CELEX: 32006D0890
Language: mt
Date: 2006-12-04 00:00:00
Title: Deċiżjoni tal-Kummissjoni ta’ l- 4 ta’ Diċembru 2006 li tikkonċerna l-konklużjoni f'isem il-Komunità Ewropea dwar l-Enerġija Atomika ta’ Ftehim ta’ Qafas dwar Programm Ambjentali Nukleari Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa u tal-Protokoll dwar Talbiet, Proċeduri Legali u Indennizz għal Ftehim ta’ Qafas dwar il-Programm Ambjentali Nukleari Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa (innotifikata taħt dokument numru C(2006) 5219)

5.6.2007                 MT                           Il-Ġurnal Uffiċjali ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea                                                  753

32006D0890

L 343/96                                       IL-ĠURNAL UFFIĊJALI TA’ L-UNJONI EWROPEA                                                  8.12.2006

                                                       DEĊIŻJONI TAL-KUMMISSJONI
                                                            ta’ l-4 ta’ Diċembru 2006
                 li tikkonċerna l-konklużjoni f'isem il-Komunità Ewropea dwar l-Enerġija Atomika ta’ Ftehim ta’ Qafas
                 dwar Programm Ambjentali Nukleari Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa u tal-Protokoll dwar Talbiet,
                 Proċeduri Legali u Indennizz għal Ftehim ta’ Qafas dwar il-Programm Ambjentali Nukleari
                                                   Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa
                                                 (innotifikata taħt dokument numru C(2006) 5219)
                                                               (2006/890/Euratom)

IL-KUMMISSJONI TAL-KOMUNITAJIET EWROPEJ,                                     (4)   Il-Ftehim ta’ Qafas ta’ l-MNEPR jistabbilixxi qafas legali
                                                                                   multilaterali għal proġetti marbutin ma’ l-enerġija nukleari
                                                                                   mwettqa minn pajjiżi tal-punent fil-majjistral tar-Russja, u l-
                                                                                   Protokoll dwar it-Talbiet, il-Proċeduri Legali u l-Indennizz
                                                                                   għandu l-għan li jsolvi kwistjonijiet ta’ responsabbiltà li
                                                                                   jinqalgħu minn attivitajiet imwettqa f’dan il-kuntest.
Wara li kkunsidrat it-Trattat li jistabbilixxi l-Komunità Ewropea
dwar l-Enerġija Atomika, u partikolarment l-Artikolu 101(2)
tiegħu,

                                                                             (5)   L-MNEPR issawret sabiex tiffaċilita proġetti li jindirizzaw
                                                                                   problemi marbuta ma' l-iskart radjuattiv u l-karburant
Billi:                                                                             nukleari użat u ż-żarmar ta' sottomarini u icebreakers
                                                                                   nukleari fil-Federazzjoni Russa. Inizjalment qed tiffoka fuq
                                                                                   ir-reġjun tal-majjistral, iżda l-Ftehim ta’ Qafas jiddikjara li l-
                                                                                   MNEPR tista’ tapplika wkoll għal proġetti jew għal kull sura
                                                                                   ta’ kooperazzjoni f’oqsma oħrajn ta’ attivitajiet nukleari,
                                                                                   inkluż is-sigurtà nukleari, jekk il-Partijiet ikkonċernati
                                                                                   jiftiehmu hekk.
(1)      Skond id-direttivi adottati bid-Deċiżjoni tal-Kunsill ta’ l-10
         ta' April 2000, il-Kummissjoni ħadet sehem fin-negozjati
         mal-Federazzjoni Russa dwar Ftehim dwar Programm
         Ambjentali Nukleari Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa
         u Protokoll dwar Talbiet, Proċeduri Legali u Indennizz.

