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Exchange of Notes constituting an Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Independent State of Western Samoa relating to Canadian Investments in Western Samoa insured by the Government of Canada through its Agent, the Export Development Corporation [1978] CATSer 11 (29 September 1978)

E101507 CTS - 1978 No. 17

EXCHANGE OF NOTES CONSTITUTING AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT STATE OF WESTERN SAMOA RELATING TO CANADIAN INVESTMENTS IN WESTERN SAMOA INSURED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA THROUGH ITS AGENT, THE EXPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

I

The Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations to the Minister of Finance of the Independent State of Western Samoa

NEW YORK, September 29, 1978

No. 1

The Honourable Vaovasamanaia R. Phillips,
Minister of Finance of the Independent State of Western Samoa,
c/o High Commission of Samoa to Canada,
New York

Excellency:

I have the honour to refer to discussions which have recently taken place between representatives of our two Governments relating to investments in the Independent State of Western Samoa which would further the development of economic relations between the Independent State of Western Samoa and Canada, and to insurance of such investments by the Government of Canada, through its agent the Export Development Corporation. I also have the honour to confirm the following understandings reached as a result of those discussions:

1. In the event of a payment by the Export Development Corporation under a contract of insurance for any loss by reason of:

(a) war, riot, insurrection, revolution or rebellion in the Independent State of Western Samoa;

(b) the arbitrary seizure, expropriation, confiscation or deprivation of use of any property by a Government, or agency thereof, in the Independent State of Western Samoa;

(c) any action by a Government, or agency thereof, in the Independent State of Western Samoa, other than action of the kind described in sub-paragraph (b) that deprives the investor of any right in, or in connection with, an investment; and

(d) any action by a Government, or agency thereof, in the Independent State of Western Samoa, that prohibits or restricts transfer of any money or removal of any property from that country;

the said Corporation, hereinafter called the “Insuring Agency” shall be authorized by the Government of the Independent State of Western Samoa to exercise the rights having devolved on it by law or having been assigned to it by the predecessor in title.

2. But to the extent that the laws of the Independent State of Western Samoa partially or wholly invalidate the acquisition of any interests in any property within its national territory by the Insuring Agency, the Government of the Independent State of Western Samoa shall permit the investor and the Insuring Agency to make appropriate arrangements pursuant to which such interests are transferred to an entity permitted to own such interests under the laws of the Independent State of Western Samoa.

3. The Insuring Agency shall assert no greater rights than those of the transferring investor under the laws of the Independent State of Western Samoa with respect to any interest transferred or succeeded to as contemplated in paragraph 1. The Government of Canada does, however, reserve its right to assert a claim in its sovereign capacity in the event of a denial of justice or other question of state responsibility as defined in international law.

4. Should the said Insuring Agency acquire, under investment insurance contracts, amounts and credits of the lawful currency of the Government of the Independent State of Western Samoa, the said Government of the Independent State of Western Samoa shall accord to those funds treatment no different than that which it would accord if such funds were to remain with the investor, and such funds shall be freely available to the Government of Canada to meet its expenditures in the national territory of the Independent State of Western Samoa.

5. This Agreement shall apply only with respect to insured investments in projects or activities which are permitted by the Government of the Independent State of Western Samoa.

6. Differences between the two Governments concerning the interpretation and application of provisions of this Agreement or any claim arising out of investments insured in accordance with this Agreement, against either of the two Governments, which in the opinion of the other presents a question of public international law, shall be settled, insofar as possible, through negotiations between the Governments. If such differences cannot be resolved within a period of three months following the request for such negotiations, they shall be submitted, at the request of either Government, to an ad hoc tribunal for settlement in accordance with applicable principles and rules of public international law. The arbitral tribunal shall consist of three members and shall be established as follows: each Government shall appoint one arbitrator; a third member, who shall act as Chairman, shall be appointed by the other two members. The Chairman shall not be a national of either country. The arbitrators shall be appointed within two months and the Chairman within three months of the date of receipt of either Government’s request for arbitration. If the foregoing time limits are not met, either Government may, in the absence of any other agreement, request the President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointment or appointments and both Governments agree to accept such appointment or appointments. If the President of the International Court of Justice is prevented from carrying out the said function or if he is a national of either country, the appointment or appointments shall be made by the Vice-President, and if the latter is prevented from carrying out said function or if he is a national of either country, the appointment or appointments shall be made by the next senior judge of this Court who is not a national of either country. The arbitral tribunal shall decide by majority vote. Its decision shall be final and binding on both Governments. Each of the Governments shall pay the expenses of its member and its representation in the proceeding before the arbitral tribunal; expenses of the Chairman and other costs shall be paid in equal parts by the two Governments. The arbitral tribunal may adopt other regulations concerning costs. In all other matters, the arbitral tribunal shall regulate its own procedures. Only the respective Governments may request arbitral procedure and participate in it.

7. (a) If either Government considers it desirable to modify the provisions of this Agreement, this procedure may be carried out through a request for consultations and / or by correspondence and shall begin not later than 60 days from the date of the request.

(b) The modifications of the Agreement agreed between the two Governments shall enter into force upon their confirmation on the date which shall be mutually agreed upon by an Exchange of Notes.

I have the honour to propose that, if the foregoing is acceptable to your Government, this Note, which is authentic in English and French, and your reply to that effect shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments which shall enter into force on the date of your reply. This Agreement shall continue in force until terminated by either Government on six months’ notice in writing to the other. In the event of termination, the provisions of the Agreement shall continue to apply, in respect of insurance contracts issued by the Government of Canada while the Agreement was in force, for the duration of these contracts; provided that in no case shall the Agreement continue to apply to such contracts for a period longer than fifteen (15) years after the termination of this Agreement.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

William H. Barton

Ambassador and Permanent Representative

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The Minister of Finance of the Independent State of Western Samoa to the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations

NEW YORK, September 29, 1978

His Excellency William H. Barton,
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations,
New York, N.Y.

Excellency,

I have the honour to refer to your Note No. 1 of September 29, 1978 in which you propose an Agreement between the Government of the Independent State of Western Samoa and the Government of Canada relating to investments in the Independent State of Western Samoa which would further the development of economic relations between the Independent State of Western Samoa and Canada, and to the insurance of such investments by the Government of Canada, through its agent the Export Development Corporation.

The proposed Agreement meets with the approval of the Government of the Independent State of Western Samoa. I have the honour to confirm, therefore, that your Note and this reply shall constitute a Foreign Investment Insurance Agreement between our two Governments. This will also confirm that the Agreement shall enter into force on the date of this reply.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

Vaovasamanaia R. Phillips

Minister of Finance