Key Benefits:
The Senate and Chamber of Deputies of the Argentine Nation assembled in Congress, etc. sanction with force of Law:
ARTICLE 1 Approved the COOPERATION AGREEMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ARGENTIN REPUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BULGARIA REPUBLIC IN MATERIA OF US PACIFICS OF ENERGY NUCLEAR, signed in Buenos Aires on 1 August 2000, consisting of TRECE (13) articles, whose photocopies authenticated in Spanish and English form part of this law. ARTICLE 2 Contact the national executive branch.IN THE SESSION OF THE ARGENTINE CONGRESS, IN GOOD AIRES, TO THE DIASS OF THE MONTH OF NOVEMBRE DE DOS MIL TRES.
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EDUARDO O. CHANGE. . JOSE L. GIOJA. . Eduardo D. Rollano. . Juan Estrada.
- No.
NOTE: The English language text is not published.
COOPERATION AGREEMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ARGENTIN REPUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BULGARIA REPUBLIC IN MATERIA OF US PACIFICS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
The Government of the ARGENTINA REPUBLIC and the Government of the BULGARIA REPUBLIC (hereinafter the Parties),
CONSIDERING the traditional relations between the two countries and the common desire to expand cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy,
NOTING the importance of the peaceful use of nuclear energy to meet the social and economic development needs of their countries,
NOTING that both countries are Member States of the International Atomic Energy Agency (hereinafter referred to as "OIEA"), and are Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (hereinafter referred to as the "Treaty") signed in London, Moscow and Washington on July 1, 1968,
INCLUDING IN ACCORDANCE with the Agreement on Economic and Technological Cooperation, signed between the two countries on 1 April 1980,
RECOGNIZING the right of all States to develop all peaceful applications of nuclear energy, according to their own priorities and needs and the right to possess nuclear technology for such purposes.
CONSCIENTS of the importance of the peaceful, safe and reliable uses of nuclear energy, based on the most up-to-date knowledge,
Agreed that extensive cooperation between the two countries in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, contributes to the development of their traditional relations of friendship and cooperation,
They've agreed to the following:
ARTICLE I
Parties shall encourage and promote cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, in accordance with the needs and priorities of national science and technology programmes themselves.
ARTICLE II
The Parties agree to facilitate cooperation on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in the following areas:
a. Theoretical and practical research related to the peaceful use of nuclear energy;
b. Research, development, design, construction and operation of nuclear fuel cycle research and power reactors;
c. Management of radioactive wastes and spent nuclear fuel;
d. Industrial production of necessary components, equipment and materials for use in nuclear reactors and their nuclear fuel cycles;
e. Nuclear technology in medicine, agriculture, industry and hydrology;
f. Radiological protection, nuclear safety and its regulation assessment of the radiological impact of nuclear energy and its nuclear fuel cycle;
g. Nuclear safeguards and physical protection technology;
h. Provision of services in the above areas; and
I. Other technological aspects relating to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy which the Parties may consider as of common interest.
ARTICLE III
The Parties shall specify the cooperation referred to in the preceding articles through the following modalities:
a. Mutual assistance for the education and training of scientific and technical personnel,
b. Exchange of scientific, technical and conference experts,
c. Mutual consultations on scientific and technological problems
d. Training of working groups to undertake specific studies and projects for the development of scientific and technological research,
e. Reciprocal supply of materials, equipment and services linked to the areas mentioned in Article II;
f. Exchange of information and documentation in the areas referred to in the preceding section; and
g. Other forms of cooperation agreed upon by Parties, including those provided for in Article IV.
ARTICLE IV
1. Cooperation within the structure of the Agreement shall be carried out by the agencies designated by the Parties. Each agency may conclude separate understandings to determine costs, programmes and other specific terms and conditions of cooperation as well as their respective rights and obligations, in accordance with the national legislation of the Parties.
2. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "Organism" means any legal person of the Parties.
ARTICLE V
1. The Parties may freely use all information exchanged under this Agreement, except in cases where the Party providing such information has notified the other Party, in advance and in writing, of the restrictions and reservations relating to its use or transfer. If the information and documentation for the exchange is protected by patents of one Party, the conditions for its use and transfer shall be subject to the respective rules and regulations.
