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Law No. 124 Of 9 December 1994

Original Language Title:  LEGE nr. 124 din 9 decembrie 1994

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LEGE No 124 of 9 December 1994 for the ratification of the Agreement between the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (C.E.E. /O.N.U.) and the governments participating in the Trans-European Railway (TER) project on the Cooperation and Credit Fund, signed in Geneva on 17 December 1992
ISSUER PARLIAMENT
Published in OFFICIAL MONITOR NO. 351 of 19 December 1994



The Romanian Parliament adopts this law + Article 1 The Agreement between the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (C.E.E. /O.N. U) and the governments participating in the Trans-European Railway (TER) project on the Cooperation and Credit Fund, signed in Geneva on 17 December 1992, is ratified. + Article 2 Romania's contribution to the fund provided for in 1 is $10,000 U.S. annually, for a period of 5 years (1993-1997) and will be paid through the Ministry of Transportation. For this purpose, the equivalent in lei of the contribution due by the Romanian Government will be allocated annually from the state budget to the Ministry of Transport, which will ensure the management of that amount, according to the law. This law was adopted by the Senate at the meeting of 21 November 1994, in compliance with the provisions of art. 74 74 para. (2) of the Romanian Constitution. p. SENATE PRESIDENT ION SOLCANU This law was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies at the meeting of November 21, 1994, in compliance with the provisions of 74 74 para. (2) of the Romanian Constitution. CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES PRESIDENT ADRIAN NASTASE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE TRANS-EUROPEAN RAILWAY (TER) + AGREEMENT on the cooperation and lending fund *) The agreement came between the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (C.E.E.), on the one hand, and the governments participating in TER, on the other, that agreed the following: + Article 1 Purpose of The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the governments participating in TER, hereinafter referred to as participating governments, agreed to cooperate in implementing a project entitled "Trans-European Railway (TER)", called " the following project, the description of which is briefly shown in the Annex. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the participating governments later agreed that the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe is to be the executive agency for that project. + Article 2 The participating governments will contribute funds to cover the project's expenditure, as follows: + Article 3 The Executive Agency shall be responsible for the administration of the funds transmitted by the participating governments for the purpose of covering the expenditure of the project, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and on the basis of the decisions relating to the work programme and the budget. The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe will then transfer such secretarial functions entrusted to him under this agreement, as may be determined by the parties. + Article 4 1. Each participating government will make available to the United Nations, in the manner presented in paragraph 2 below, the amount of $10,000 annually, supplemented, as the case may be, with additional contributions from any other source, and the Economic Commission for Europe The United Nations will use these funds to bear the project's expenses as shown in the annex. 2. Each participating government will deposit the above-mentioned funds, in convertible currencies with unlimited use, in an account designated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe at the Swiss Banking Corporation, mailbox 2770, CH 1211. Geneva 2, no later than January of each year. 3. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe will establish a lending fund by the United Nations rules and financial regulations for the receipt and administration of the above-mentioned funds. 4. The lending fund and the activities financed from it will be administered by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in accordance with the regulations, rules and directives applicable by the United Nations. According to these, the staff will be hired and coordinated; equipment, supplies and services will be purchased; the contracts will be concluded in accordance with the provisions of those regulations, rules and directives. 5. All accounts and financial statements will be expressed in U.S. dollars + Article 5 1. The credit fund will bear the expenses of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe to carry out the project activities, according to this agreement. 2. The credit fund will also bear an amount representing 13% of all expenses made from the lending fund, a percentage that will be the fee for the program support services, provided by the Economic Commission for Europe United Nations on the implementation of the project financed by the lending fund 3. The lending fund will also bear an amount equivalent to one (1) percentage of the remuneration or net salary of persons employed by the Executive Agency and whose activity is financed from the lending fund, to provide a reserve for the coverage of any claim for death, accident or sickness, occurring during the service, in accordance with the regulations, rules or contracts applicable in the United Nations, the reserve which cannot be reimbursed to the participating governments. + Article 6 1. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe will begin and continue to carry out operations under this agreement upon receipt of contributions. 2. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe will make no commitment over the amounts specified to be spent within the project. 