                                                                             (6)   Il-Memorandum ta’ Ftehim bilaterali preżenti ffirmat bejn
                                                                                   il-Kummissjoni Ewropea f’isem il-Komunitajiet u l-Federaz-
                                                                                   zjoni Russa fl-1995, li jkopri l-implimentazzjoni tal-
                                                                                   Programmi ta' Għajnuna Teknika fil-Qasam tas-Sigurtà
(2)      Ftehim ta’ Qafas dwar Programm Ambjentali Nukleari
                                                                                   Nukleari u li jindirizza kwistjonijiet ta' responsabbiltajiet
         Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa (MNEPR) u l-Protokoll
                                                                                   nukleari mhux se jkun applikabbli fuq proġetti taħt l-
         dwar it-Talbiet, il-Proċeduri Legali u l-Indennizz mal-Ftehim
                                                                                   Istrument għall-Kooperazzjoni għas-Sigurtà Nukleari l-ġdid.
         ta’ Qafas dwar l-MNEPR ġew iffirmati fi Stokkolma fil-21 ta'
         Mejju 2003.

(3)      Il-Ftehim ta’ Qafas kien iffirmat mill-Komunità Ewropea, il-        (7)   L-Istati Membri kollha ta’ l-UE li ffirmaw il-Ftehim ta’ Qafas
         Komunità Ewropea dwar l-Enerġija Atomika, in-Norveġja, l-                 iddepożitaw l-istrumenti tar-ratifika mad-Depożitarji, bl-
         Iżvezja, id-Danimarka, il-Finlandja, il-Belġju, Franza, il-               aħħar Membru jkun ir-Renju Unit, li rratifika l-Ftehim ta’
         Ġermanja, ir-Renju Unit, l-Olanda u r-Russja.                             Qafas f’April 2006.
 ---pagebreak--- 754           MT                          Il-Ġurnal Uffiċjali ta’ l-Unjoni Ewropea                                   5.6.2007

      (8)   Il-Kummissjoni Ewropea dwar l-Enerġija Atomika issa qiegħda f’pożizzjoni li tikkonkludi l-Ftehim ta’
            Qafas ta’ l-MNEPR.

      ADOTTAT DIN ID-DEĊIŻJONI:

                                                          Artikolu 1
      1. Il-Ftehim ta’ Qafas dwar Programm Ambjentali Nukleari Multilaterali fil-Federazzjoni Russa u l-Protokoll
      dwar it-Talbiet, il-Proċeduri Legali u l-Indennizz fuq il-Ftehim ta’ Qafas dwar Programm Ambjentali Nukleari
      fil-Federazzjoni Russa huma hawnhekk konklużi f'isem il-Komunità Ewropea dwar l-Enerġija Atomika.

      2. It-testi tal-Ftehim ta’ Qafas u tal-Protokoll huma annessi ma’ din id-Deċiżjoni.

      Din id-Deċiżjoni hija indirizzata lill-Istati Membri.

      Magħmul fi Brussel, 4 ta' Diċembru 2006.

                                                                                         Għall-Kummissjoni
                                                                                     Benita FERRERO-WALDNER
                                                                                      Membru tal-Kummissjoni
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            FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT ON A MULTILATERAL NUCLEAR ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME
                                  IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

            The Government of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Government of the
            Republic of Finland, the Government of the French Republic, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, the
            Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Government of the Kingdom of Norway, the Government of the
            Russian Federation, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
            and Northern Ireland, the Government of the United States of America, the European Community, and the European
            Atomic Energy Community (hereinafter referred to as the Parties),

            Noting the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste
            Management of 5 September 1997 (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Joint Convention’);

            Noting that the Joint Convention stipulates that spent fuel and radioactive waste within military or defence
            programmes should be managed in accordance with the objectives stated in that Convention even though they
            are excluded from it except as provided in Article 3 thereof;

            Noting also the Convention on Nuclear Safety of 17 June 1994;

            Recalling the importance the Joint Convention attaches to international co-operation in enhancing the safety
            of spent fuel and radioactive waste management through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms;

            Reaffirming the importance the Parties attach to the principles embodied in relevant international
            conventions on nuclear liability for the provision of international assistance in this field;

            Recognising the work of the Contact Expert Group for International Radwaste Projects established under the
            auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency to deal with issues regarding international co-operation in
            radioactive waste management and related issues in the Russian Federation, and its contribution to the
            development of a comprehensive International Action Plan;