2. Under their respective laws and regulations, the Parties shall take the necessary measures to preserve the restrictions and reservations relating to the use of the information exchanged in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, including the transfer of commercial and industrial secrets between agencies within the jurisdiction of any Party.
3. The rights of ownership, use and management of scientific and technical products that are the result of joint scientific and practical research under this Agreement shall be regulated by separate understandings concluded by the agencies that will implement cooperation.
ARTICLE VI
The Parties shall facilitate, in accordance with their respective laws and regulations, the transfer of materials, technology, equipment and services necessary to carry out the cooperation activities under this Agreement.
ARTICLE VII
1. Any nuclear material, as well as any equipment specially designed or prepared to treat, use or produce special fissile material, which is transferred under this Agreement may only be used for peaceful and non-explosive purposes.
2. Any nuclear material transferred by Parties, as well as materials used in/or produced through the use of transferred materials or equipment, shall be subject to the application of IAEA safeguards.
3. The commitment contained in this article will be verified, in the case of the Argentine Republic under the Agreement between Argentina, Brazil, the Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards (document IAEA INFCIRC/435) and in the case of the Republic of Bulgaria under the Agreement between Bulgaria and the IAEA for the Application of Safeguards in relation to the Treaty of Nuclear Non-Documentation.
4. However, if for any reason or at any time the IAEA does not administer the nuclear safeguards referred to in the previous paragraph within the territory of a Party, the Party shall immediately conclude an agreement with the other Party for the establishment of a safeguards system that is consistent with the principles and procedures of the IAEA Safeguards System (Document IAEA INFCIRC/66) and provides for the application of safeguards to all items subject to this Agreement.
ARTICLE VIII
Any material, equipment or technology that has been transferred in accordance with this Agreement may be transferred only from the territory of any Party to a third State prior written agreement between the Parties.
ARTICLE IX
The Parties shall take appropriate measures to give nuclear material transferred under this Agreement a level of physical protection not less than those recommended by IAEA document INFCIRC/225Rev.4 as well as any amendment to that document accepted by both Parties.
ARTICLE X
The Parties shall encourage cooperation among the agencies involved in the implementation of this Agreement and shall inform the other of the progress and implementation of the projects under this Agreement.
ARTICLE XI
1. The Parties shall consult each other on the implementation of this Agreement. In the spirit of accommodating their respective positions, the Parties may also consult on international treaty matters relating to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, which are of common interest to them.
2. As a coordination tool for the implementation of this Agreement, the Parties shall establish a Joint Coordination Committee, composed of representatives appointed in the same number by each Party. The Committee will meet alternatively in the Argentine Republic and the Republic of Bulgaria on mutually agreed dates.
ARTICLE XII
Any dispute arising from the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be resolved in a friendly manner through mutual negotiations or consultations, or by any other means acceptable to both Parties.
ARTICLE XIII
1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last notification by which the Parties inform each other that they have complied with the procedures required by their respective national laws for their entry into force.
2. This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of 10 (ten) years and shall be automatically renewed for additional periods of 10 (ten) years, unless one Party notifies the other Party of its intention to terminate it six months prior to the expiration date of any such period.
3. This Agreement may be amended at any time by written consent of the Parties. Any amendment to the same shall enter into force in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article.
4. This Agreement may be denounced at any time by any Party. This Agreement shall cease to have effect 6 (six) months after the day on which one Party notifies the other Party of its intention to denounce it.
5. The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the understandings concluded under Article IV as well as the obligations set forth in Articles V, VII, VIII, IX and XII, unless otherwise agreed between the Parties.
In faith, the undersigned, duly authorized to do so by their respective Governments, have signed this Agreement.
Made in Buenos Aires, on August 1, 2000, in two originals in Spanish, Bulgarian and English languages, both equally authentic. In the event of divergence on the interpretation of texts in Spanish and Bulgarian languages, the English text will prevail.
By the Government of the Argentine Republic
Signature
By the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria
Signature