The Government of the Republic of Slovenia and The Government of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta (hereinafter referred to as the “Sovereign Order of Malta”)
Considering the traditionally excellent relations between the Republic of Slovenia and the Sovereign Order of Malta since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992;
Considering that the Sovereign Order of Malta, in its international capacity, has been dedicated to the service of the sick and poor in the world ever since its foundation more than 900 years ago;
Recalling that the Republic of Slovenia and the Sovereign Order of Malta, according to their respective international legal personality, have a long tradition of cooperation inter alia in the field of medicine, health and social projects;
Desirous to further develop the friendly relations and cooperation between the Parties and in particular to facilitate the Sovereign Order of Malta’s humanitarian assistance on the territory of the Republic of Slovenia;
Taking into account that the Sovereign Order of Malta entrusts the management of its humanitarian missions to Appointed organizations or Bodies;
hereby agree:
For the purposes of the present international agreement:
a. “Contracting Parties” means the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and the Sovereign Order of Malta;
b. “Additional Protocol” means any future agreement concluded between the Contracting Parties enhancing the present Cooperation Agreement;
c. “Appointed Organizations or Body” means subordinate Organisations or Body of the Sovereign Order of Malta, such as National Associations, foundations, aid services or any other institution connected to the Sovereign Order of Malta or established in view of the accomplishment of its works; in particular, the expression “Appointed Organizations or Body” means the “Slovenian Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta” (“Slovensko društvo Suverenega malteškega viteškega reda”), “Order of Malta Aid – Slovenia” (“Društvo Malteška pomoč Slovenija”), and “Malteser International”. For the purposes of the present Agreement, “appointed organizations” may be further agreed upon by the Contracting Parties in additional protocols.
(1) The purpose of this Agreement is to establish the general framework and guidelines of the cooperation between the Republic of Slovenia and the Sovereign Order of Malta aimed at promoting the hospitaller and health-care actions of the latter on the territory of the Republic of Slovenia as well as in third States.
(2) According to their means, the Contracting Parties shall support and implement measures intended to facilitate, develop and diversify their social, humanitarian, and health cooperation as well as provide relief in situations of humanitarian and natural disaster.
Project Implementation with Appointed Organisations and Partners of the Sovereign Order of Malta
(1) For the purpose of accomplishing its mission, the Sovereign Order of Malta takes actions directly or through its Appointed Organisations or Bodies. These Appointed Organisations or Bodies act within the framework of their competences.
(2) For the effective implementation of the tasks arising from the present Agreement, the Sovereign Order of Malta and its Appointed Organizations or Bodies shall cooperate with the State and local authorities and organizations involved in the execution of these tasks on the territory of the Republic of Slovenia as well as in third States.
(3) The Sovereign Order of Malta has the right to act in collaboration with religious or lay institutions in order to accomplish all or part of any operation or activity within the scope of the present Agreement.
Objective of the Cooperation
The Contracting Parties shall make the effort to promote mutual cooperation on the basis of principles of sovereign equality and mutual respect as well as according to the laws, rules and internal regulations in harmony with their respective policies.
FIELDS OF COOPERATION AND ACTIVITIES
The cooperation foreseen in this international Agreement will be inter alia in the following areas:
a. health and care;
b. food security and safety;
c. volunteering;
d. disaster risk reduction; and
e. social, humanitarian and disability affairs.
Fields of foreseen development of special cooperation
(1) Within the framework of the present Agreement and with reference to Slovenian law, the Contracting Parties shall cooperate by means of:
a. rendering voluntary assistance and providing information upon request in case of disaster or a threat of its occurrence;
b. exchanging information, technical and legal documentation, methodological and other literature, video and photo materials related to disaster prevention preparedness and response in cases of disaster;
c. supplying the rescue teams with equipment;
d. organizing and holding joint expert meetings, workshops, conferences and exercises;
e. exchanging experience and good practices;
f. organizing exchange and training of experts, including exchange of lecturers and trainers from the respective training centres and institutions; and
g. joint planning, development and implementation of projects and research works in the area of disaster prevention preparedness and response.
| (2) |
The Sovereign Order of Malta, through the Slovenian Association shall have the possibility to establish nursing facilities on the territory of the Republic of Slovenia in accordance with the Slovenian legislation. |
Flag and Emblem of the Sovereign Order of Malta
| (1) |
The use of the flag and emblem of the Sovereign Order of Malta by its Appointed Organizations or Bodies shall be in accordance with established customs and the Slovenian legislation. |
The Contracting Parties shall mutually protect the names, flags, emblems, coats-of-arms, and other symbols of sovereignty of the other Contracting Party against any kind of abuse or violation. The Contracting Parties shall defend them against any imitation or illegal reproduction.
(1) In order to ensure proper implementation, monitoring and supervision of the cooperation, a Mixed Commission shall be set up to examine and choose cooperation projects and plans to attain the objectives set out in this international agreement. To this effect, the Mixed Commission shall prepare annual reports and set out future projects and orientations.
(2) The Mixed Commission shall be composed of two representatives of each Party.
(3) Each Contracting Party shall notify its members to the other through diplomatic channels. The Mixed Commission shall meet when the need arises at the initiative of either of the Party.
| (1) |
The present international Agreement is concluded for a period of 10 years. It shall be renewed automatically by tacit consent. |
(2) The present international Agreement terminates 6 months after the receipt of the written notification of a Contracting Party by the other Contracting Party.
(3) Notwithstanding the termination or expiry of the present international agreement, the Contracting Parties shall implement projects which have been started before the date of the termination or expiry.
This Agreement may be amended by written mutual consent of the Contracting Parties. Unless otherwise agreed upon, such an amendment shall enter into force under conditions similar to those of the successive Article 14.
(1) If any dispute arises regarding the interpretation, application or performance of the present Agreement, including its existence, validity or termination, the Contracting Parties will resolve it by way of mutual consultation to develop appropriate measures to ensure the fulfilment of this Agreement. Such difficulties shall not derogate from the Contracting Parties’ obligation to uphold their commitments in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement until the time those difficulties are settled.
(2) Any dispute that arises between the Contracting Parties shall be settled between them in good faith and in the spirit of cooperation with a clear intention of resolving matters efficiently.
(1) This Agreement shall be written in English in two original copies.
(2) The Contracting Parties shall agree on the use of English as the language of expression and writing of any correspondence concerning, directly or indirectly, the recognition of this Agreement.
(3) Each Contracting Party shall be considered as depositary of the original of this international Agreement.
The present Agreement shall enter into force after each Contracting Party has notified to the other through diplomatic channels that required internal procedures in accordance with their legislation have been fulfilled.
Done in Rome on 19 May 2022.
|
For the Government
of the Republic of Slovenia
Stanislav Raščan (s)
|
For the Government
of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order
of St. John of Jerusalem
of Rhodes and of Malta
Stefano Ronca (s)
|