            Desiring to facilitate practical co-operation to enhance the safety of spent fuel and radioactive waste
            management in the Russian Federation, in particular through the implementation of projects in the Russian
            Federation that may be identified by the Contact Expert Group for International Radwaste Projects;

            Recalling the Declaration of Principles by members and observers of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council
            representing Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Russian
            Federation Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States regarding the Multilateral Nuclear
            Environmental Programme in the Russian Federation signed at Bodø (Norway) on 5 March 1999 in which
            the participants declared their readiness to negotiate a multilateral Framework Agreement covering the
            necessary conditions for the provision of international assistance in this field;

            HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

                           Article 1                                    The MNEPR shall apply to projects undertaken between
                                                                        Contributors and Recipients or any other form of co-operation
                                                                        agreed by them. It may also apply to projects or any other form
                                                                        of co-operation in other areas of nuclear activities, including
  Multilateral Nuclear Environmental Programme in the                   nuclear safety, if so agreed by the Parties concerned.
               Russian Federation (MNEPR)

1. The Parties hereby establish a framework to facilitate co-
operation in the area of safety of spent nuclear fuel and               2. The Parties shall seek to avoid duplication of Assistance
radioactive waste management in the Russian Federation. This            activities and to ensure that such activities are complementary to
framework shall be referred to as the ‘Multilateral Nuclear             activities under other multilateral or bilateral funds, agreements,
Environmental Programme in the Russian Federation’ (MNEPR).             mechanisms or arrangements.
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                               Article 2                                  3. The provision of Assistance by the Contributors under this
                                                                          Agreement shall be subject to the availability of appropriated
                              Definitions                                 funds.

For the purposes of this Agreement the following terms shall
have the following meanings:                                                                            Article 4

                                                                                                 MNEPR Committee
Technical aid (assistance):      Any form of gratuitous aid and/or
                                 contribution provided under this
                                 Agreement or under any Imple-            1. To facilitate co-operation and to exchange information
                                 menting Agreement, or otherwise          under the MNEPR, the Parties hereby establish the MNEPR
                                 agreed to by the Russian Party and       Committee. The MNEPR Committee shall be composed of one
                                 the Contributing Party or Parties        authorized official/governmental representative of each of the
                                 (hereinafter referred to as ‘Assis-      Parties, who shall also serve as a contact point for all questions of
                                 tance’).                                 relevance to the MNEPR.
Contributor:                     Any Party other than the Russian
                                 Party or any entity authorized by
                                 such Party to provide Assistance         2. The MNEPR Committee may:
                                 under the MNEPR.
Recipient:                       The Russian Party or any other
                                 Russian entity authorized by the
                                 Russian Party to serve as benefi-        —    discuss the development and implementation of projects
                                 ciary of Assistance and partner for           and any other form of co-operation under this Agreement;
                                 the realization of a project under
                                 the MNEPR.
Implementing Agreement:          An agreement between one or              —    discuss relevant activities under other bilateral or multila-
                                 more Recipients and one or more               teral agreements or arrangements;
                                 Contributors for the provision of
                                 Assistance for the realization of
                                 a project under the MNEPR.               —    co-ordinate funding for projects under Article 3.1 (c);

                               Article 3
                                                                          —    identify obstacles and problems encountered in the
          Modes of co-operation under the MNEPR                                implementation of projects, and make recommendations
                                                                               regarding their resolution;
1. Assistance under the MNEPR may be provided through:

                                                                          —    establish working groups as required for the functioning of
(a)   Implementing Agreements between one or more Recipients
                                                                               the MNEPR Committee;
      and any one of the Contributors (Bilateral mode);

(b)   Implementing Agreements between one or more Recipients              —    discuss and make recommendations on other matters
      and several Contributors whereby a common financing                      relevant to the operation of MNEPR activities;
      arrangement will not be established (Multilateral simple
      mode);

