Republic of Latvia, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of
Estonia and the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of
Lithuania, hereinafter referred to as the Participants,
– considering the Treaty on
Unity and Cooperation and the Resulting Declaration between
Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, signed on 12th
September 1934 in Geneva, as it was renewed on the basis of the
Declaration on Unity and Cooperation by the Republic of Latvia,
Republic of Estonia and Republic of Lithuania, signed on
12th May 1990 in Tallinn,
– implementing the Protocol
Agreement between the Ministries of Defence of the Republic of
Estonia, Republic of Latvia and Republic of Lithuania
concerning the cooperation in the field of ensuring common
security, signed in Pärnu on 2nd June, 1992,
– acknowledging the role of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation , hereinafter referred to as
“NATO”, and of the European Union, hereinafter referred to as
“EU” in ensuring international peace and security,
– seeking to contribute to
peacekeeping, security and stability in Europe and,
particularly, in the Baltic region,
– noting the existing
co-operation between the Participants in the field of
defence,
– considering the need to
enhance the practical framework of co-operation between the
Participants,
have reached the following
understanding:
Article
1
Purpose and Scope
1. The purpose of this Agreement
is to outline a framework for co-operation in the field of
defence between the Participants.
2. This Agreement is not
intended to conflict with the national legislation of the
Participants or with international law. Should there be
conflict, international law or national legislation will
prevail. The Participants will notify each other in the event
of any conflict arising.
Article
2
Areas of co-operation
The Participants will co-operate
in the following areas:
1. Cooperation within NATO and
the EU and participation in international agreements on
stability and security;
2. Defence policy and
planning;
3. Development of defence
capabilities;
4. Training and education of
military and civilian personnel;
5. Communication and information
systems;
6. Logistics and procurement
issues;
7. Legal issues;
8. Crisis management;
9. Civil-military
co-operation;
10. Environmental protection in
the military field;
11. Other areas of mutual
interest that will be agreed by the Participants during the
co-operation
Article
3
Forms of co-operation
1. The main forms of
co-operation will be as follows:
• Official and working visits of
the ministers of (national) defence, commanders of the armed
forces, civilian and military personnel;
• Consultations, meetings,
conferences, seminars, symposia, exhibitions, etc;
• Exchange of information;
• Trainings, exercises and
courses;
• Exchange of military and
civilian personnel;
• Sports and cultural
events;
• Other forms of co-operation
that will be agreed by the Participants as deemed
necessary.
2. At least once a year meeting
of ministers of (national) defence will be arranged to discuss
issues of common interests. Official visits will be organised
on the territory of each Participant in turn.
3. Detailed arrangements related
to specific projects and activities between the Participants
may be laid out in separate documents.
4. The Participants may
establish joint committees and working bodies on a parity basis
as needed to carry out and co-ordinate co-operation
projects.
Article
4
Financing of co-operation
The Participants agree to cover
fully their own expenditures related to co-operation, unless
otherwise agreed.
Article
5
Annual Co-operation Plan
1. On the basis of this
Agreement an annual co-operation plan will be drawn up. It will
be signed by authorised representatives of the Participants not
later than the 31st December of previous year. The
annual co-operation plan may be changed at any time through the
mutual consent of the Participants.
2. The annual co-operation plan
will contain information concerning the title of the activity,
the time and place of execution and the number of the
participants. If necessary, any additional information may be
included.
Article
6
Working Language
The co-operation will be carried
out in English.
Article
7
Medical Support
The Participant that sends a
delegation will cover the medical insurance for the members of
the delegation. The receiving Participant will ensure emergency
medical care and treatment for the sending Participant’s
personnel in military facilities on the same terms and
conditions as provided to the personnel of the receiving
Participant.
Article
8
Status of Personnel
While staying on the territory
of the state of the receiving Participant, the status of the
sending Participant’s personnel will be governed by the
Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty
regarding the Status of their Forces, signed in London on
19th June 1951.
Article
9
Protection of Information
1. The protection of classified
information provided by the Participants in the course of
co-operation will be regulated by applicable national laws and
regulations of the states of the Participants, NATO rules
covering the protection of classified information and by
relevant international agreements among the states of the
Participants.
2. The information received or
generated while cooperating in accordance with this Agreement
will be disclosed for official use only, unless the originator
of the information has given written consent for using the
information for other purposes. For the purpose of this
paragraph the information means any information, regardless of
form or type, except classified information as specified
above.
Article 10
Settlement of Disputes
Any dispute regarding the
interpretation or application of this Agreement will be
resolved by consultation between the Participants concerned and
will not be referred to any third party for settlement.
Article
11
Final Provisions
1. This Agreement will enter
into force on the date of its last signature.
2. This Agreement will remain in
force for an unlimited period of time.
3. This Agreement may be amended
at any time by mutual consent. Amendments will be in writing
and signed by all Participants in 3 (three) original copies,
one for each Participant.
4. This Agreement may be
terminated by mutual consent of the Participants.
5. Any Participant may withdraw
from this Agreement by giving 6 (six) months’ written notice to
the other Participants.
6. After the withdrawal of one
of the Participants, the Agreement will remain in force with
respect to the two other Participants by their mutual
consent.
7. If on the date of termination
or withdrawal there are unsolved financial issues or claims,
the related provisions of this Agreement will remain in force
until their final settlement.
8. On the date of entry into
force of this Agreement, the Agreement between the Ministry of
Defence of the Republic of Estonia, the Ministry of Defence of
the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of National Defence of
the Republic of Lithuania on Co-operation in the Fields of
Defence and Military Relations, signed on 27 February 1995 in
Vilnius is terminated.
Signed in Jaunmokas on
30th of May, 2008 in 3 (three) original copies in
the Latvian, Estonian, Lithuanian and English languages, all
texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence of
interpretation, the English language text will prevail.
|
On behalf
of the Ministry of Defence
of the Republic of Latvia
|
On behalf
of the Ministry of Defence
of the Republic of Estonia
|
On behalf
of the Ministry of National Defence
of the Republic of Lithuania
|
|
Vinets Veldre
Minister of Defence
of the Republic of Latvia
|
Jaak Aaviksoo
Minister of Defence
of the Republic of Estonia
|
Juozas Olekas
Minister of National
Defence
of the Republic of Lithuania
|
