LEY 604 OF 2000

(July 27)

Official Journal No 44.108 of 31 July 2000

COLOMBIA CONGRESS

By means of which the "Basic Convention of Technical and Scientific Cooperation between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Nicaragua" is approved, made in Bogotá, the twenty-eight (28) of June of a thousand nine hundred and ninety-one (1991).

DECRETA:

Having seen the text of the "Basic Convention of Technical and Scientific Cooperation between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Nicaragua", made in Bogotá, the twenty-eight (28) of June of a thousand nine hundred and ninety-one (1991), which to the letter says:

(To be transcribed: photocopy of the full text of the International Instrument mentioned, duly authenticated by the Head of the Legal Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

BASIC TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE

REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA

The Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Nicaragua, hereinafter referred to as the "Contracting Parties",

ENCOURAGED by the desire to strengthen the bonds of friendship that unite the Colombian and the people of Colombia,

EAGER to develop the set of technical and scientific relations between the two countries, based on respect for the principles of equality and mutual advantages,

CONSCIOUS of the need to provide a legal framework of appropriate cooperation to the Colombo-Nicaraguan relations, in accordance with the economic and social development policy of each of the countries, have agreed:

ARTICLE 1o. The Contracting Parties undertake to carry out and promote, on the basis of this Agreement, technical and scientific cooperation programmes and projects in accordance with the objectives of their development. economic and social.

Technical and scientific cooperation will be arranged through complementary agreements for each program or project in particular.

ARTICLE 2o. The Supplementary Agreements shall specify, inter alia, the objectives of the programmes and projects, the work schedules, the obligations of each of the Contracting Parties and the Joint financing modalities that are considered to be appropriate.

ARTICLE 3o. Correspond to the respective national agencies, responsible for Technical and Scientific Cooperation in accordance with the internal legislation of each country to coordinate the implementation of the programmes and projects, provided for in this Convention. In the case of the Republic of Nicaragua these functions correspond to the Foreign Ministry in coordination with the other ministries of the branch, and in the case of the Republic of Colombia to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Department Planning.

ARTICLE 4. For the purposes of this Convention, Technical and Scientific Cooperation may have the following modalities:

1. Joint or coordinated implementation of research, development and training programmes;

2. Creation of research institutions, and/or centers of improvement and experimental production;

3. Organisation of seminars and conferences and exchange of information and documentation; and

4. Any other form of technical cooperation intended to promote the overall development of either Party in accordance with their respective economic and social development policies.

ARTICLE 5o. The Contracting Parties may use the following means to implement the forms of cooperation:

1. Award of scholarships for study of specialization, professional improvement or training;

2. Submission of experts, researchers and technicians for the provision of consultation and advisory services, within specific projects or programmes;

3. Dispatch or exchange of equipment and equipment necessary for the implementation of technical cooperation programmes or projects; and

4. Any other means agreed by the Contracting Parties.

ARTICLE 6o. The Contracting Parties may, by means of an agreement subject to the rules of International Law or Internal Law, seek the financing and participation of international organizations or other countries concerned with the activities, programmes and projects resulting from the form of technical and scientific cooperation provided for in Article 3 of this Convention and the supplementary agreements to be signed.

ARTICLE 7o. The Contracting Parties agree to establish a Joint Commission formed by the members appointed by each of them, which shall meet at least every two years at the request of one of the Parties. in Nicaragua or Colombia.

The Joint Committee shall have the main functions to suggest to the Contracting Parties appropriate measures for the best implementation of this Agreement, in accordance with the spirit that encourages it, to seek the agile and automatic solution of any doubts arising in its implementation and to present any initiative that they consider beneficial in order to promote the relations of technical and scientific cooperation between the two countries.

The foreign ministries during the interim period in which the Joint Commission will not meet, will maintain close contact to identify programs and projects to be included under this Agreement, formalize them and supervise their effectiveness.

ARTICLE 8. Any dispute arising out of the interpretation or application of this Basic Convention shall be determined by the means established in the International Law for the peaceful settlement of the controversies.

ARTICLE 9o. 1. The Contracting Parties shall facilitate the duty-free importation of the customs duties necessary for the effective implementation of the technical cooperation provided for in this Basic Convention and the Supplementary Agreements.