                                                                               and
(ċ)   Implementing Agreements between one or more Recipients
      and several Contributors whereby a common financing
      arrangement will be established (Multilateral funding
                                                                          —    invite States, intergovernmental organisations or regional
      mode); or
                                                                               economic integration organisations being subject to public
                                                                               international law to accede in accordance with Article 16.
(d)   any other mechanism agreed by the Recipient(s) and
      Contributor(s) concerned.
                                                                          3. The MNEPR Committee shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.
2. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the terms
and conditions of this Agreement shall apply to all Assistance
provided under paragraph 1 of this Article. The provisions of this        4. The MNEPR Committee shall elect two co-chairpersons for
Agreement may also apply to activities undertaken before its              twelve-month periods from among representatives of the Parties,
entry into force if so agreed by the Parties involved in those            one from among the Contributing Parties and one representing
activities.                                                               the Russian Party.
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5. The MNEPR Committee may decide to admit as Observers                 3. Any Party that does not become a party to the Protocol may
any interested State, inter-governmental organisation or regional       conclude with the Russian Party a separate agreement covering
economic integration organisation being subject to public               claims, legal proceedings and indemnification in respect of
international law not party to this Agreement. Where a Co-              claims for any loss or damage of whatsoever nature arising from
ordinator has been designated according to Article 5, that Co-          activities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.
ordinator shall be admitted as an Observer to meetings of the
MNEPR Committee, where relevant.
                                                                                                     Article 8
6. Decisions and recommendations of the MNEPR Committee
shall be made by consensus.                                                            Use and retransfer of Assistance

                            Article 5                                   1. Unless the written consent of the Contributor has first been
                                                                        obtained, the Recipient shall not transfer title to, or possession
  Co-ordinator of multilateral funding under the MNEPR                  of, any Assistance provided pursuant to this Agreement to any
                                                                        entity, other than an officer, employee or agent of that
1. The Contributing Parties to a common financing arrange-              Contributor or that Recipient and shall not permit the use of
ment, as referred to in Article 3.1(c), may designate a Co-             such Assistance for purposes other than those for which it has
ordinator for such an arrangement.                                      been furnished.

2. The rights and obligations of the Contributing Parties under
this Agreement apply equally to the Coordinator where the Co-           2. The Russian Party shall take all reasonable measures within
ordinator performs activities on behalf of the Contributors.            its power to ensure the security of, ensure the appropriate use of,
                                                                        and prevent the unauthorized transfer of Assistance provided
                                                                        pursuant to this Agreement.
                            Article 6

                    Specific undertakings
                                                                                                     Article 9
1. The Parties shall promote activities necessary for the
implementation of projects under the MNEPR.                                       Exemption from taxes or similar charges

