22 OCTOBER 2008. - An Act to grant the Agreement, concluded by exchange of letters in The Hague on 30 May 2006, between the Governments of the Benelux States (the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands) and the Government of Macedonia concerning the abolition of the visa requirement for diplomatic passports (1)

ALBERT II, King of the Belgians,
To all, present and to come, Hi.
The Chambers adopted and We sanction the following:
Article 1^er. This Act regulates a matter referred to in Article 77 of the Constitution.
Art. 2. The Agreement, concluded by exchange of letters in The Hague on 30 May 2006, between the Governments of the Benelux States (the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands) and the Government of Macedonia concerning the abolition of the visa requirement for diplomatic passports, will come out its full and full effect.
Promulgation of this law, let us order that it be clothed with the seal of the State and published by the Belgian Monitor.
Given in Brussels, 22 October 2008.
ALBERT
By the King:
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
K. DE GUCHT
The Minister of the Interior,
P. DEWAEL
Seal of the state seal:
Minister of Justice,
J. VANDEURZEN
____
Notes
(1) 2007-2008 session:
Senate:
Documents. - 4-667/1: Bill tabled on 2 April 2008. - 4-667/2: Report.
Annales parliamentarians. - Discussion and vote: 3 July 2008.
House of Representatives:
Documents. - 52-1323/1: Project transmitted by the Senate. - 52-1323/2: Text adopted in plenary and subject to Royal Assent.
Annales parliamentarians. - Discussion and vote: meeting of 10 July 2008.

Agreement
The Hague, 30 May 2006
Minister,
We have the honour to bring to the attention of Your Excellency that the Governments of the Benelux States, acting together under the Convention between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning the transfer of control of persons to the outer borders of the Benelux territory, signed in Brussels on 11 April 1960, are prepared to conclude with the Government of Macedonia a visa agreement concerning the abolition of the following diplomatic terms
1. Under this Agreement:
- by "the Benelux States": the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
- by the "Benelux Territory": all the territories in Europe, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
2. Macedonian nationals who hold a valid national diplomatic passport may, for a stay of up to three months, enter the Benelux territory without a visa, under the sole cover of this passport.
3. Nationals of the Benelux States who hold a valid national diplomatic passport may, for a stay of up to three months, enter without a visa in Macedonian territory, under the sole cover of this passport.
4. With the exception of officials of diplomatic and consular representations, as well as officials from international organizations, designated to serve in one of the countries of the signatory Governments, the persons referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall, for a stay of more than three months, have obtained their authorization, before their departure, to the intervention of the diplomatic or consular representative of the country in which they wish to visit.
5. Each government reserves the right to refuse access by its country to persons who do not have the required entry documents or who are reported to be undesirable or considered to compromise public tranquillity, public order or national security.
6. Except as to the above provisions, the laws and regulations in force in the Benelux States and in the Macedonian territory concerning access to the territory, residence, establishment and removal of aliens, as well as the exercise of an activity, remain applicable.
7. Each government undertakes to re-enter on its territory at any time and without formality the persons who have entered this territory under the cover of a valid national diplomatic passport, issued by the Belgian, Luxembourg, Dutch or Macedonian authorities.
8. The signatory Governments transmit the specimens of their new or modified diplomatic passports by diplomatic means, as well as the data concerning the use of these passports, to the extent possible, 60 days prior to their release.
9. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of the last notification attesting to the completion of all constitutional and legal formalities for its entry into force for a period of one year. If it has not been denounced 30 days before the end of this period, the Agreement will be considered extended for an indefinite period.
Upon the expiration of the first one-year period, each of the signatory Governments may denounce it on a 30-day notice to the Government of Belgium.
The denunciation by one of the signatory Governments will result in the repeal of the Agreement.
The Government of Belgium shall notify the other signatory Governments of the receipt of the notifications referred to in this paragraph and the communication referred to in that paragraph.
10. The application of this Agreement may be suspended by either of the Contracting Parties.
The suspension should be notified immediately through diplomatic channels to the Belgian Government. The Government will notify other signatory Governments of the receipt of this notification. The same shall be done as soon as the measure in question is lifted.
11. With regard to the Kingdom of the Netherlands the application of this Agreement may be extended to the Netherlands Antilles and to Aruba by a notification from the Government of the Netherlands to the Government of Macedonia.
If the Government of Macedonia is prepared to conclude with the Governments of the Benelux States an Agreement concerning the above-mentioned provisions, we have the honour to propose to Your Excellency that this letter and similar content, which Your Excellency may wish to address to each of us, constitute the Agreement on the Suppression of the Visa Obligation concerning Diplomatic Passports between the Government of Macedonia and the Governments of the Benelux States.
We take this opportunity, Excellency, to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of our highest consideration.

