LAW 438

(March 25)

Official Journal No 43,279 of 16 April 1998

By means of which the "Convention between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the University for Peace for the Creation of a World Center for Research and Training for the Solution of Conflicts" is approved. Bogotá on the thirtieth (30th) July of a thousand nine hundred and eighty-six (1986).

COLOMBIA CONGRESS

Having regard to the text of the "Convention between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the University of Peace for the Creation of a World Center for Research and Training for the Solution of Conflicts", signed in Bogota on July 30 (30) from a thousand nine hundred and eighty-six (1986) that to the letter says:

(To be transcribed: photocopies of the full text of the international instrument mentioned, duly authenticated by the Head of the Legal Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the University of Peace for the creation of a World Center for Research and Training for Conflict Solution.

The Government of the Republic of Colombia and the University for Peace,

CONSIDERING:

That Colombia has signed the International Convention for the Establishment of the University for Peace, its Annex and the Charter of the University for Peace,

That the fourth article of the Charter provides that the University may enter into agreements with governments,

That the seventh article of the Charter states that the Council of the University for Peace, the governing body of the University, will be able to create the organs and dependencies that are necessary for the achievement of the purposes of the University in the framework of the of the Charter.

REMEMBERING:

-The principles of the international convention for the establishment of the University for Peace and the objectives of the University Charter.

-The principles formulated in UN General Assembly Resolution 24/11.

-The objectives set out at the Committee meeting of 23 September 1983.

CONSIDERING:

-The Government of Colombia's willingness to serve as its headquarters and support a global research and training center and the United Nations University for Peace's readiness to cooperate in the creation of that center,

AGREE:

ARTICLE 1o. CREATION AND HEADQUARTERS OF THE CENTER. This Convention will create the World Center for Research and Training for the Conflict Solution of the United Nations University for Peace. The Center will have its headquarters in the city of Bogota and will be able to carry out activities in different areas to its headquarters by written agreement with the competent authorities of the Government.

ARTICLE 2o. DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Convention:

a) By "Center" the World Center for Conflict Solution Research and Training at the United Nations University for Peace;

b) By "Government" the Government of the Republic of Colombia.

ARTICLE 3o. OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSES. The Center is established with the intent to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace, with the aim of promoting the spirit of understanding, tolerance and coexistence. (i) to encourage cooperation between peoples and to help overcome obstacles and to prevent threats to world peace and progress, in accordance with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of Nations United. To this end, the Center will contribute to the enormous universal task of educating for peace through teaching, research, post-university studies and the dissemination of fundamental knowledge for the integral development of human beings. and of societies through the interdisciplinary study of all issues linked to peace.

ARTICLE 4. ORGANOS AND ADMINISTRATION. The Center will have a Board of Directors, its President, an Executive Director, and the administrative and technical personnel required for the achievement of the objectives. The main mission of the Council shall be to guide and advise the Director on the establishment of policies to develop the Centre's objectives.

ARTICLE 5o. The Board of Directors shall designate, for a period of two years, extendable to the Executive Director of the Center, who shall have the technical and administrative responsibility for the activities of the Center.

ARTICLE 6o. E1 Board of Directors will be composed of: A representative of the National Government, two representatives of the University for Peace, two representatives of the Foundation, two representatives of the sector academic and research.

The Board of Directors shall adopt its decisions by a majority of the voting members present and shall meet in ordinary sessions twice a year, at the request of its Director.

ARTICLE 7o. The Board of Directors and the Director shall draw up an administrative regulation laying down the procedures for the operation of the Centre and its internal organisation.

ARTICLE 8o. LEGAL STATUS, PREROGATIVES AND IMMUNITIES.

I. The Centre will have legal status and will be able to:

a) Concerting agreements with other international organizations and other states;

b) Contry;

c) Acquire and dispose of and dispose of movable and immovable property;

d) Intervening judicially, in which case it will be subject to the Colombian laws, for the specific effects of the judicial action in question.

II. The Center shall enjoy the same immunities, privileges and exemptions granted by the specialized agencies of the United Nations established in Colombia in respect of their assets, funds, assets, premises, archives, communications and exemption from taxes and customs duties, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Specialized Agencies, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 21 November 1947.

ARTICLE 9o. OFFICIALS. The Center's international category officials are: The Board of Directors, the Executive Director of the Center and the Foreign Experts. The Executive Director of the Centre shall be treated as the Head of a technical office or representative of an international body as referred to in Article 8 (d) of Legislative Decree 3135 of 1956. The number of foreign experts who may serve the Centre at the same time shall be 5, in accordance with Article 8 (e) of Legislative Decree 3135 of 1956.