2. The Russian Party shall ensure the prompt issuance of, inter         1. The Russian Party shall exempt Assistance provided under
alia, licences, permits, approvals and the prompt customs               this Agreement from customs duties, profits taxes, other taxes
clearances necessary for the efficient implementation of projects.      and similar charges. The Russian Party shall take all necessary
The Russian Party shall ensure the provision of data and                steps to ensure that no local or regional taxes are levied on
information necessary for the implementation of specific                Assistance provided under this Agreement. These steps will
projects within the framework of this Agreement. The Russian            include the provision of letters from competent local and/or
Party shall grant access to sites and facilities necessary for the      regional authorities confirming that no taxes will be levied on
implementation of specific projects within the framework of this        Assistance provided under this Agreement. Such letters of
Agreement. Should such access be restricted according to the            confirmation covering localities and regions where projects
provisions of the legislation of the Russian Federation, mutually       under this Agreement will be carried out shall be deposited with
acceptable procedures shall be developed in the Implementing            at least one of the Depositaries before the start of implementa-
Agreements. The Implementing Agreements shall also define the           tion of the projects.
procedures for, and the scope of, the information to be
transferred.
                                                                        2. The Russian Party shall exempt remuneration to foreign
3. The provision of Assistance shall be complemented by                 natural persons and to Russian citizens not ordinarily resident in
Russian resources. Such resources may be contributed in-kind or         the Russian Federation for work undertaken and services
otherwise for the implementation of projects under the MNEPR.           performed by such persons for the implementation of Assistance
                                                                        under this Agreement from income tax, social security tax
                                                                        contributions, and similar charges within the territory of the
                            Article 7                                   Russian Federation. With regard to remuneration exempted by
                                                                        this paragraph, the Russian Party shall not have any obligations
       Claims, legal proceedings and indemnification                    in terms of any charges and payments to the persons indicated in
                                                                        this paragraph, at the expense of the social security system or any
1. This Agreement is supplemented by a Protocol containing              other government funds.
provisions on claims, legal proceedings and indemnification in
respect of claims against Contributors and their personnel or
contractors, subcontractors, consultants, suppliers or subsup-
pliers of equipment, goods and services at any tier and their           3. The Contributing Parties and their personnel, their contrac-
personnel, for any loss or damage of whatsoever nature arising          tors, subcontractors, suppliers and subsuppliers may import into,
from activities undertaken pursuant to this Agreement.                  and export out of, the Russian Federation equipment, supplies,
                                                                        materials or services required to implement this Agreement. In
                                                                        addition to the provisions regarding Assistance, temporary
2. The Protocol and its Annex shall not apply to any Party that         importation and exportation shall not be subject to customs
does not become a party to the Protocol.                                duties, license fees, undue restrictions, taxes or similar charges.
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4. In addition to the preceding paragraphs, persons and entities         organisations, in the Russian Federation. After entry into force of
participating in the implementation of the programmes in the             this Agreement, the Parties will consult on the number of such
framework of this Agreement within the territory of the Russian          personnel covered by this paragraph. The accreditation of such
Federation are entitled to exemption from value added tax and            personnel shall have no effect on the number of accredited
other charges with regard to equipment and goods purchased               personnel permitted at Russian diplomatic missions in the
within the territory of the Russian Federation for the                   Contributing Parties.
implementation of the projects or the programmes in the
framework of this Agreement, as well as works done and services
rendered within the territory of the Russian Federation.                 3. The Russian Party guarantees that the contractors, subcon-
                                                                         tractors, consultants, suppliers, subsuppliers and their personnel
5. Imposition of taxation shall be regarded as a valid reason for        as referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may import and re-
suspension or termination of an Assistance project, or not to            export out of the territory of the Russian Federation all of their
initiate an Assistance project.                                          personal household effects as well as foodstuffs for their personal
                                                                         use without being liable to any customs duties, taxes, or similar
6. The Russian Party shall be responsible for procedures                 charges. Duty-free import into and re-export out of the Russian
ensuring the implementation of this Article.                             Federation of one motor vehicle per family is allowed, provided
                                                                         that the vehicle is used only within the period of the relevant
Necessary certificates shall be issued by the relevant competent         contract and is re-exported at the end of this period.
authority.
                                                                                                      Article 13
                            Article 10
             Accounts, audits and examinations                                                Settlement of disputes
1. Each Recipient shall maintain proper accounts of all
                                                                         Any disagreement between two or more Parties concerning the
Assistance funding received from Contributors, and furnish such
                                                                         interpretation of this Agreement, or its implementation, shall be
accounts, together with full supporting documentation, to the
                                                                         resolved through consultations. Consultations shall take place
Contributor or Contributors concerned at regular intervals, as
                                                                         not later than three months after one of the Parties submits such
specified in the relevant Implementing Agreement or as
                                                                         a request in writing to the other Party or Parties.
otherwise agreed.

2. Upon request, representatives of a Contributor shall have the                                      Article 14
right, within sixty days of making the request, to examine the use
of any Assistance provided by that Contributor in accordance
                                                                                              Awarding of contracts
with this Agreement, at sites of their location or use if possible,
and shall have the right to audit and examine any and all related
records or documentation for a period of seven years after the           In the event that a Party awards a contract for the acquisition of
completion or early termination of the project in question,              goods and services, including construction, to implement this
unless another period is specified in the Implementing                   Agreement, such contracts shall be awarded in accordance with
Agreement. The practical details of such audits and examinations         the laws and regulations of that Party, or such other laws and
shall be set out in the Implementing Agreements.                         regulations as that Party may choose. Russian companies can also
                                                                         be used as contractors or subcontractors.
                            Article 11
                      Intellectual property                                                           Article 15

