AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF MONGOLIA ON CO-OPERATION IN THE FIELD OF CULTURE, EDUCATION AND SCIENCE

The Government of the Republic of Latvia and The Government of Mongolia, hereinafter called the “Parties,”

In desire to contribute to further development of co-operation in the field of culture, education and science between the two countries,

Convinced that such co-operation promotes better understanding between the nations of the two countries,

Have agreed upon the following Agreement:

I.CULTURE

Article 1

The Parties shall encourage further development of co-operation in the field of culture and art.

Artice 2

In order to spread the knowledge of culture and art of the other country, the Parties shall promote:

a) direct contacts between interested cultural and artistic institutions and exchange of visits of persons active in these fields, including amateurs;

b) organization of art and photo exhibitions, musical events, exchange of artistic troupes and theatre performances;

c) co-operation between libraries, museums and other cultural institutions as well as exchange of audio and video records, books, films and press materials;

d) exchange of information about international competitions and festivals organized in their countries and invite to participate in them;

e) joint organization of cultural events on previously agreed subjects.

II.SCIENCE AND EDUCATION

Article 3

The Parties shall encourage further development of co-operation and exchange of experience in the field of education and science by:

a) implementing direct contacts between educational institutions and research institutes and further the development of co-operation between scientific organizations in the two countries;

b) exchange of academic staff with the aim to conducting scientific reseach;

c) exchange of specialists in Mongolian studies to give lectures during the programme period;

d) encourage direct contacts between the Latvian Academy of Science and Mongolian Academy of Science.

Article 4

The Parties shall reciprocally exchange yearly five (5) scholarships for bachelor or master students for one academic year.

The respective Ministries of the two countries shall conclude the list of the subject of studies and the financial conditions till May 30 each year.

Article 5

The Parties shall exchange specialists in the field of education for the total period of three (3) months annually.

Article 6

The Parties shall exchange students and graduates for the total period of six (6) months annually.

Article 7

The Parties will encourage the co-operation between the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and the Ministry of Science, Technology, Education and Culture of Mongolia.

III.FINANCIAL AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 8

All activities and exchanges foreseen in this Agreement shall be implemented in accordance the respective laws and regulations of the Parties and through diplomatic channels.

This Agreement does not exclude the implementation of other exchanges, which are not envisaged hereby, in the fields of culture, education and science, to be agreed upon by the Parties through diplomatic channels.

Article 9

All activities and exchanges foreseen in the Articles 3, 4, 5, 6 shall be implemented in accordance with the financial provisions elaborated hereunder:

a) The receiving Party shall exclude the persons undergoing education under this Agreement from educational fees and provide them with hostel accomodation and grants in accordance with the national legislation of the host country;

b) The sending Party shall cover the travel expenses to the capital of the receiving Party and back for the approved candidates for educational courses and for the groups exchanged between the institutions;

c) The receiving Party shall cover the expenses for travel inside its country.

Article 10

The exchange of exhibitions envisaged in this Agreement shall be made through diplomatic channels and according to the financial provisions elaborated hereunder:

a) The sending Party shall meet all the insurance and the transportation expenses of the exhibition material to the first exhibition point in the receiving Party and back to the sending Party from the last exhibition point;

b) The receiving Party shall povide the exhibition and meet local transportation, as well as printing expenses of advertisment, security and insurance of the exhibition;

c) The receiving Party shall provide the fulfilment of customs formalities within the shortest period of time.

Article 11

The proposals conserning the exchange of ensembles shall be made through diplomatic channels at least twelve (12) months in advance. The receiving Party shall give an answer within two (2) months after having received the proposals.

The sending Party will provide the receiving Party with all relevant information concerning the ensembles, programmes, press material, date of arrival and departure ect, at least four (4) months in advance.

Article 12

Contracting Parties shall notify each other through diplomatic channels in writing that all the conditions for entering into force of the Agreement have been met as required by national legislation. The Agreement shall enter into force on the day of the receipt of the last written notification.

Changes and additions to this Agreement during its implementation shall be co-ordinated in writing through diplomatic channels.

This Agreement is concluded for a period of five (5) years. It shall be automatically extended for further five-year (5) periods, unless terminated through diplomatic channels by any of the Parties at no later notice than six (6) months before the conclusion of a validity period.

Done in Riga on this 1st day of July 2003 in two originals, each of them in the Latvian, Mongolian and English languages, all texts being equally binding. In case of differences, the English text shall prevail.