3. If expenses arise or if the amount of annual contributions set out in art. 4 paragraph 1 proves insufficient to cover the cost of the project, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe will submit to the participating governments an additional budget that will indicate the subsequent funding that will be necessary. If such future funding is not possible, the assistance provided for the project under this agreement may be reduced or, if necessary, be terminated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Under no circumstances, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe will assume any responsibility over the funds provided in this lending fund. + Article 7 The ownership of the equipment, supplies and other goods financed from this lending fund will belong to the United Nations. Upon denunciation or expiration of the agreement, the property issue will be the subject of consultations between the participating governments and the Executive + Article 8 The evaluation of the project's activities, funded from this lending fund, will be undertaken jointly by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the participating governments on a regular basis, in case of necessity. + Article 9 This lending fund will exclusively comply with the accounting, internal and external expertise procedures laid down in the regulations, rules and financial directives of the United Nations. + Article 10 The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe will provide the participating governments with the following statements and reports prepared in accordance with the United Nations accounting and reporting procedures: a) an annual financial statement indicating the income, expenses, asset and liabilities at December 31 of each year, relating to funds provided by the donor government; b) a final report and a final financial statement within a period of 6 months from the expiry date or denunciation of this agreement. + Article 11 The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, in consultation with the TER Steering Committee, will notify the participating governments when, according to its opinion, the purposes for which the lending fund was established were realized. The date of such notification will be considered as the expiry date of this agreement, provided that the validity of art. 14, for the purposes stated therein. + Article 12 Any Member State of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations, as well as the States having consultative status to the Commission and regional economic integration organisations constituted from sovereign states, members of the Economic Commission for Europe of the United Nations, which have competence in the areas covered by this Agreement, who wish to participate in the project and, consequently, to this agreement, must notify this Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe of United Nations. It will send a copy of this notification to the participating governments. If the Executive Secretary does not receive, within 90 days of the communication to the parties, objections relating to the participation intention, the State or the interested organization will become a Contracting Party to the Agreement, provided that obligations, inter alia, of those provided for in art. 1. The Executive Secretary shall inform the parties accordingly. + Article 13 This agreement may be denounced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe or by the participating governments by written note to the other party within 30 days, provided that art. 10 10 to still be in effect. + Article 14 Upon denunciation or expiration of this agreement according to art. 11 11 or art. 13, the funds will continue to be kept by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe until all expenses incurred by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe have been paid out of such funds. After this, any surplus that remains from the lending fund will be used as indicated by the participating governments. + Article 15 This agreement will be open for signature by all TER states. It will come into force after the signing by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the following participating governments: Hungary, Romania and Turkey. As for which, the undersigned, duly authorised, signed this Agreement in English, in two copies, in Geneva on 17 December 1992. Turkish Government Romanian Government Hungarian Government Economic Commission for United Nations Europe + Annex 1 COOPERATION AGREEMENT for rail transport (TER) for the years 1992 to 1996 Governments, Having regard to the document of the TER project (Trans-European Railway), taking into account existing bilateral and multilateral agreements in the fields of rail and combined transport, in particular the European Agreement on the main international rail lines (AGC), as well as the European Agreement on Important Lines international and related installations (AGTC), drawn up in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, willing to facilitate and develop international rail and combined transport between and through their countries, as well as between them and other European countries, wishing to improve the quality and efficiency of transport operations, aware of the new east-west orientation of the transport demand that is very likely to proceed from the profound changes in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, Recalling the Declaration of the Pan-European Transport Conference, Prague, 29-31 October 1991, Having regard to the resolution of the Baltic Sea Conference of Transport Ministers, Sczecin, 17-18 March 1992, agree to cooperate in the endeavour to implement in the framework of the agreements of the AGC and the AGTC of the Trans-European Railway Project (TER), in accordance with the following provisions: I. Project TER The TER project consists of a series of objectives and actions to execute, which are established with the aim of improving the quality and efficiency of international rail and combined transport, travel and freight, on the main lines international of the following countries: Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia. Although these lines do not constitute the entire railway network of the above countries, but only a small number of them, they nevertheless constitute a continuous rail network, hereinafter referred to as the TER network. The TER network includes not only the north-south corridor, but also the east-west lines that have been added to take into account new developments and integration