The Hague, 30 May 2006
Minister,
The Government of Macedonia has the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 30 May 2006 by which you propose the conclusion of an Agreement relating to the abolition of the visa requirement for diplomatic passport holders between the Government of Macedonia and the Governments of the Benelux States, in the following terms:
"We have the honour to bring to the attention of Your Excellency that the Governments of the Benelux States, acting together under the Convention between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands concerning the transfer of control of persons to the outer borders of the Benelux territory, signed in Brussels on 11 April 1960, are prepared to conclude with the Government of Macedonia an agreement concerning the deletion of the visa
1. Under this Agreement:
- by "the Benelux States": the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
- by the "Benelux Territory": all the territories in Europe, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
2. Macedonian nationals who hold a valid national diplomatic passport may, for a stay of up to three months, enter the Benelux territory without a visa, under the sole cover of this passport.
3. Nationals of the Benelux States who hold a valid national diplomatic passport may, for a stay of up to three months, enter without a visa in Macedonian territory, under the sole cover of this passport.
4. With the exception of officials of diplomatic and consular representations, as well as officials from international organizations, designated to serve in one of the countries of the signatory Governments, the persons referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall, for a stay of more than three months, have obtained their authorization, before their departure, to the intervention of the diplomatic or consular representative of the country in which they wish to visit.
5. Each Government reserves the right to refuse its country's access to persons who do not have the required entry documents or who are reported to be undesirable or considered to compromise public peace, public order or national security.
6. Except as to the above provisions, the laws and regulations in force in the Benelux States and in the Macedonian territory concerning access to the territory, residence, establishment and removal of aliens, as well as the exercise of an activity, remain applicable.
7. Each government undertakes to re-enter on its territory at any time and without formality the persons who have entered this territory under the cover of a valid national diplomatic passport, issued by the Belgian, Luxembourg, Dutch or Macedonian authorities.
8. The signatory Governments transmit the specimens of their new or modified diplomatic passports by diplomatic means, as well as the data concerning the use of these passports, to the extent possible, 60 days prior to their release.
9. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date of the last notification attesting to the completion of all constitutional and legal formalities for its entry into force for a period of one year. If it has not been denounced 30 days before the end of this period, the Agreement will be considered extended for an indefinite period.
Upon the expiration of the first one-year period, each of the signatory Governments may denounce it on a 30-day notice to the Belgian government.
The denunciation by one of the signatory Governments will result in the repeal of the Agreement.
The Government of Belgium shall notify the other signatory Governments of the receipt of the notifications referred to in this paragraph and the communication referred to in that paragraph.
10. The application of this Agreement may be suspended by either of the Contracting Parties.
The suspension should be notified immediately through diplomatic channels to the Belgian Government. The Government will notify other signatory Governments of the receipt of this notification. The same shall be done as soon as the measure in question is lifted.
11. With regard to the Kingdom of the Netherlands the application of this Agreement may be extended to the Netherlands Antilles and to Aruba by a notification from the Government of the Netherlands to the Government of Macedonia.
If the Government of Macedonia is prepared to conclude with the Governments of the Benelux States an agreement on the above-mentioned provisions, we have the honour to suggest to Your Excellency that this letter and similar content, which Your Excellency will wish to address to each of us, constitute the Agreement on the Suppression of the Visa Obligation concerning Diplomatic Passports between the Government of Macedonia and the Governments of the Benelux States.
We take this opportunity, Excellency, to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of our highest consideration. »
The Government of Macedonia consents to the proposal contained in your letter and to the fact that this letter as well as this letter and similar content stools addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and to the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg constitute the Agreement on the Suppression of the Visa Obligation concerning Diplomatic Passports between the Government of Macedonia and the Government of the Republic of the Republic of the Republic of the Republic of the Republic of the Republic of Macedonia and

Agreement, concluded by exchange of letters to The Hague on 30 May 2006, between the Governments of the Benelux States (the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands) and the Government of Macedonia concerning the abolition of the visa requirement for diplomatic passports
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