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Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Arctic and the North [1992] CATSer 17 (19 June 1992)

E100317 - CTS 1992 No.18

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ON COOPERATION IN THE ARCTIC AND THE NORTH

The Government of Canada and the Government of the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties")

Noting the geographical, ecological and cultural similarities between these two sovereign countries in their respective Arctic and northern regions,

Guided by the desire to develop a new mutually beneficial partnership aimed at solving common problems for the benefits of the inhabitants of the Arctic and northern regions of the Parties,

Taking into account that Canada and the Russian Federation, as Arctic states, play leading roles in Arctic and northern studies and development and that the Arctic region is of particular importance for both countries,

Bearing in mind the rights and obligations of Canada and the Russian Federation, in accordance with international law, especially as Arctic states,

Aware of the existing and growing commitment of the circumpolar countries to work together on Arctic matters, on the protection of the interests of its population, on the rational use of its resources, and on fostering prosperity in the region, through enhanced circumpolar cooperation,

Convinced of the importance of the direct participation and contribution of provincial (republican), regional and local governments and northerners, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, to Arctic and northern development in Canada and the Russian Federation,

Drawing on the experience gained in past long-standing bilateral contacts and culminating in exchanges in the field of Arctic and northern development under the Canada-USSR Protocols on Scientific and Technical Cooperation in the Arctic and the North of April 16, 1984, and February 26, 1987, and the Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Cooperation in the Arctic and the North of November 20, 1989,

Taking into account the joint Canada-Russia Declaration on Friendship and Cooperation of February 1, 1992,

In accordance with the Treaty of Concord and Cooperation Between Canada and the Russian Federation of June 19, 1992,

Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1

1. The Parties shall promote mutually beneficial cooperation between Canada and the Russian Federation on matters relating to the Arctic and the North, considering it as an important factor conducive to all-round development of their bilateral relations on a stable and long-term basis in the region.

2. The Parties shall determine and agree upon the areas in which both countries will cooperate. A list of priority areas to develop is annexed to the Agreement. The list is subject to periodical revision and can be updated in the manner agreed by the Parties.

3. Cooperation under the present Agreement shall be carried out in consideration of other existing agreements.

ARTICLE 2

1. The Parties will pursue a new partnership on matters relating to the Arctic and the North on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and reciprocity.

2. Cooperation between the Parties may take the following forms:

a) exchanges of and/or visits by delegations, including both short-term and long-term exchanges of and/or visits by officials, experts and northern inhabitants;

b) exchange of information and documentation;

c) joint research and development, and/or exchange of results;

d) contract services provided by experts;

e) joint symposia, conferences and seminars for experts;

f) joint publications;

g) trade missions;

h) joint commercial ventures and activities;

i) technology exchange and transfer;

j) establishment of representative offices; and

k) other mutually agreed forms of cooperation.

ARTICLE 3

1. For the purpose of this Agreement, the Parties will promote, encourage and facilitate the development of cooperative and direct contacts between governmental and non-governmental organizations, scientific research and other institutions, business associations and firms of the two countries, including the conclusion of working arrangements in accordance with the present Agreement.

2. The Parties will promote, facilitate and support the development of cooperative and direct contacts and exchanges between provincial (republican), regional and local governments, as well as native groups and organizations, of the Arctic and northern regions of the two countries, based on their own working arrangements in accordance with the present Agreement.

3. To ensure mutually beneficial cooperation, each Party will provide assistance for travel to areas, institutions and organizations of the other country appropriate for the conduct of activities under the present Agreement.

4. Information obtained as a result of cooperation will be accessible to the participants and be transmitted between them as soon as practicable. Such information may be freely used by the participants unless specified otherwise.

5. The cooperation provided for in this Agreement is subject to the laws and regulations of the Parties.

ARTICLE 4

1. For the purpose of this Agreement, a Canada-Russia Mixed Commission on Cooperation in the Arctic and the North shall be established. The following organizations will be responsible for supervising the implementation of the Agreement: for the Government of Canada - the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development; for the Government of the Russian Federation - the State Committee for Socio-Economic Development of the North.

2. The Mixed Commission will:

a) promote the development of programmes of cooperation between Canada and the Russian Federation in the Arctic and the North, with respect to the areas specified in the Annex;

b) review and report on the implementation of the programmes and ensure that the activities approved are properly carried out;

c) provide general policy directions and management for the Agreement; and

d) consider proposals for the development of additional fields of cooperation, and amend accordingly the Annex.

3. The Mixed Commission will meet at least once every two years, alternately in the Russian Federation and Canada. Each Party will designate its representatives to the Commission's sessions in accordance with its own procedures and practices.

4. The Mixed Commission will be co-chaired by the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, on the Canadian side, and the Chairman of the State Committee of Socio-Economic Development of the North, on the Russian side.

5. Each Party shall maintain a Secretariat, headed by an Executive Secretary, to support the work of the Mixed Commission. To facilitate the liaison, the Parties may consider the exchange of officials of the Secretariat for an agreed period of time.

6. For the purpose of the implementation of the programmes of cooperation, working groups may be set up, working plans may be elaborated, and separate protocols and memoranda may be agreed to, by the Mixed Commission.

ARTICLE 5

1. Each Party shall bear the expenses of its participation in the activities carried out, unless otherwise agreed.

2. During the exchange of delegations in the course of programmes, the sending Party shall bear the expenses of two-way travel to a mutually agreed point and the receiving Party shall bear the expenses during the stay of the delegation in the receiving country, unless otherwise agreed.

3. The duration of the stay in the receiving country and the number of persons in each delegation will be agreed prior to their departure from the sending country. The exchanges will be based on the principle of equal number of delegations and equal durations of stay, unless otherwise agreed.

4. Matters of a commercial or juridical character that may arise during cooperation shall be resolved by special agreements or contracts, or both.

ARTICLE 6

1. The Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Cooperation in the Arctic and the North of November 20, 1989 ceases upon the entry into force of this Convention.

2. The workplans, Protocols and Memoranda of Cooperation agreed to under the 1989 Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Cooperation in the Arctic and the North shall be subsumed with the corresponding changes under the present Agreement.

ARTICLE 7

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signature.

2. This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five years, and thereafter shall be extended automatically for further periods of five years unless either Party gives notice of termination not less than six months prior to the expiration of the initial period or any extension thereof.

3. The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of any arrangements initiated under it which are incomplete at the time of termination.

4. This Agreement may be amended at any time by mutual agreement of the Parties in writing.

DONE in duplicate at Ottawa this 19^th day of June, 1992, in the English, French and Russian languages, each version being equally authentic.

Brian Mulroney

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA

Boris Yeltsin

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

ANNEX

The Parties identified as priority areas of cooperation to develop:

a) economic development, including small business;

b) socio-economic and cultural problems; relations and contacts between aboriginal peoples;

c) land use planning and management;

d) construction in the Arctic and northern regions;

e) geology in the Arctic and northern regions;

f) effects and transport of contaminants;

g) development of renewable and non-renewable resources;

h) education and professional training;

i) policy and legislation related to the administration of Arctic and northern territories;

j) hydrometeorological research and monitoring;

k) fisheries science and technology;

l) Arctic air, land, and marine technology;

m) medical services and health care delivery;

n) tourism;

o) transportation; and

p) such other areas as may be mutually agreed.