processes in the region. The TER project refers only to the TER network. It shall also take into account equipment and installations relating to the combined transport in the above countries. II. Objectives The overall objective of the TER Project is to develop an efficient and coherent combined transport and railway system between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and between these countries and the rest of the European countries. Ensuring efficient and competitive services, the TER system must be attractive to customers, both travellers and freight, and absorb an important part of the international transport market, from and to the centre and east. Europe, thus easing congestion and reducing environmental and safety issues on the main international roads in these countries. The specific objectives are: A. Infrastructure development Except for a few small sections, the physical structure of the TER network already exists. However, infrastructure standards are well below those indicated in the AGC and AGTC agreements. The objective in this area is therefore mainly to raise the existing infrastructure up to the level determined in these agreements. With regard to plants corresponding to combined transport, the objective is to modernise what exists, develop new ones and be equipped with appropriate equipment. B. Modernisation of transport equipment Transport equipment (rolling stock, locomotives, signalling and telecommunications equipment, etc.) does not, in many cases, correspond to today's performance. Because of this the objective is to replace it with new equipment, according to a plan to indicate priorities. Particular attention should be paid to the necessary harmonisation-at least at the level of compatibility-of the equipment adopted by different countries. C. Adaptation of the market-oriented management The railways no longer hold the dominant position they have had in the past. In market economies, car transport has been able to provide door-to-door services (door-to-door) better and term deliveries ("just-in-time") required by today's customers and their share of the transport market has become much more important than that of rail transport. In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, as a consequence of a fundamentally different approach, the railways were able to maintain their strongest position on other modes of transport. However, recent developments in those countries and the adoption of market principles in the economy will lead to a strong and rapid development of road transport. Already as a consequence of this development and the recession that followed the start of the transition period, rail traffic has declined rapidly. If this situation continues, governments will soon have to face very serious problems. The ultimate objective is to equip railway companies with modern, efficient and oriented leadership and organization and to the market, which is able to ensure a smooth transition to a new balance of transport modes in the countries of Central Europe And East. In particular, increased attention should be paid to international combined transport. The road advantages in the transport terminal must be combined with the environmental and safety rail advantages of the entire route, in order to ensure efficient international combined transport services. The rail part of the service must continue to be effective and of appropriate quality. Border crossing procedures must be simplified. Rail companies need to adopt a trade orientation. To achieve this goal, management must be properly trained. III. Immediate actions 1. Starting from the present state of the TER network, the development of a short-term emergency program to halt the drastic decrease in current traffic. This program must identify the c.f. axes to be upgraded, the main bottlenecks to the infrastructure (which must be urgently removed) and the missing links especially in the east-west direction, the most urgent needs of equipment (for example: wagons and installations for combined transport, etc.) and the most urgent organisational measures to be taken. They must include the development of combined transport, the facilitation of border crossings and commercial training The appreciation of the investments required and the prioritisation must also be made 2. Inventory of existing pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, development of new ones for major and most urgent infrastructure works, including traffic forecasts and cost/benefit analyses. 3. Develop a development plan that includes measures in the short, medium and long term. IV. Regular activities 1. Infrastructure Development -establishment and modernization of the TER network, including east-west links; -the identification of the major bottlenecks and the missing links, as well as the corresponding infrastructure works to be undertaken, including at the border posts. Prioritisation: -elaboration of pre-feasibility and feasibility studies on the basis of the common economic criteria; -staggered design and construction planning; --funding. 2. Development of combined transport -collection of data on traffic flows of all modes of transport. Identification of major international road transport flows through, from and to the TER network; -studies to establish alternative transport solutions combined on, from and to the TER network; -identifying obstacles to international combined development and transport, including transfer terminals, special wagons, containers and mobile boxes, etc.; -proposals to eliminate these obstacles; -prioritisation of proposals based on cost/benefit analysis; --funding; -considering the possibilities for the development of the combined transport of dangerous goods. 3. Training Seminars and workshops on market-oriented leadership and other trade issues, the use of rail computers, CAD systems, etc. 4. Improving rail efficiency -Identification of major obstacles (other than infrastructure) for the efficiency of rail transport at the level of TER, including the age or incompatibility of rolling stock, locomotives and signalling equipment and telecommunications, delays at the border crossing, non-adaptation of rail transport regulations, etc. -Proposals to eliminate these obstacles. -Prioritisation based on cost/benefit analysis. --Funding. 