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No. 54955* ____

Poland and

Treaty between the of and the Republic of Latvia on friendship and cooperation. , 1 1992 Entry into force: 17 1992 by the exchange of the instruments of ratification, in accordance with article 19 Authentic texts: Latvian and Polish Registration with the Secretariat of the : Poland, 1 2018 *No UNTS volume number has yet been determined for this record. The Text(s) reproduced below, if attached, are the authentic texts of the agreement / attachment as submitted for registration and publication to the Secretariat. For ease of reference they were sequentially paginated. Translations, if attached, are not final and are provided for information only.

Pologne et Lettonie

Traité d’amitié et de coopération entre la République de Pologne et la République de Lettonie. Riga, 1er juillet 1992 Entrée en vigueur : 17 décembre 1992 par l'échange des instruments de ratification, conformément à l'article 19 Textes authentiques : letton et polonais Enregistrement auprès du Secrétariat de l'Organisation des Nations Unies : Pologne, 1er février 2018 *Aucun numéro de volume 'a encore été attribué à ce dossier. Les textes disponibles qui sont reproduits ci-dessous sont les textes originaux de l'accord ou de l'action tels que soumis pour enregistrement. Par souci de clarté, leurs pages ont été numérotées. Les traductions qui accompagnent ces textes ne sont pas définitives et sont fournies uniquement à titre d'information. I-54955

[ LATVIAN TEXT – TEXTE LETTON ]

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[ POLISH TEXT – TEXTE POLONAIS ]

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[ – TRADUCTION] TREATY BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND AND THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA ON FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION

The Republic of Poland and the Republic of Latvia, hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties, Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Wishing to observe the principles contained in the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in , the Charter of for a New Europe and other documents on European cooperation, Convinced of the need to overcome definitively the division of Europe and create a just and lasting European order, Aware of the community of their interests and of their joint responsibility for peace, security, agreement and cooperation in a democratic and free Europe that respects human rights, Appreciating the importance of Polish-Latvian relations for the whole of cooperation in , the Baltic and on the European continent, Declaring their will to cooperate on a bilateral level and within international organizations and institutions in order to develop comprehensive cooperation in the , including efforts to restore and protect the value of the marine environment of the , Expressing the conviction that the principle of good neighbourliness should govern relations between all States in the Baltic region, irrespective of their location, Mindful of the historical relationship between Poland and Latvia and their friendly relations in the 1920s and , and bearing in mind the tradition of friendship between the two countries and nations, Striving to create the basis for friendly coexistence and the development of close cooperation between the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Latvia, Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

1. The Contracting Parties shall be guided in their relations by a spirit of mutual respect, trust, equality and partnership based on the primacy of international law, as well as the principles of respect for , the inviolability of , territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs. 2. Within the framework of the Council of the Baltic Sea States and other organizations and institutions in the Baltic region, the Contracting Parties shall create favourable conditions for the development of cooperation and good neighbourliness in this part of Europe.

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Article 2

1. In accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Contracting Parties undertake to settle their disputes exclusively by peaceful means and confirm that they shall refrain from using force or threatening its use in their mutual relations. 2. Each of the Contracting Parties shall ensure that the activities of its armed forces in its territory shall be conducted in accordance with the United Nations Charter, the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe and other documents of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Article 3

1. Pursuant to the provisions of the relevant documents of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Contracting Parties shall cooperate in order to maintain and strengthen security on the European continent. 2. The Contracting Parties shall implement the agreed pan-European measures for strengthening confidence and security. If necessary, the Parties shall agree on additional measures of that kind. 3. The Contracting Parties shall pay special attention to the issues of strengthening security and confidence in the Baltic region.

Article 4

1. The Contracting Parties shall actively support the processes of nuclear, chemical and biological disarmament. The Contracting Parties consider that the reduction of armaments to a degree sufficient for defence will lead to the strengthening of stability and security in Europe. 2. In accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Contracting Parties shall cooperate to prevent the proliferation of such weapons in the , in particular in Central and . 3. The Contracting Parties shall take measures to ensure the control of exports of goods and technology that can be used to produce the weapons referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2. 4. The Contracting Parties shall develop cooperation between their Ministries of Defence on the basis of separate agreements.