The Parties shall provide in Implementing Agreements, as                                 Modifications and amendments
appropriate, effective protection and allocation of rights to
intellectual property transmitted or created under this Agree-
                                                                         1. Any modification or amendment to this Agreement, and any
ment.
                                                                         additional protocol to it, may be made by agreement among the
                                                                         Parties to this Agreement.
                            Article 12
   Status of personnel and entry and exit of personnel
                                                                         2. Any modification or amendment made pursuant to this
1. The Russian Party shall facilitate the entry and exit of              Article shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by
employees of the Contributing Parties to this Agreement and              all of the Parties. Modifications or amendments shall enter into
their personnel and contractors, subcontractors, consultants,            force for all Parties thirty days following the date of receipt by at
suppliers and subsuppliers and their personnel into and out of           least one of the Depositaries of the last notification of
the territory of the Russian Federation for the purpose of               ratification, acceptance or approval.
carrying out activities in accordance with this Agreement.

2. The Russian Party shall accredit military and civilian                                             Article 16
personnel of the Contributing Parties, including employees of
the Commission of the European Communities present in the                                            Accession
territory of the Russian Federation in order to carry out activities
related to the provision of Assistance under this Agreement, as          1. This Agreement shall be open for accession by any State,
administrative and technical personnel of the respective                 inter-governmental organisation or regional economic integra-
diplomatic missions, the mission of the Commission of the                tion organisation being subject to public international law upon
European Communities and the missions of intergovernmental               invitation by the MNEPR Committee.
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2. This Agreement shall enter into force for the acceding Party          3. Any Party may withdraw from this Agreement upon giving
thirty days following the date of receipt by at least one of the         ninety days written notification to at least one of the
Depositaries of the acceding Party’s instrument of accession and         Depositaries. The MNEPR Committee shall immediately be
the last of the notifications by the Parties expressing concur-          seized of the matter and shall make recommendations to the
rence.                                                                   Parties on the further continuation of the Agreement.

                            Article 17                                   4. The obligations under Articles 8 to 11, Article 12 first and
                          Depositaries                                   third paragraphs, and Article 13 of this Agreement shall remain
                                                                         in effect regardless of any subsequent transfer of ownership of
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the        the object of co-operation, and regardless of any termination of,
Secretary General of the Organisation for Economic Co-                   or withdrawal from, this Agreement, or the expiration of its
operation and Development are hereby designated as Deposita-             validity.
ries. The Depositaries shall fulfil their duties in accordance with
Article 77 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 23         5. Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, it shall
May 1969 and shall consult each other in the fulfilment of their         continue to apply to any Implementing Agreement which the
duties.                                                                  parties to such Implementing Agreement agree to continue, for
                                                                         the duration of such Implementing Agreement.
                            Article 18
  Entry into force, duration, withdrawal and termination                 6. Where a Party withdraws from this Agreement but
                                                                         continues to be a Party to an Implementing Agreement, this
1. This Agreement shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or
                                                                         Agreement shall continue to apply to such Party with respect to
approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval
                                                                         its participation in such Implementing Agreement.
shall be deposited with at least one of the Depositaries. It shall
enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of receipt
of such instruments from the Russian Party and from one other            7. This Agreement shall be applied on a provisional basis from
Signatory, and shall remain in force for a period of five years          the date of its signature.
from that date. For each Signatory depositing such an instrument
thereafter, this Agreement shall enter into force for it thirty days
following the receipt by at least one of the Depositaries of such        Done at Stockholm on 21 May 2003 in the English, French and
instrument and shall remain in force until the expiration of its         Russian languages, all texts being equally authentic, in two
original five year period.                                               originals of which one shall be deposited in the archives of the
                                                                         Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and one in
2. This Agreement shall be extended automatically for further            the archives of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
periods of five years. Any Party may request at least one of the         Development. Duly certified copies of this Agreement shall be
Depositaries at least ninety days before the expiration of the five      transmitted to the Signatories and acceding Parties. In the event
year period to convene a meeting of the Parties to consider the          of any dispute or divergence in relation to this Agreement the
termination, modification or amendment of this Agreement                 English text shall prevail for the purposes of interpretation.