COOPERATION AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND THE SOVEREIGN MILITARY HOSPITALLER ORDER  OF ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM OF RHODES AND OF MALTA

The Republic of Armenia and the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (“Sovereign Order of Malta”)  hereinafter jointly referred to as the “Parties”,

considering that the Sovereign Order of Malta has been dedicated to the service of the sick and poor in the world ever since its foundation more than 900 years ago,

considering the existing traditionally excellent relations between the Parties since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1998,

recalling the long tradition of cooperation in the field of medicine, health and social affairs between the Parties,

desiring to further develop the friendly relations and cooperation between the Parties and to facilitate the Sovereign Order of Malta’s humanitarian assistance in the territory of the Republic of Armenia,

noting that the Sovereign Order of Malta entrusts the management of its humanitarian mission to Appointed organisations,

have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Cooperation Agreement is to set up the general framework and guidelines of the cooperation between the Parties aimed at promoting the hospitaller, social and health care actions of the Sovereign Order of Malta in the territory of the Republic of Armenia in accordance with the laws, internal regulations, respective policies of the Parties on the basis of principles of equality and mutual respect of sovereignty.

ARTICLE 2

FIELDS OF COOPERATION

The Parties, according to their national legislations, shall cooperate in the following areas:

a) health.

b) food security.

c) volunteering.

d) disaster risk reduction.

e) social projects.

f) other fields mutually agreed by the Parties.

ARTICLE 3

APPOINTED ORGANISATIONS IMMUNITIES AND PRIVELEGES

1. For the purposes of this Cooperation Agreement, the Sovereign Order of Malta takes actions directly or through its Appointed organisations.

2. Appointed organizations are subordinate organisations of the Sovereign Order of Malta, such as foundations, aid services, National Associations or other institution connected to the Sovereign Order of Malta and established in view of the accomplishment of its works.

3. For the effective implementation of the tasks arising from the present Cooperation Agreement, the Sovereign Order of Malta and its Appointed organisations shall cooperate with the state and local self-government bodies and organisations involved in the execution of the mentioned tasks within the territory of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the third countries according to the national legislation and the international treaties of the Republic of Armenia.

4. According to their means, the Parties shall support and implement measures intended to facilitate, develop and diversify their social, humanitarian and health cooperation as well as provide relief in humanitarian and natural disaster.

5. The Sovereign Order of Malta and its Appointed organisations have the right to replace or hire any individual or legal person to ensure the proper execution of the programmes and projects.

6. The Republic of Armenia, according to the national legislation, shall undertake to exempt the customs dues and taxes, as well as other charges and duties on equipment (materials for hospitals, disabled people, relief vehicles, medicines or medical-surgical tools, including generators used for the performance of missions) brought in by or on behalf of the Sovereign Order of Malta, either directly or by its Appointed organisations, intended for the attainment of charitable objectives, including social, humanitarian and health objectives set out in this Cooperation Agreement.

7. The buildings belonging to the Sovereign Order of Malta or made available to it, under any legal form, are inviolable. Their integrity and the safety of their accesses are assured by the Government of the Republic of Armenia. They may show the emblem of the Sovereign Order of Malta in its different forms together with the national symbol of the Republic of Armenia.

8. The Sovereign Order of Malta has the power to act in collaboration with religious or lay institutions in order to accomplish all or part of operation or activity within the scope of the present Cooperation Agreement.

9. The list of the Appointed organisations shall be communicated by the Sovereign Order of Malta to the Republic of Armenia through diplomatic channels for approval.

ARTICLE 4

 PROJECTS, PROGRAMS

 1. Under this Agreement, for the implementation of cooperation the Parties may drawn up projects and programs in separate documents.

 2. These projects and programs are concluded between the competent authorities of the Republic of Armenia and the Appointed organisation of the Sovereign Order of Malta, according to the national legislation of the Republic of Armenia.

 3. The immunities and privileges stipulated in Article 3 and Article 5 of this Cooperation Agreement are applicable for projects and programs within the framework of special arrangements.

ARTICLE 5

 STATUS OF PERSONNEL APPOINTED BY THE SOVEREIGN ORDER OF MALTA AND PERSONNEL OF ITS APPOINTED ORGANISATIONS

1. The facilities, priveleges and immunities granted to diplomatic agents under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations done 18 April 1961, apply to the diplomatic staff of the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta accredited to the Republic of Armenia, involved in the projects in the framework of this Cooperation Agreement.

2. The Republic of Armenia, according to the national legislation, shall provide assistance to the personnel appointed by the Sovereign Order of Malta or the personnel of its Appointed organisations involved in the realisation of the projects, programmes or activities of the Sovereign Order of Malta in the territory of the Republic of Armenia in the framework of this Cooperation Agreement.

3. The Republic of Armenia, according to the national legislation, shall facilitate the issue of entry visas and residence permits on its territory to all personnel appointed by the Sovereign Order of Malta or its Appointed organizations involved in the implementation of social, health care, humanitarian operations as set out in this Cooperation Agreement, as well as to members of their families.

4. The Sovereign Order of Malta, its Appointed organisations may employ nationals and residents of the Republic of Armenia in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Armenia concerning labor law and social security.

5. None of the exemptions and immunities stipulated in Article 3 shall be applicable to Armenian nationals or residents of the Republic of Armenia.

ARTICLE 6

PROTECTION OF IDENTITY

In accordance with international law the Parties commit themselves to mutually protect their names, emblems, coats-of-arms, flags and other symbols of sovereignty against abuse or violation, and ensure to defend them against any imitation.

ARTICLE 7

ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE

1. In order to ensure proper follow-up of the cooperation, the Assessment Committee shall be set up to monitor the implementation of this Cooperation Agreement and discuss new cooperation plans.

2. The Assessment Committee shall be composed of representatives of each Party. The list of members for each Party shall be communicated through diplomatic channels after the entry into force of this Cooperation Agreement.

3. The Committee shall prepare annual reports and set out future projects and orientations.

4. The Committee shall meet at least once a year at the initiative of either of the Parties.

ARTICLE 8

SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

The disputes and disagreements arising between the Parties during the implementation of the provisions of this Cooperation Agreement shall be settled through consultations and negotiations between the competent authorities of the Parties.

ARTICLE 9

FINAL PROVISIONS

1. This Cooperation Agreement shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the date of the receipt of the last written notification by the Parties through diplomatic channels on the completion of necessary internal procedures required by the national legislations of the Parties for entry into force of this Cooperation Agreement.

2. At the initiative and mutual agreement of the Parties, amendments can be made to this Cooperation Agreement, which will be set out in separate protocols. The Protocols shall enter into force in the manner prescribed for entering into force of this Cooperation Agreement and shall become an integral part thereof.

3. This Cooperation Agreement is concluded for a period of ten (10) years and will be automatically extended for other periods of 10 (ten) years unless one of the Parties notifies the other in writing, through diplomatic channels, of its intention to terminate this Cooperation Agreement at least six (6) months prior to the date of termination. The termination shall take effect after thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of written notification by one of the Parties on its termination.

4. The termination or expiry of this Cooperation Agreement shall not affect the programs and projects which are in the process, unless the contrary is expressively agreed by the Parties.

Done in Rome on April 5, 2018, in two original copies each in the Armenian, Italian and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence in interpretation of the provisions of the present Agreement, the English text shall prevail.