Advanced Search

RS 0.512.134.91 Agreement of 27 October 2003 between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the French Republic on the joint training and training activities of the French armies and the Swiss Army

Original Language Title: RS 0.512.134.91 Accord du 27 octobre 2003 entre le Conseil fédéral suisse et le Gouvernement de la République française relatif aux activités communes d’instruction et d’entraînement des armées françaises et de l’Armée suisse

Subscribe to a Global-Regulation Premium Membership Today!

Key Benefits:

Subscribe Now for only USD$40 per month.

0.512.134.91

Original text

Agreement

Between the Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the French Republic on the joint training and training activities of the French armies and the Swiss army

Convened on 27 October 2003

Entered into force on 27 October 2003

(Status on 25 May 2004)

The Swiss Federal Council and the Government of the French Republic,

Hereinafter referred to as "the Parties",

Whereas:

-
The Convention of 19 June 1995 between the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the other participating States in the Partnership for Peace on the status of their forces 1 (PpP SOFA) allowing the implementation of the Convention of 19 June 1951 between the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty on the status of their forces 2 (NATO SOFA) and the Additional Protocol of 19 June 1995 to the Convention between the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the other participants in the Partnership for Peace on the status of their forces 3 ,
-
The Convention on the Protection/Conservation of National Defence Secrecy/Military National Defence between the French Republic and the Swiss Confederation 4 Signed on 22/23 March 1972,
-
Agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Swiss Federal Council on mutual assistance in the event of natural disasters or serious accidents 5 Signed on January 14, 1987,
-
The Agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Swiss Federal Council on Bilateral Training and Exchange Activities between the Air Force and Swiss Air Forces 6 , signed on 14 May 1997,

Applicable in their latest version

Desiring:

-
Enhance bilateral relations in the field of military training and training,

Agreed to the following:

Art. 1

1.1 This Agreement defines the framework within which the Parties may organize the joint training and training activities of the French armies and the Swiss army in the territory of each of the two States, as well as the status of the members Forces and civilian elements.

1.2 These activities are intended to:

(a)
Strengthen their friendship by sharing their defence experiences and knowledge;
(b)
To make optimum use of educational resources;
(c)
To achieve an aptitude for cooperation, in particular in the fields of peace support operations and mutual assistance in the event of a disaster or serious accident;
(d)
Encourage mutual information between armies, including through visits and exchanges;
(e)
Facilitate procedures for the preparation and execution of military training and training.
Art. 2

In this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

2.1 Part of residence: means the Contracting Party in the territory of which military training and training takes place;

2.2 Party of origin: means the Contracting Party which sends its personnel to participate in military training and training in the territory of the Party of residence.

Art. 3

3.1 For purposes defined in s. 1, the Ministry of Defence of the Government of the French Republic and the Federal Department of Defence, of the Protection of Population and Sports of the Swiss Confederation, agree to organize joint activities, which will The subject of technical arrangements.

3.2 For each activity it is stated in particular:

(a)
The framework;
(b)
Themes and goals pursued;
(c)
The mission of participants;
(d)
The period and location of the activity;
(e)
The number and quality of participants;
(f)
Equipment and equipment used;
(g)
The authorities responsible for their organization and management;
(h)
If necessary, details of the joint activities, including their administrative, financial, logistical, technical and security aspects.
Art. 4

4.1 The Parties shall take the necessary measures to facilitate the crossing of the border by members of forces and civilian elements, vehicles, aircraft, boats, equipment, goods, armaments and ammunition Necessary for the preparation of the activity and its execution.

4.2 Each Party shall be responsible for requests for overflight and landing authorization. Requests for overflight and landing of military aircraft, subject to authorisations issued in accordance with the rules in force in the territory of the Party of residence, shall be addressed to the competent authority by the Defence Attaché The Embassy of the Party of origin.

Art. 5

The staff of the Party of origin may under no circumstances be involved in the preparation or execution of war operations or in actions to maintain or restore order, public security or national sovereignty, or Intervene in these operations in any form.