Article 5

1. In the event of a dispute or a situation which, in the opinion of one of the Contracting Parties, endanger or threaten the maintenance of peace or security in the world or violates international peace or security, in particular when such a dispute or situation affects both Contracting Parties, the Contracting Parties shall immediately engage in appropriate consultations, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, with a view to seeking possible means to resolve the dispute or situation that has arisen. 2. In the event that a third State or third States commit an armed attack on one of the Parties, the other Party undertake not to provide any assistance or support to such State or States,

25 I-54955 throughout the duration of the armed conflict, and shall work to resolve that conflict, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and the documents of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Article 6

1. Meetings of the Heads of State and Government shall be held whenever the Contracting Parties consider that to be advisable. 2. The Ministers for Foreign Affairs shall hold regular consultations on matters of interest to both Contracting Parties. 3. The Contracting Parties shall develop regular contacts between State and administrative bodies and shall create favourable conditions for the development of interparliamentary cooperation.

Article 7

1. The Contracting Parties shall promote the development of mutually beneficial economic cooperation, including trade, based on market principles, and shall ensure favourable conditions for such cooperation, bearing in mind the need to protect investments, technology, patent and copyright laws, and shall introduce appropriate legal regulations regarding the flow of capital, labour, goods and services. 2. The Contracting Parties shall facilitate the development of cooperation between State and private enterprises, as well as other business entities. In particular, they shall support the development of investment and capital cooperation between Polish and Latvian enterprises, using fully all available means of promotion. Particular attention shall be paid to cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises. 3. The Contracting Parties shall exchange experiences and provide each other with training and other assistance in the process of building and strengthening the . 4. The Contracting Parties shall develop and facilitate scientific and technical cooperation between the two States for peaceful purposes on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, bearing in mind the possibilities of modern science and technology.

Article 8

1. The Contracting Parties attach great importance to bilateral cooperation between regions, cities, and other territorial units. The Contracting Parties shall facilitate and support such cooperation in all areas, both in bilateral relations and through participation in the Council of the Baltic Sea States and the Union of the Baltic Cities. 2. The Contracting Parties shall be guided, in their regional cooperation, by the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Cooperation between Territorial Communities or Authorities. They shall strive to include such cooperation in the activities of the relevant institutions of the Baltic region. 3. The Contracting Parties shall establish a joint intergovernmental commission on regional cooperation, and an agreement on the topic shall be concluded for that purpose.

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Article 9

1. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate to develop and improve mutual links, including transit links, and the related infrastructure in all transport modes, including pipelines and power lines. 2. The Contracting Parties shall take steps to modernize and improve telecommunications links, in particular telephone, telex and electronic data links. 3. The Contracting Parties shall foster cooperation in the fields of transport and communication in Europe, as well as in other parts of the world. Their competent authorities shall conclude separate agreements in that regard that meet international standards and norms.

Article 10

1. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate closely in of environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources so as to ensure sustainable environmental security in the region, and in particular in the Baltic Sea. They shall expand, foster and create conditions for the improvement of the environment, including water and air, soils and , and the protection of flora and fauna. The Parties shall work to counteract chemical, radioactive and other transboundary pollution and shall seek to effectively limit and eliminate it. They shall also cooperate in the use and development of environmentally clean production and technology. 2. Recognizing the importance of cooperation in the Baltic region in the field of the environment, the Contracting Parties shall cooperate closely in the implementation of the Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources in the Baltic Sea and Belts, signed in Gdańsk on 13 1973, and the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area, signed in on 9 1992, as well as other documents related to the protection of the Baltic Sea environment. 3. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate and render each other mutual assistance in order to prevent and eliminate environmental threats and natural disasters. They shall immediately inform each other about such dangers and disasters or about the possibilities of their emergence. 4. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall conclude specific agreements on environmental security and cooperation in accordance with international standards. 5. The Contracting Parties shall participate in the development of a coordinated strategy for environmental protection in Europe and in the world.

Article 11

1. The Contracting Parties shall support the comprehensive development of cooperation in the fields of culture, science and education, and shall apply the existing global and European standards defined in particular in UNESCO conventions and the document of the Symposium on the Cultural Heritage of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe Participating States. 2. The Contracting Parties shall conclude an intergovernmental agreement on cultural and scientific cooperation and shall cooperate on the basis of existing agreements between them, and shall intensify and develop cultural exchanges in all areas and at all levels. In particular, they shall

27 I-54955 support cooperation between artists' associations, artists and cultural institutions and organizations, and encourage direct contacts between Polish and Latvian artists and performers.