5. Establishment of the multimodal transport database -Data on traffic flows and forecasts (intermodal approach). -Technical and operational parameters for routes and stations. --Data on border stations. --Data on train-ferry connections. V. Budget TER In order to cover the expenses required by the activities presented in the work programmes, annual budgets will be established by the Management Committee, based on the following: 1. Resources a) Contributions, in kind and in cash, of the Member States. b) Contributions in cash and/or in kind from other international organizations, national and/or private bodies and from non-member countries. Participating countries will ensure contribution in kind, so as to cover all costs for performing all tasks arising from work plans as part of the project's national activities (e.g.: providing and analysis of data, provision of studies, experts). 2. The main types of expenses for project coordination are listed on the budget tab. Participating countries will continue to pay local salaries, social assistance contributions and other national staff retributions, both those working within each country for the project and when this staff is. delegate to attend meetings, courses, etc. The special articles of the study included in the work programme and allocated to certain countries will be financed through the project budget. VI. Location of the Project Central Office The central office of the project is located in Budapest. VII. Executive Agency The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe will be invited to continue as the project's executive agency. + Annex 1 (a) MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 1. The Management Committee shall be the highest decision making body of the TER. It must be made up of representatives nominated by the governments of the states of the TER, preferably at ministerial and/or directorial level. He must decide the policy of the project and the general measures to be taken, relating to the activities of the TER, and to make decisions by mutual agreement. 2. The functions of the Management Committee will include: a) Establishing any subordinate bodies deemed necessary b) Elaboration of instructions for the project director or for any subordinate body c) Approval of working hours d) Adoption of reports by the Group of National Coordinators e) Adoption of the operating budget and financial reports in their execution f) Examination of any other material relating to TER activities g) Approval of the TER network 3. Rules of procedure of the Management Committee shall be as follows: I. Sessions Rule 1 The management committee must hold a regular session per year, with the date and place expected to be decided by him. Rule 2 Special sessions shall be held in accordance with the decision of the Committee either in session or at the request of the following a) any member, with the support of 3 other members; b) the project director, with the support of 3 members. Rule 3 All meetings of the Committee shall be closed unless otherwise decided by the Committee. II. Agenda Rule 4 At each session, the Committee shall draw up a provisional agenda for the next session on the basis of a text proposed by the Project Director. The Committee must adopt its agenda at the beginning of each session. Any topic within the committee's powers, not included in the provisional agenda for a given meeting, may be proposed to it by a member or the project director and added to the agenda by the committee's decision. The Board may review the agenda by adding, deleting, aminating or amending items. III. Representation Rule 5 Each country must be represented on the committee by a representative, who may be accompanied by other representatives or advisers to his sessions. Ex officio, C.E.E. will participate as an executive agency. IV. Officials Rule 6 The Committee, at the start of its first session of each year, will choose from among its members a president and a rapporteur who will function during that year and until their successors are elected. Rule 7 The President will attend the meetings of the Committee in this capacity, and not as a representative of a Member Government to which he is accredited. Another member of his delegation will be held to represent the respective government at committee meetings. Rule 8 The project director must inform the committee members by written or verbal communications of any issues of interest to the committee and which may contribute to decision-making. V. Language and records Rule 9 English will be the working language of the project, including for the Management Committee. The countries hosting the meetings of the Committee may provide interpretation in the French and/or Russian languages, where possible. Rule 10 The reports of the meetings of the Committee shall be outlined and adopted during such meetings and shall be immediately distributed to the members of the Committee and the other participants The reports may be published after a time from their adoption and under the conditions that the committee may decide. VI. Quorum Rule 11 The discussions cannot begin without the presence of 2/3 of the members of the Committee. The decisions of the Committee on all matters examined must be taken by consensus of the members present. VII. Subordinate bodies Rule 12 The rules of the Committee must also apply in principle to its subordinate bodies. VIII. Participation as observers of representatives of non-member governments and international organisations Rule 13 a) Non-member governments of the project, and b) specific international organizations and institutions may be represented by observers at its meetings with a non-voting advisory regime. IX. Amendments or suspensions of procedural rules Rule 14 A rule of procedure may be amended or suspended by the ruling of the Management Committee, with the agreement of all TER countries. + Annex 1 (b) GROUP OF NATIONAL COORDINATORS TER 1. In its composition must be between national coordinators. Other experts from the Member States may also participate in meetings of the TER national coordinating group. 2. The group, in principle, must meet twice a year. He can hold special meetings if he considers it necessary. 