Art. 6

In accordance with the national legislation of the Party of residence, movements in military vehicles shall be permitted for the duration of the stay.

Art. 7

7.1 The authorities of both Parties shall cooperate to ensure security within the facilities made available to the armed forces of the Party of origin.

7.2 The authorities of the Party of origin, in agreement with the authorities of the Party of residence, may take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of the installations made available to them, as well as their equipment, goods and documents In accordance with the legislation of the Party of residence.

7.3 The authorities of the Party of residence shall remain responsible for security outside the facilities made available to the armed forces of the Party of origin, which does not have the right to carry out armed guards and does not have the power of Police for third parties.

Art. 8

8.1 Members of the forces of the Party of origin shall be permitted to carry and use their weapons and ammunition in the territory of the Party of residence only for the purposes of the activity, in accordance with the legislation of the Party of residence.

8.2 The Parties shall comply with the safety and environmental protection guidelines in force on the territory of the Party of residence.

Art.

The Party of residence shall accept as valid the military or civilian driving licence issued by the Party of origin to members of the forces or civilian elements, without requiring any examination or law or tax.

Art. 10

10.1 The apportionment of the expenses shall be by agreement between the Parties on the basis of reciprocity, aiming at the overall financial balance.

10.2 Before, during and after the activity, each Party shall assume in principle its own expenses, including accommodation and catering costs for members of the forces and civilian elements.

10.3 Expenditure related to official visits and ceremonies shall be borne by the Party of residence.

Art. 11

The military authorities of the Party of origin are competent in the field of discipline. In the case of conduct liable to sanctions, they shall inform the authorities of the Party of residence of the nature of the possible sanctions before they are carried out. The authorities of the Party of origin shall report to the competent military authority of the Party of residence any serious breach of the discipline of a member of their staff; the authorities of the Party of residence may request that the latter be returned In his country for the execution of the sanctions decided.

Art. 12

In the event of an air accident or a serious occurrence in the airspace of a State in which an aircraft of another State is involved, the military experts of that State shall be entitled to sit in the Committee of Inquiry of the State in which the accident or The event took place.

Art. 13

13.1 The members of the forces and the civilian elements of the Party of origin shall have access to the necessary medical care from the military or civilian health services of the Party of residence under the same conditions as the members of the forces and The civilian elements of the Party of residence.

13.2 Medical benefits under s. 13.1 shall be borne by the host Party until such time as the patient is able to be repatriated; any additional care shall be borne by the Party of origin.

13.3 In cases where the principle of reciprocity cannot be guaranteed, the Parties shall agree on an amicable settlement.

13.4 In addition, the protection of medical confidentiality shall be provided for the services provided to staff in accordance with the rules on the part of the stay.

Art. 14

Any dispute arising out of the application or interpretation of this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by negotiation between the Parties.

Art. 15

15.1 In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and that of an agreement or technical arrangement previously concluded between the Parties, the provisions of this Agreement shall prevail.

15.2 However, the provisions of the Agreement between the Government of the French Republic and the Swiss Federal Council on mutual assistance in the event of natural disasters or serious accidents of 14 January 1987 apply.

Art. 16

16.1 This Agreement is concluded for an indefinite period. It shall enter into force on the date of the last signature.

16.2 This Agreement may be amended at any time, in writing, by mutual agreement between the Parties.

16.3 It may be denounced jointly by either Party or by one of the Parties with six months' written notice. However, the provisions of this Agreement shall remain in force until the procedures arising from its application are settled.

Done at Berne, on October 27, 2003, in duplicate, in the French language, both texts being authentic.


For the

Swiss Federal Council:

For the Government

Of the French Republic:

Samuel Schmid

Jacques Rummelhardt


RO 2004 2589


1 RS 0.510.1
2 RS 0.510.1 , annex
3 RS 0.510.1 1
4 Not published in OR.
5 RS 0.131.334.9
6 Not published to OR.


State 11. July 2006