22 OCTOBER 2008. - An Act to Enact the Agreement, concluded by exchange of letters in Sarajevo on 19 July 2006, between the Governments of the Benelux States and the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina relating to the abolition of the travel visa requirement for diplomatic passport holders (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 Sarajevo on 19 July 2006, between the Governments of the Benelux States and the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the removal of the travel visa requirement for holders of a diplomatic passport, 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. - 4-683/1: Bill tabled on 10 April 2008. - 4-683/2: Report.
Annales parliamentarians. - Discussion and vote: 3 July 2008.
House of Representatives:
Documents. - 52-1324/1: Project transmitted by the Senate. - 52-1324/2: text adopted in plenary and subject to Royal Assent.
Annales parliamentarians. - Discussion and vote: meeting of 10 July 2008.

Agreement between the Governments of the Benelux States and the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the abolition of visas for holders of a diplomatic passport
Sarajevo, July 19, 2006.
Excellency,
« We have the honour to communicate to Your Excellency that the Governments of the Benelux States acting jointly under the Agreement between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed at Brussels on 11 April 1960 concerning the transfer of immigration control to the outer frontiers of Benelux, are prepared to conclude with the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina an Agreement on the abolition of visas for diplomatic passports, which reads as follows:
1. In this Agreement,
- the term " Benelux States" shall mean : the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
- the term « Benelux territory » shall mean : the joint territories in Europe of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
2. Nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina who are holders of a valid national diplomatic passport may enter the Benelux territory without a visa and stay for a period not exceeding three months under this passport only.
3. Nationals of the Benelux countries who are holders of a valid national diplomatic passport may enter the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina without a visa and stay for a period not exceeding three months under this passport only.
4. With the exception of the agents of diplomatic and consular representations as also the agents of international organisations, designated for the exercise of functions in any country of the Signatory Governments, for a stay exceeding three months the persons referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall before their departure obtain the authorisation from that country, through the diplomatic or consular representative of the country they wish to enter.
5. Each Government reserves the right to refuse to admit to its country any person not holding the documents required for entry or persons regarded as undesirable aliens or whose presence in the country is regarded as prejudicial to law and order or national security.
6. Except as herein provided, this Agreement shall not affect the laws and regulations in force in the Benelux States and Bosnia and Herzegovina governing entry, length of stay, residence and expulsion and any form of occupation of aliens.
7. Each Government undertakes to readmit to its territory, at any time and without formalities, persons who entered the said territory under a valid national diplomatic passport issued by the Authorities of Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
8. The Signatory Governments shall transmit through diplomatic specimens of their new or modified diplomatic passports, as also the particulars concerning the use of these passports, as far as possible, 60 days before their date of introduction.
9. This Agreement shall enter into force for one year on the first day of the second month from the date of the last notification confirming that all constitutional and legal requirements for its entry into force have been fulfilled. This Agreement shall be considered as extended for an unlimited period, unless it is denounced 30 days prior to the expiry of this period.
On the expiry of the first period of one year any Signatory Government may denounce this Agreement subject to 30 days' previous notice to the Belgian Government.
The denunciation by one of the Signatory Governments shall cause this Agreement to terminate.
The Belgian Government shall inform the other Signatory Governments of the receipt of such notifications as referred to in this paragraph, as also of the receipt of the communication referred to in this paragraph.
10. The application of this Agreement may be suspended by any Contracting Party. Suspension shall be notified immediately to the Belgian Government through diplomatic channels. The Belgian Government shall inform the other Signatory Governments of the receipt of such notification. The same procedure shall be adopted when the suspension is lifted.
11. As regards the Kingdom of the Netherlands the application of this Agreement may be extended to the Netherlands Antilles and to Aruba by notification addressd by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina is prepared to conclude with the Governments of the Benelux States an Agreement on the foregoing provisions, we have the honour to propose to Your Excellency that this Note and Your Excellency's Note with a similar content in reply to each of us, shall constitute the Agreement between the Benelux States and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the abolition of visa with regard to diplomatic passports.
We avail ourselves of the opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of our highest consideration.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
No. 08/1-41-11091/06
Your Excellency,
It is an honor to present compliments to Your Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium and confirm receipt of the Note of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Sarajevo no. 05/06 of January 16, 2006, by which the Draft Agreement between the Governments of Benelux States and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the abolition of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic passports was conveyed, reading as follows:
« We have the honour to communicate to Your Excellency that the Governments of the Benelux States acting jointly under the Agreement between the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands signed at Brussels on 11 April 1960 concerning the transfer of immigration control to the outer frontiers of Benelux, are prepared to conclude with the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina an Agreement on the abolition of visas for diplomatic passports, which reads as follows:
1. In this Agreement,
- the term " Benelux States" shall mean : the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
- the term « Benelux territory « shall mean : the joint territories in Europe of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
2. Nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina who are holders of a valid national diplomatic passport may enter the Benelux territory without a visa and stay for a period not exceeding three months under this passport only.
3. Nationals of the Benelux countries who are holders of a valid national diplomatic passport may enter the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina without a visa and stay for a period not exceeding three months under this passport only.
4. With the exception of the agents of diplomatic and consular representations as also the agents of international organisations, designated for the exercise of functions in any country of the Signatory Governments, for a stay exceeding three months the persons referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 shall before their departure obtain the authorisation from that country, through the diplomatic or consular representative of the country they wish to enter.
5. Each Government reserves the right to refuse to admit to its country any person not holding the documents required for entry or persons regarded as undesirable aliens or whose presence in the country is regarded as prejudicial to law and order or national security.
6. Except as herein provided, this Agreement shall not affect the laws and regulations in force in the Benelux States and Bosnia and Herzegovina governing entry, length of stay, residence and expulsion and any form of occupation of aliens.
7. Each Government undertakes to readmit to its territory, at any time and without formalities, persons who entered the said territory under a valid national diplomatic passport issued by the Authorities of Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
8. The Signatory Governments shall transmit through diplomatic specimens of their new or modified diplomatic passports, as also the particulars concerning the use of these passports, as far as possible, 60 days before their date of introduction.
9. This Agreement shall enter into force for one year on the first day of the second month from the date of the last notification confirming that all constitutional and legal requirements for its entry into force have been fulfilled. This Agreement shall be considered as extended for an unlimited period, unless it is denounced 30 days prior to the expiry of this period.
On the expiry of the first period of one year any Signatory Government may denounce this Agreement subject to 30 days' previous notice to the Belgian Government.
The denunciation by one of the Signatory Governments shall cause this Agreement to terminate.
The Belgian Government shall inform the other Signatory Governments of the receipt of such notifications as referred to in this paragraph, as also of the receipt of the communication referred to in this paragraph.
10. The application of this Agreement may be suspended by any Contracting Party. Suspension shall be notified immediately to the Belgian Government through diplomatic channels. The Belgian Government shall inform the other Signatory Governments of the receipt of such notification. The same procedure shall be adopted when the suspension is lifted.
11. As regards the Kingdom of the Netherlands the application of this Agreement may be extended to the Netherlands Antilles and to Aruba by notification addressd by the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina is prepared to conclude with the Governments of the Benelux States an Agreement on the foregoing provisions, we have the honour to propose to Your Excellency that this Note and Your Excellency's Note with a similar content in reply to each of us, shall constitute the Agreement between the Benelux States and Bosnia and Herzegovina on the abolition of visa with regard to diplomatic passports.
We avail ourselves of the opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of our highest consideration. »
On behalf of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I agree with the foregoing and accept the proposal the Note no. 05/06 of January 16, 2006 and the present note be considered a placing on record the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Governments of the Benelux States on the Abolition of Visa Requirement for Diplomatic Passport Holders.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Sarajevo, July 19, 2006