3. The Group, among others, shall: a) be responsible for the development, evaluation and coordination of the technical activities of the TER and their economic aspects; b) have the task of developing, evaluating and coordinating the TER activities relating to the financing of the construction of TER. To carry out these duties, the group shall take into account the results of ad hoc working groups as determined by the Management Committee for specific subjects; c) to control all activities carried out by TER; d) to examine the reports and documents proposed by the project director; e) designate the activities to be carried out under governmental responsibility; f) make recommendations to the Management Committee on the work programme; g) consider any matter at the request of the Management Committee or the project director. + Annex 1 (c) NATIONAL COORDINATORS The national coordinator will be appointed by his government. The national coordinator will respond to: (1) contact in his country for the TER project; (2) maintaining the link between the national organizations involved and the Central Office of the project, initiating actions at national level to obtain and transmit the necessary information in relation to the activities of the office (3) coordination of national activities under the TER; (4) planning and carrying out activities and achieving results in accordance with the TER work programmes; (5) the effective and efficient use of input data from TER; (6) Participation in meetings of the Management Committee and of the Group of National Coordinators and participation in meeting the objectives of the TER. + Annex 1 (d) CENTRAL OFFICE OF THE PROJECT The central office of the project will coordinate all activities carried out in accordance with the terms of this document and act under the general leadership of the Management Committee, under the guidance of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe as executive agency. The central office of the project will operate in Budapest, Hungary, based on the arrangements stipulated in the letter to be addressed by the Government of Hungary to the Executive Secretary of the C.E.E./O.N.U. on the functioning of this office. The staff of the Central Office of the project consists of -project manager; -manager (s)-assistant (i); --other staff. The skills of this staff will be: Project Manager The project manager of the Central Office of the project will be elected from the members of the TER States, by the Management Committee. He will operate for a period of 2 years, with the possibility of extension by one year, with the approval of the Management Committee and with the consent of his government. The government that provides the services of the project manager remunerates on it. The conditions of his services are decided by an exchange of letters between C.E.E./O.N.U. and the respective government. When you travel outside Budapest, travel and daily expenses are provided from the project budget. The project manager will be responsible for: (1) the activity of director of the Central Office of the project (2) the preparation of draft work programmes to be approved in the Management Committee and their administration as approved; ((3) the work as Secretary of the Management Committee and of the national coordinators of the TER; ((4) Adviser to the Chairperson of the Management Committee and to the national coordinators of the TER in the fields (5) the drawing up and distribution of information to the Member States in the fields of advertising (6) maintain the continuous link with the national TER coordinators in all areas relating to the implementation of TER activities; (7) drawing up the report of the project manager on the general activities of the Central Office of the project and developments in the TER during the meetings of the Management Committee and the national coordinators of the TER; (8) the organization and preparation of technical and administrative documentation for all meetings of the TER; ((9) completing all contract formalities with the experts providing consultancy services in the various activities and with the TER governments which make in-kind contributions to the TER; (10) performance of administrative and financial activities within the competence of the Central Office of the (11) implementation of the budget according to the decisions of the Management Committee and with the provisions of the rules and financial regulations of the O.N.U (12) recruitment of consultants as required, under the guidance of the Management Committee, to assist in the execution of specific activities, in line with work programmes; (13) the performance of other tasks outlined by the Management Committee. Assistants Depending on the working difficulties encountered, the Management Committee can select assistant/qualified assistants (i) for limited periods, who will (will) assist the project manager in the technical, operational and financial fields in the management TER. They are selected by the Management Committee between the candidates proposed by the TER States with the assistance of the project manager. They are made available by the participating states, similarly to the project manager. Other staff If any additional auxiliary staff is required from the existing staff provided by the host country, it will be recruited and remunerated by the project as required by TER and approved by the Management Committee. + Annex 2 BUDGET *) OF THE TRANS-EUROPEAN RAILWAY PROJECT FOR THE PERIOD 1993-1997 -U.S. dollars -CodStructura1993-199719931994199519961997 10Staff of the project 11.00International experts 11.01Consultanti60.00012.00012.00012.00012.00012,000 11.04Subtotal60.00012.00012.00012.00012.00012,000 13.00auxiliary staff20.0004.0004.0004.0004.0004.000 15.00officialTravels60.00012,00012,00012,00012,00012,000 19.00Total component80.00016.00016.00016.00016.00016,000 20Subcontract 21.00Subcontract70.00014.00014.00014.00014.00014,000 29.00Total component70.00014.00014.00014.00014.00014,000 30Preparation 32.00Preparation group 160.00032.00032.00032.00032.00032,000 39.00Total component160.00032.00032.00032.00032.00032,000 40Equipment 42.00Equipment that cannot be alienated 