Uredba o ratifikaciji Sporazuma med Ministrstvom za obrambo Republike Slovenije in ministrom za obrambo Kraljevine Belgije o dvostranskem sodelovanju na obrambnem področju

The Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia
    and the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Belgium,
    hereinafter referred to as the “Contracting Parties“
    Considering the objectives and principles of the Charter of the United Nations;
    Desiring to contribute to the strengthening of peace, confidence and stability;
    Confirming their common will to achieve the objectives laid down in the Invitation to the Partnership for Peace issued and signed by the member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels on 10 January 1994, and the Partnership for Peace framework document;
    Recognizing that the provisions of the Agreement among the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the other States participating in the Partnership for Peace regarding the status of their Forces and the Protocol thereto (PFP SOFA) done at Brussels on 19 June 1995, will apply to the cooperation established by the present Agreement;
    Recalling the Letter of Intent signed by the Ministers of Defence in Ljubljana on 26 February 2001;
    have agreed as follows:

Article 1

Purpose

The present Agreement establishes the framework for a bilateral cooperation in the field of defence matters based on mutually agreed projects.

Article 2

Areas of cooperation

1. The Contracting Parties shall develop cooperation in the following areas:
    a) defence doctrine and military issues related to security policy;
    b) military research, education and training;
    c) peace-keeping operations;
    d) logistics, signals and electronics, engineering, military medicine and surgery;
    e) military geography and cartography;
    f) organization, administration and management of the Armed forces;
    g) legislation and military legal issues;
    h) military history and museums as well as military archives and publications;
    i) social, sports and cultural activities;
    j) application of regulations about security at work in the armed forces.
    2. The Contracting Parties may decide upon additional areas by mutual consent.

Article 3

Forms of cooperation

The cooperation may take the following forms:
    a) official visits and working meetings,
    b) exchange of knowledge and experience
    c) attendance to conferences and seminars
    d) exchange of experts, professors or students between military colleges, academies or training centers, and attendance at courses
    e) attendance of participants and observers at training and preparation exercises for peace-keeping operations
    f) visits to military units, institutions and installations
    g) participation to cultural and sports events.

Article 4

Annual plans

1. Annual plans of bilateral cooperation shall be drawn up pursuant to this Agreement at the level of the Chiefs of Defense Staffs.
    2. The Chiefs of Defense Staffs shall determine at the beginning of the current year the date of exchange of the proposals for the plans of bilateral cooperation for the subsequent calendar year. However, on opportunity basis, an additional proposal may also be considered by mutual agreement.
    3. A Mixed Commission composed of an equal number of representatives of both Chiefs of Defense Staffs shall consequently prepare the annual plan of bilateral cooperation for the subsequent calendar year. These annual plans will be signed by the head of both national representations.

Article 5

Status of personnel

In connection with the implementation of this Agreement, the status of the personnel will be governed by the Agreement among the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the other States participating in the Partnership for Peace regarding the status of their Forces, done at Brussels on 19 June 1995.

Article 6

Protection of confidential information

1. The Contracting Parties commit themselves to use, handle and safeguard any classified material or information to which they may have access in the framework of the present Arrangement in accordance with the Contracting Parties’ national security laws and regulations to the extent that they provide a degree of protection no less stringent than that provided for these material or information as set forth by the originating Contracting Party.
    2. Classified material and information will be transmitted only through official channels between the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties.
    3. Any classified material or information received in the framework of this Arrangement may not be released or disclosed to third parties by direct or indirect way, without previous written approval of the originating Contracting Party.

Article 7

Financial provisions

1. The sending Contracting Party shall cover the costs of transportation from State to State, and per diems for the members of his delegation.
    2. The receiving Contracting Party shall cover the costs of accommodation, services and food supply, transportation on the territory of his country, as well as the costs of cultural events foreseen in the agreed agenda.
    Nevertheless, in the case of activities involving groups of more than 10 host participants (such as sport teams, military bands or student groups), the aforementioned costs shall be distributed according to a special agreement between the Contracting Parties.
    3. The receiving Contracting Party shall provide adequate emergency health care and dental care, including hospitalization, under the same conditions as comparable personnel of his Armed forces. However, repatriation costs shall be borne by the sending Contracting Party.
    4. Other expenses arising in connection with the implementation of this Agreement shall be covered as punctually agreed between the Contracting Parties.

Article 8

Settlement of disputes

Disputes arising from the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by consultation between the Contracting Parties.

Article 9

Final provisions

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date that both Contracting Parties have notified to each other in writing that all internal legal requirements have been fulfilled.
    2. This Agreement is concluded for a initial period of five years and then by tacit renewal for successive one-year periods. Either Contracting Party can terminate this Agreement by notification in writing 90 days prior to the latter deadline or to the expiry of a subsequent one-year period.
    3. This Agreement may be amended by mutual agreement between the Contracting Parties. Amendments must be proposed in writing and shall enter into force in accordance with the first paragraph of this article.

Done at Brussels on 18 December 2001 in two original copies in English language.

The Minister of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia
Dr Anton Grizold (s)
The Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Belgium
André Flahaut (s)