2. Objects imported with a customs duty, in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, may not be disposed of in the territory of the other Party, except where the competent authorities of that territory permit and prior compliance with the requirements of the national legal system.

3. The Contracting Parties shall grant facilities as provided for in the internal legal rules, to the experts, researchers, scientists and technicians of the other Party carrying out activities pursuant to this Convention, for the purposes of import of his personal effects and his/her furniture and for the importation of his/her vehicle for private use in accordance with the legal provisions in force in each country, the re-export of the country receiving its personal effects and its furniture.

The Contracting Parties may withdraw any expert provided they notify the other party, sixty (60) days in advance and, if applicable, shall take all necessary steps to ensure that such provision does not adversely affect the project or program running.

ARTICLE 10. This Agreement shall be submitted for further refinement to the constitutional and legal procedures of each country and shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the date of receipt, by way of diplomatic, of the second notification of compliance with the internal requirements. This Agreement shall be for a period of five (5) years, which may be extended automatically for equal periods, unless one of the Contracting Parties informs the other of its intention to terminate it in writing, at a time of three (3) months from the date of expiry of the respective term.

ARTICLE 11. This Agreement may be denounced by either Party through written communication that will take effect six (6) months after the date of receipt of the corresponding notification. Unless otherwise agreed will not affect the continuation of the programmes which are currently under way.

Made in Bogotá at twenty-eight (28) days of the month of June of a thousand nine hundred and ninety-one (1991) in two original copies in Spanish language being the two equally authentic texts.

By the Government of the Republic of Colombia

LUIS FERNANDO JARAMILLO C.

Minister of Relations of the Republic of Colombia

By the Government of the Republic of Nicaragua

ENRIQUE DREYFUS

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Nicaragua

The undersigned Head of the Legal Office of the Ministry

Colombia's Foreign Relations

NOTES:

That the present reproduction is faithful photocopy, taken from the original text of the "Basic Convention of Technical and Scientific Cooperation between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Nicaragua", made in Bogotá at the twenty-eight (28) of June of a thousand nine hundred and ninety-one (1991).

This authentication is issued in the city of Santa Fe de Bogota, D. C., at eleven (11) days of the month of March of a thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine (1999).

HECTOR ADOLFO SYNTURA VARELA

the Head Legal Office

EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF PUBLIC POWER

PRESIDENCY OF THE REPUBLIC

Santa Fe de Bogota, D. C., April 13, 1999

Approved. Submit to the consideration of the honorable National Congress for the constitutional effects.

(Fdo.) ANDRES PASTRANA ARANGO

(Fdo.) GUILLERMO FERNANDEZ DE SOTO

The Foreign Minister

DECRETA:

ARTICLE 1o. Approve the "Basic Convention of Technical and Scientific Cooperation between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Nicaragua", made in Bogotá, the twenty-eight (28) of June of a thousand nine hundred and ninety-one (1991).

ARTICLE 2o. In accordance with the provisions of Article 1o. of Law 7a.  In 1944, the "Basic Convention of Technical and Scientific Cooperation between the Republic of Colombia and the Republic of Nicaragua", made in Bogotá, the twenty-eight (28) of June of a thousand nine hundred and ninety-one (1991), which was made by article 1o. of this law will be approved, will force the country from the date on which the international link with respect to it is perfected.

ARTICLE 3o. This law applies as of the date of its publication.

MIGUEL PINEDO VIDAL

The President of the honorable Senate of the Republic

MANUEL ENRIQUEZ ROSERO

The Secretary General of the honorable Senate of the Republic

NANCY PATRICIA GUTIERREZ CASTANEDA

The President of the honourable House of Representatives

GUSTAVO BUSTAMANTE MORATTO

The Secretary General of the Honourable House of Representatives

COLOMBIA-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

COMMUNICATE AND PUBLISH

Dada en Santa Fe de Bogotá, D. C., a 27 de july de 2000

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

ANDRES PASTRANA ARANGO

FORERO UCROS LENIENCY

The Deputy Minister of America and Territorial Sovereignty, in charge of the

Foreign Minister's Office functions