Agreement between the Governments of the Benelux States and the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the removal of the travel visa requirement for holders of a diplomatic passport
Sarajevo, 19 July 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 territory of the Benelux, signed in Brussels on 11 April 1960, are prepared to conclude with the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina an Agreement concerning the abolition 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. Nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina who hold a valid national diplomatic passport may, for a stay of up to three months, enter without a visa in the territory of Benelux under the sole cover of this passport.
3. Nationals of the Benelux States who hold a valid national diplomatic passport may, for a maximum stay of three months, enter without a visa in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 States of Benelux and Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning access to 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 Bosnian 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina is prepared to conclude with the Governments of the Benelux States an Agreement concerning the above-mentioned provisions, we have the honour to suggest to Your Excellency that this letter and similar content, which Your Excellency may wish to address to each of us, constitutes the Agreement on the Suppression of the Visa Obligation concerning Diplomatic Passports between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the States of Benelux.
We take this opportunity, Excellency, to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of our highest consideration.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
No. 08/01-41-11091/06
Your Excellency,
It is an honour to present to your Excellency, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium my compliments and to confirm the receipt of the Note by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Sarajevo no 05/06 of 16 January 2006, by which a draft Agreement between the Governments of the Benelux States and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the abolition of the visa requirement for holders of a diplomatic passport has been communicated as follows:
"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 territory of the Benelux, signed in Brussels on 11 April 1960, are prepared to conclude with the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina an agreement concerning the abolition 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. Nationals of Bosnia and Herzegovina who hold a valid national diplomatic passport may, for a stay of up to three months, enter without a visa in the territory of Benelux under the sole cover of this passport.
3. Nationals of the Benelux States who hold a valid national diplomatic passport may, for a maximum stay of three months, enter without a visa in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 States of Benelux and Bosnia and Herzegovina concerning access to 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 Bosnian 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina is prepared to conclude with the Governments of the Benelux States an Agreement concerning the above-mentioned provisions, we have the honour to suggest to Your Excellency that this letter and similar content, which Your Excellency may wish to address to each of us, constitutes the Agreement on the Suppression of the Visa Obligation concerning Diplomatic Passports between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the States of Benelux.
We take this opportunity, Excellency, to renew to Your Excellency the assurances of our highest consideration.
On behalf of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I agree on the above and I accept the proposal that Note No.05/06 of 16 January 2006 and this Note be considered to constitute the Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Governments of the States of Benelux regarding the abolition of the visa requirement for holders of a diplomatic passport.
Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurance of my high consideration.
Sarajevo, 19 July 2006.

Agreement, concluded by exchange of letters in Sarajevo on 19 July 2006, between the Governments of the Benelux States and the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina on the removal of the travel visa requirement for holders of a diplomatic passport
For the consultation of the table, see image
This Agreement has not yet entered into force.