Republike Slovenije
Dr. Jure Zupan l.r.
Republike Albanije
Luan Memushi l.r.
The Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania (hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties)
Desiring to encourage and promote cooperation in the areas of science and technology on the basis of equality and mutual benefits,
Recognizing the advantages to be derived by the people of the two countries from the increased scientific and technological cooperation, as well as its importance for the development of the national economies and prosperity of both countries,
Convinced that international cooperation in science and technology will strengthen the bonds of friendship and understanding between the two countries,
have agreed as follows:
Article 1
The Contracting Parties shall develop and support the cooperation in the field of science and technology on the basis of equality and benefit.
Cooperating organizations may include scientific institutes, scientific societies, universities, government agencies and other research and development organizations.
Article 2
According to this agreement, scientific and technological cooperation shall be promoted through:
a/ Scientific and technological joint research and development projects in areas jointly agreed upon;
b/ Exchanges of scientists, specialists, researchers and experts;
c/ Exchange of science and technology information and documentation in the context of activities;
d/ Joint scientific conferences, symposia, workshops and other meetings;
e/ Other forms of scientific and technological cooperation which can mutually be agreed upon by the Contracting Parties.
Besides, the Contracting Parties shall encourage, to the maximum possible extent, exchange of technologies between enterprises, including technical collaboration.
Article 3
The Contracting Parties shall encourage and support cooperation and participation in multilateral scientific, technological and development programs and projects.
The Contracting parties shall exchange information on their priorities regarding the scientific and technical cooperation and shall encourage their cooperating organizations to initiate joint participation in R&D projects within the EU Framework Programs, etc.
Article 4
Cooperation under this Agreement shall be subject to the applicable national laws and regulations of both countries, as well as to the regulations of the international organizations of which the Contracting Parties are members.
Article 5
The treatment of intellectual property arising from the cooperation under this Agreement shall be regulated by the implementing arrangements between the cooperating organizations in which an adequate and efficient intellectual property protection shall be guaranteed. The cooperating organizations shall become joint owners of intellectual property resulting from the cooperation under this Agreement.
Scientific and technological information of a non-proprietary nature deriving from the cooperation under this Agreement shall be possessed by both sides and shall not be disclosed to any third party without the prior written consent of both sides, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the cooperating organizations.
Article 6
Scientists, experts and institutions from other countries or international organizations may be invited, upon consent of both cooperating organizations, to participate in activities being carried out under this Agreement.
The costs of such participation shall normally be covered by the third party, unless otherwise agreed in writing by both sides.
Article 7
The provisions of this Agreement may be modified or amended only by mutual consent of both Contracting Parties. Modifications and amendments should be done in writing.
Article 8
The responsible institutions for the implementation of the provisions of this Agreement are the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology for the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of Education and Science for the Republic of Albania.
Article 9
For the purpose of the implementation of this Agreement, the responsible institutions shall establish a Joint Board for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as "the Joint Board") consisting of equal number of representatives and experts designated by each responsible institution.
The Joint Board shall elaborate the platform of cooperation, including the financial issues. The Joint Board shall plan and coordinate cooperation in science and technology and shall review the progress of such cooperation. It shall adopt biennial Programs of Cooperation, control the implementation of the programs and propose, if necessary, concrete measures for implementation of the results of cooperation.
The Joint Board shall meet every two years, or at the request of either party, alternately in the Republic of Slovenia and in the Republic of Albania.
The Joint Board shall be established not later than 6 months after this agreement shall enter into force.
Article 10
Any disputes related to the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement shall be settled through consultations within the Joint Board or between the responsible institutions.
Article 11
This Agreement shall enter into force upon an exchange of notes confirming that the Contracting Parties have completed their legal internal procedures required for its entry into force. The date of the entry into force shall be the date of the receipt of the last note.
This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five years and shall continue to be in force thereafter for successive periods of five years, unless either Contracting Party notifies in writing six months in advance of its intention to terminate this Agreement.
The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the projects or programs undertaken under this Agreement and not fully executed at the time of the termination of this Agreement.
Done in Ljubljana on 23 February 2005 in two originals each, in Slovenian, Albanian and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of different interpretation of the Agreement, the English text shall prevail.
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