20.0004.0004.0004.0004.0004.000 49.00Total component20.0004.0004.0004.0004.0004.000 50Miscellaneous 51.00Diverse60.00012,00012,00012,00012,00012,000 59.00Total component60.00012,00012,00012,00012,00012,000 99Total project450.00090.00090.00090.00090.00090,000 Note *) The number of countries participating in the project should be reviewed. + Annex 3 5 5 October 1990 Sir, On behalf of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (C.E.E.), I have the honour to propose, based on the consultations that took place with the representatives of your Government, the following arrangements regarding the establishment and operation in Budapest of of a Central Office of the Regional Project, known as the Trans-European North-South Railway (TER) Project, executed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe with a financial support from the United Nations Programme for Development (P.N.U.D.). The central office of the project will perform the functions provided for it in the Project Document, to which the Hungarian Government and other participating governments are signatories. It will be led by the project manager, who will be assisted by the staff who can be requested in accordance with the needs of the project. In addition to dividing the budget of the Central Office of the project mentioned in the Project Document, the Government will provide for an appropriate headquarters containing all maintenance services and facilities, local and auxiliary staff and a motor vehicle for persons for official purposes, as referred to below. The government will provide the following facilities: a) the rental, which includes all maintenance costs and services, for an appropriate premises of about 200 sqm, consisting of 7-8 furnished offices; b) technical office equipment available in Hungary; c) salaries, benefits and social benefits for local auxiliary staff, consisting of an official, interpreter/translator, secretary and driver, in total of four persons; d) the supply and maintenance of a passenger vehicle made available to the Central Office of the project for official purposes on the territory of the country, throughout the project. The other expenses of the Central Office of the project, including technical office equipment, which is not available in Budapest, will be covered by the budget of the Central Office of the project, according to the other provisions of this letter e) the use of communications (by telephone and telex) will be made under the same conditions applied to the most favoured category of foreign users who also benefit from facilities in Budapest; f) medical facilities and services for international personnel belonging to the Central Office of the project, the same as those that may be granted to national and civilian economic agents; and g) assistance in obtaining appropriate housing for international personnel belonging to the Central Office of the project, under the same rental conditions as those granted to the diplomatic staff of foreign missions in Hungary. All payments for goods and services in Hungary, which can be carried out according to the project, by or through P.N.U.D., C.E.E. or the Central Office of the project, will also be carried out in forints. The United Nations or the Central Office of the Project can register and account for such transactions at the best legal exchange rate. It will include expenses for: a) project equipment available in Hungary; b) the journey carried out by the Hungarian carriers; c) that part of the expenses for experts and consultants payable in forints, as negotiated by the Execution Agency and the project manager; d) reporting of other miscellaneous expenses that occurred in Hungary; and e) expenses for communications. The Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, to which the Government of Hungary is a party, as well as the Agreement of 28 April 1967 between the Government of Hungary and the United Nations Special Fund will apply accordingly in respect of The central office of the project, premises which, wherever it is located, will be considered as premises of the United Nations. The project coordinator and United Nations staff of the office will be considered as official persons of the United Nations, as defined in the convention. It is understood that section 18 d), e), f) and g) of the convention will not apply to Hungarian citizens recruited by the United Nations on the territory of the country for the Central Office of the project. In accordance with the Agreement with the Special Fund of 28 April 1967: a) any consultants employed by the United Nations or any organization or government to whom participation in the project is permitted will be assimilated to the status of official persons of the United Nations and the Government will grant them the same privileges and immunities as those granted to official persons of the United Nations; b) the auxiliary staff who are made up of government officials and who is insured by the Government for the project will be granted immunity before the law, for those said or written and for all his actions carried out in the activity official carried out within the project. He will have a special status that will cause him to submit during his activity the control and discipline of the project coordinator, who will ask him to fulfill the provisions of art. 1 of the United Nations Staff Regulations, which the United Nations, after consultations with the Government, will communicate to them with those changes that they (no) may deem necessary to reflect its status. The representatives of the governments participating in the meetings agreed under the auspices of the project will enjoy, during the exercise of their functions and during the journey from and to Hungary, the privileges and immunities provided in the Convention on United Nations privileges and immunities. I will appreciate that the importance of your signing of this agreement with the above arrangements, as well as the fact of sending me a copy of this letter. With esteem, Mr Csaba Siklos, Minister for Transport Foreign Minister Budapest, Hungary G. Hinteregger, executive secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Accepted for the Government, ----------------------- Csaba Siklos -------------------