Article 12

1. The Contracting Parties shall work to develop cooperation between schools, universities and scientific institutions of various types, inter alia through the exchange of students and scholarship holders. 2. The Contracting Parties confirm their intention to recognize periods of study at and diplomas from each other’s schools and colleges at various levels, as well as academic titles.

Article 13

1. The Contracting Parties confirm their readiness to enable all interested persons to have full access to the language and culture of the other country and shall support appropriate State and private initiatives and institutions. 2. The Contracting Parties shall increase their support for the dissemination of the literature of the other country. 3. The Contracting Parties shall support the extension of opportunities to learn the language of the other country in universities and other educational institutions. They shall also work to expand the possibilities for Polish and Latvian studies in the universities of the other country. 4. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate in the exchange of visits by teachers, in the training and continuing education of teaching staff and in the development and sharing of study aids.

Article 14

1. Each Contracting Party shall facilitate the dissemination of press, books and audio-visual materials of the other Contracting Party. The Contracting Parties shall also cooperate in the fields of radio, television and news agencies. 2. In order to disseminate knowledge about each other’s national achievements in the field of culture, science and education, each of the Contracting Parties shall establish cultural institutions in the territory of the other Party, which shall receive broad support from the host country. 3. Given the special role played by the young in shaping mutual relations of understanding between the peoples of both countries, the Governments of the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Latvia shall conclude an agreement on cooperation and the mutual exchange of youth. 4. The Contracting Parties shall support the development of contacts between citizens of both Contracting Parties and cooperation between social organizations, political parties, trade unions, churches and religious organizations, sports organizations, foundations and other social organizations and associations.

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Article 15

1. The Contracting Parties shall, in accordance with the relevant international standards regarding the protection of national minorities, recognize the right of members of the Latvian minority in the Republic of Poland and of the Polish minority in the Republic of Latvia, individually or in combination with other members of that minority, to preserve, express and develop their ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity without any discrimination and in conditions of full equality before the law, and to conduct educational religious activity in their mother tongue. 2. The Contracting Parties shall take the necessary measures to enable national minorities to exercise their rights, in particular the right to: - Teach their mother tongue and use their mother tongue freely to access, distribute and exchange information in that language, - Establish and maintain their own educational, cultural and religious institutions and associations, which may apply for voluntary financial and other contributions, as well as for public assistance, in accordance with domestic laws, - Profess and practice their religion and conduct religious educational activities in their mother tongue, - Use names and in the pronunciation and spelling of their mother tongue, - Establish and maintain unhindered contacts with each other within their country of residence, as well as across borders, - Have their own press and publishing houses and access to their region's radio and television. 3. The Contracting Parties confirm that belonging to a national minority is a matter of individual choice made by a given person and that no adverse consequences shall result from it. Each of the Contracting Parties shall protect in its territory the national identity of the minority of the other Contracting Party against any action threatening that identity and shall create conditions for strengthening it. 4. The Contracting Parties agree that the persons referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 should comply with the legislation of their country of residence.

Article 16

1. The Contracting Parties shall support comprehensive cooperation in the field of health and sanitary protection, in particular in the area of the prevention and control of lifestyle and infectious diseases. 2. The Contracting Parties shall strive for close cooperation in the fields of work, insurance and social welfare.

Article 17

1. The Contracting Parties shall, through separate agreements, create conditions allowing for legal transactions in civil, family, criminal and administrative matters. 2. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate in the fight against organized crime, terrorism, economic crimes, the illegal drug and arms trade, the illegal trade in works of art, unlawful

29 I-54955 violations of the civil aviation and maritime safety, the production and circulation of counterfeit currency, and illegal migration.

Article 18

This Treaty shall be registered with the Secretariat of the United Nations in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Article 19

1. This Treaty shall be subject to ratification and shall enter into force on the day of the exchange of ratification instruments, which shall take place in . 2. This Treaty is concluded for a period of 15 years. After that period, its validity shall be automatically extended for periods of five years, unless one of the Contracting Parties denounces it by notification no later than one year before the end of the given period of validity. DONE at Riga, on 1 July 1992, in duplicate, each copy in the Polish and Latvian languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Republic of Poland:

For the Republic of Latvia: JANIS JURKANS

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