Key Benefits:
The Senate and Chamber of Deputies of the Argentine Nation assembled in Congress, etc. sanction with force of Law:
ARTICLE 1 Approved the Agreement on ENERGETIC COOPERATION ENTRE THE ARGENTINA REPUBLIC AND THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA, signed in Caracas .REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA . on 12 July 2000, which consists of ONCE (11) articles, whose authenticated photocopy of the present law. ARTICLE 2 Contact the national executive branch.IN THE SESSION OF THE ARGENTINE CONGRESS, IN GOOD AIRES, TO THE FIRST DAY OF THE OCTOBER MONTH OF THE YEAR DOS MIL TRES.
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DANIEL O. SCIOLI. . EDUARDO O. CAMAÑO. . Juan Estrada. . Carlos G. Freytes.
AGREEMENT ON ENERGETIC COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ARGENTINA REPUBLIC AND THE BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA
The Argentine Republic and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela henceforth referred to as "the Parties", with the aim of consolidating the links between the two countries and in order to support and intensify economic cooperation,
CONSIDERING the need to strengthen the integration process in Latin America, aimed at promoting the social, harmonious and balanced economic development of the region,
CONSIDERING the excellent relations between the Governments and the peoples of the Argentine Republic and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,
INCLUDING the coincidence between the two countries in favour of deepening economic cooperation and cooperation mechanisms and the firm conviction that regional integration will benefit the development of peoples,
RECALLING the will of both countries to strengthen the traditional schemes of cooperation and to foster new mechanisms of concertation to find solutions favourable to the challenges of international energy markets,
RECOGNIZING that an energy cooperation agreement will be of use and interest to both Parties, allowing to expand the possibilities of technical and scientific-technological cooperation and exchange of the sector, within a framework of regional integration, to:
FIRST ARTICLE
OBJECTIVE OF THE AGREEMENT
The purpose of this Agreement is to establish a general framework of reference for Parties to undertake cooperative actions of mutual interest in energy.
SECOND ARTICLE
COOPERATION AREAS
In order to achieve the objective referred to in Article One, the Parties shall undertake cooperative actions in the area of natural energy resources, liquid hydrocarbons, gaseous and their derivatives and electricity.
THIRD ARTICLE
COOPERATION ARRANGEMENTS
Cooperation among Parties will be developed through the following modalities:
(a) Creation of permanent consultation mechanisms for the exchange of information and analysis on the evolution and behaviour of international energy markets,
(b) Creation of information-sharing mechanisms on experiences, views and perspectives related to the development and analysis of the energy sectors of both countries,
(c) Exchange of information on studies and projects to facilitate planning that promotes greater productivity, efficiency, conservation and sustainability of the energy sector,
(d) cooperation in the design and implementation of joint studies, projects and programmes, including research and development,
(e) Establishment of human resources training and training activities,
(f) Organization of seminars, workshops and other meetings on energy sector issues, including policies and processes that facilitate trade in related products, goods and services,
(g) Joint participation in the publication of information derived from the activities carried out under the Agreement,
(h) Exchange of information on tax and customs measures, as well as on models of investment or contract agreements,
(i) Exchange of professional and technical visits; and
(j) Other specific forms of cooperation and contracting mutually agreed upon in writing between the Parties.
ARTICLE 4
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
When the Parties agree on the implementation of any of the activities provided for in the Agreement, a project will be developed and implemented through the relevant agencies of each Party. Each project will contain the specifications on scope, coordination and administration, allocation of resources, staff exchange, total costs and distribution, implementation schedule and other matters related to cooperation.
The operation of this Agreement shall not be conditional upon the signature Parties to establish projects in all fields and modalities of cooperation referred to in Article II of this Agreement.
The Parties shall not be obliged to collaborate in such technological activities for which there is an internal prohibition or a derivative of a normative, institutional or custom law.
Each Party shall conduct the activities necessary for this Agreement, subject to its respective laws, regulations and powers.
QUINTO
CONTROL AND FOLLOW-UP
Each Party shall designate a Senior Coordinator, who shall directly respond to the Secretary of Energy of the Argentine Republic and the Minister of Energy and Mines of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, respectively. The Main Coordinators will jointly plan and coordinate cooperation activities and each of them will report on the matter to the authority of the dependant.
The Main Coordinators shall ensure the operation of the Agreement and for this purpose shall:
(a) To determine, in coordination with the institutions and entities involved in, each country, the forms, processes and means of the activities established by both Parties, (b) to evaluate annually the progress and implementation of the activities.
The Major Coordinators will meet annually, or as mutually agreed, alternatively in Venezuela and Argentina.
The Main Coordinators may invite their meetings to representatives of other organizations of their respective countries to advise and support the planning and implementation of the cooperation activities under this Convention.
SEXTO
UTILIZATION OF INFORMATION
The Parties may freely use all information exchanged under this Agreement, except in cases where the Party providing it has established restrictions or reservations of its use or dissemination. In no case may it be transferred by one of the Parties to third parties, without the prior written consent of the other Party.
SEPTIMO
FINANCING
The Parties agree that the costs resulting from the defined cooperation activities shall be borne by the Party incurring them, unless otherwise agreed in writing, and shall provide resources in accordance with the availability of budgetary and personnel funds. The Parties shall establish the conditions for the financing of each activity, in particular before its inception.
OCTAVO
LABORAL
The staff commissioned by each of the Parties shall continue under the direction and dependence of the institution to which it belongs, and therefore no employment relations shall be established with the other, to which in no case shall be regarded as a substitute pattern.
Staff sent by one of the Parties to the other shall be subject to the provisions of the national legislation in force in the receiving country, and the provisions, rules and regulations of the institution in which it is concerned. Such personnel may not engage in any activity outside their duties, nor may they receive any remuneration outside the established service, without the prior authorization of the competent authorities.
Each Party shall be responsible for the occupational accidents suffered by its staff or for damages to its property, irrespective of where they occur, and shall not prosecute or file any claim against the other Party, unless it has been the result of serious negligence or ill-treatment, in which case it shall be covered by the corresponding compensation.
Ninth article
CONTROVERSAL SOLUTION
Any modification to the text of the Agreement or difference derived from its interpretation or application shall be decided by the Parties in common agreement.
DECIMO
VIGENCE
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the last notification in which the Parties communicate compliance with their domestic formal requirements.
DECIMOPRIMERO
DURATION AND DENUNCIA
The present Agreement shall have a duration of three years, which may be extended for periods of equal duration, upon assessment, unless any Party expresses, through diplomatic channels, its decision to terminate it with ninety (90) days in advance of the date on which it is to be terminated.
The advance termination of this Agreement shall not affect the conclusion of the cooperative actions that have been formalized during its validity.
HECHO in Caracas, Venezuela, on the 12th day of the month of July of two thousand, in two original copies in Spanish, being both equally authentic texts.
(Firma)
For the Argentine Republic
Adalberto Rodríguez Giavarini
Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship
(Firma)
For the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
José Vicente Rangel Vale
Minister for Foreign Affairs
