The Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Government of the Republic of Turkey (hereinafter: Parties),
Willing to develop and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies within the framework of the social and economic development of both countries;
Sharing similar goals and objectives regarding the provision of efficient and reliable services to the public in each of their respective countries;
Considering the fact that the improvement of the present degree of cooperation in information and communication technologies and cooperation in areas of common interest through the exchange of ideas, information, skills and experience will be of benefit to both Parties;
Considering the available potential and strengthened commercial relations between the Parties in the field of information and communication technologies and the need to more fully exploit capacities and the opportunities in the area;
Given both Parties are willing to increase investments, join ventures, common interests, technological development and trade in the field of information and communication technologies;
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
The Parties, on the basis of mutual benefit and in accordance with their national legislation and relevant norms and principles of international law, as well as pursuant to this Agreement, shall develop and improve their economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation in the field of information and communication technologies.
Article 2
Cooperation between the Parties in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) shall cover the following areas:
1. Exchange of experience that the Parties have gained in the regulation of telecommunications, online content, online services and online business;
2. Cooperation in the field of e-government and e-signature application;
3. Cooperation and experience sharing in the area of ICT research and development policy preparation and implementation, such as ICT technology platforms and European ICT support;
4. Encouraging mutual investments by the Parties into information and communication technologies;
5. Encouraging the creation of joint ventures by the Parties in the field of information and communication technologies through mutually applicable terms;
6. Expenditures for joint seminars, conferences, forums and exhibitions;
7. Supporting each other in international organisations in the field of information society and telecommunications, wherever the national interests of both countries coincide;
8. Providing visits by teams of representatives from both Parties for the purpose of exchanging experience;
9. Other issues mutually agreed upon.
Article 3
With the purpose of promoting activities in the field of ICT, increasing cooperation, applying new technologies and creating joint ventures, the Parties shall encourage the relevant bodies, organisations and enterprises of both countries to cooperate in promoting closer interaction and a closer exchange of information regarding ICT, and, wherever possible, to cooperate in carrying out specific programmes and projects.
The Parties shall support specialists from both Parties to carry out joint activities for the purpose of applying the experience that the Parties have gained in the field of promoting urban and rural telecommunications, transitioning to digital technology, and regulating local networks.
Article 4
The terms of this Agreement shall not affect the obligations of the Parties resulting from other international agreements to which the Parties are signatories.
Article 5
The Parties shall ensure appropriate and efficient protection of intellectual property rights obtained on the basis of this Agreement, in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in their respective countries and in accordance with the international agreements to which they are parties.
The Parties will take all the necessary measures to protect, in full accordance with their respective legislation, the confidentiality of information exchanged within the framework of cooperative activity, and will not reveal or disseminate to third parties any information provided by the other Party without the latter's written authorisation. These provisions will remain valid after the termination of this Agreement.
Article 6
The contracting Parties shall provide for adequate health insurance for their own scientists, specialists, researchers and experts for the time of their stay in the receiving country, prior to their arrival in the receiving country.
Article 7
Any disagreements concerning interpretation of the application of the provisions of this Agreement will be settled by negotiations and consultations between the Parties.
Article 8
The authorised bodies responsible for implementation of this Agreement and for coordination of activities shall be:
the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, and
the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Turkey, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Turkey.
Depending upon the characteristics of cooperation, the Parties may assign other governmental bodies for coordination of specific activities to be implemented within the framework of this Agreement, of which they shall notify each other through diplomatic channels.
Article 9
This Agreement may be amended or modified by mutual consent of the Parties in writing. Any amendment or modification which has been agreed by the Parties shall be carried out through the exchange of diplomatic memoranda and shall form an integral part of this Agreement and come into force as specified in Article 10 of this Agreement.
Article 10
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last written notification by which the Parties inform each other of the completion of the internal legal procedures necessary for its entry into force.
This Agreement shall remain in force initially for a period of five years, and shall be considered as renewed on the same terms for a subsequent period of five years and so forth, unless at least six (6) months before its expiry either Party notifies the other in writing of its intention to terminate the Agreement.
The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or duration of any specific arrangement of projects or activities made under this Agreement until the completion of such specific arrangements of projects or activities.
Signed in Ankara on 21 November 2007, in two originals, each in the Slovene, Turkish and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence in interpretation, the English text shall prevail.
For the Government of the
Republic of Slovenia
mag. Andrej Vizjak (s)
For the Government of the
Republic of Turkey
Mehmet Şimşek (s)