PARAGRAFO. The privileges and immunities are not applicable in any case to the citizens of the Republic of Colombia or to non-Colombian officials hired for periods of time less than one year.

ARTICLE 10. FINANCING OF THE CENTER. The expenses of the Center will be covered with voluntary contributions from both the Government and private entities of the Republic of Colombia, as well as other governments, of intergovernmental organizations and of foundations and other non-governmental sources in the international arena. For this purpose, the Center will be supported by a non-profit Foundation according to the legislation and regulations in force in the Republic of Colombia. The Centre has the autonomy to decide freely on the use of the financial resources available to it for the performance of its functions, in accordance with the Financial Regulation that it formulates and approves the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 11. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The Center will collaborate with the authorities of the Republic of Colombia to comply with the laws and regulations of the Republic of Colombia, in particular by those who enjoy the immunities and privileges mentioned in this article. Convention. Each individual who enjoys immunities and privileges is obliged to comply with the laws and other regulations of the Republic of Colombia, and in no case should interfere in the internal affairs of the host country.

ARTICLE 12. The Board of Directors of the Center and the authorities of the Republic of Colombia may by mutual agreement determine the forms of cooperation and development of this Convention.

ARTICLE 13. Any dispute between the Center and the Government will be resolved in accordance with Article IX on the settlement of disputes in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Bodies United Nations specialized.

ARTICLE 14. This Convention shall enter into force on the date the Government communicates to the University for Peace that has been approved in accordance with its constitutional provisions. It shall be for a period of three years, which may be extended for equal periods, unless one of the Parties notifies the other Party at a time of not less than 12 months of its intention to terminate it.

In faith of which he subscribes in Bogotá at 30 days of July 1986, in three originals, in Spanish, both texts being equally valid.

By the Government of the Republic of Colombia,

AUGUSTO RAMIREZ OCAMPO,

Minister of Foreign Affairs.

By the University for Peace created by the United Nations,

RODRIGO CARAZO,

President of the Council.

The undersigned Head of the Legal Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

CERTIFIES:

That the present reproduction is a faithful and integral photocopy of the "Convention between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the University of Peace for the creation of a World Center for Research and Training for the Solution of Conflicts", In Bogota, the thirty (30) July of a thousand nine hundred and eighty-six (1986), a document that rests with the Legal Office of this Ministry.

Dada en Santa Fe de Bogotá at fourteen (14) days of the month of March of a thousand nine hundred and ninety-six (1996).

HECTOR ADOLFO SYNTURA VARELA.

the Chief Legal Officer,

EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF PUBLIC POWER

REPUBLIC OF THE REPUBLIC

Santa Fe de Bogota, D. C.

Approved, subject to the consideration of the honorable National Congress for Constitutional Effects

(Fdo) ERNESTO SAMPER PIZANO

(Fdo) MARIA EMMA MEJIA VELEZ.

The Foreign Minister

DECRETA:

ARTICLE 1o. Approve the "Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the University of Peace for the creation of a World Center for Research and Training for Conflict Resolution" signed in Bogotá on the thirtieth (30th) July of a thousand nine hundred and eighty-six (1986).

ARTICLE 2o. In accordance with the provisions of Article 1o. of Law 7a. In 1944, the "Convention between the Government of the Republic of Colombia and the University of Peace for the Creation of a World Center for Research and Training for the Solution of Conflicts" signed in Bogota on 30 July (30) nine hundred and eighty-six (1986), which by the first article of this law is approved, will force the country from the date on which the international link with respect to it is perfected.

ARTICLE 3o. This law governs from the date of its publication.

AMYLKAR ACOSTA MEDINA.

The President of the honorable Senate of the Republic,

PEDRO PUMAREJO VEGA.

The Secretary General of the honorable Senate of the Republic,

CARLOS SQUIRLA BALLESTEROS.

The President of the Honourable House of Representatives

DIEGO VIVAS TAFUR.

The Secretary General of the honorable House of Representatives,

COLOMBIA-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

COMMUNICATE AND PUBLISH.

Execute a review of the Constitutional Court in accordance with Article 241-10 of the Political Constitution.

Dada en Santa Fe de Bogotá, D. C., a 25 de marzo de 1998.

ERNESTO SAMPER PIZANO

ALFONSO LOPEZ CABALLERO.

The Minister of the Interior,

MARIA EMMA MEJIA VELEZ.

The Foreign Minister,

JAIME CHILD TEN.

The Minister of National Education,