Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Cooperation in the Field of Protection and Enhancement of the Environment
Source: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/dfat/treaties/1990/10.html
THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS, hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties,
TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the gravity of environmental problems for the people of both countries and of the world;
CONSIDERING that the solution of problems of environmental protection requires the cooperation of all countries and peoples;
ATTACHING great importance to the protection and enhancement of the environment and to its protection from damage due to pollution;
CONSIDERING that sustainable economic and social development for the benefit of the present and future generations requires effective measures for the protection and enhancement of the environment today;
DESIRING to facilitate the establishment of closer and long-term cooperation between interested organisations of the two countries in the field of environmental protection and enhancement;
AIMING to develop further cooperation between the Contracting Parties in accordance with the aims and objectives of the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on Scientific-Technical Cooperation done at Moscow on 15 January 1975,
HAVE AGREED as follows:
Article I
The Contracting Parties shall develop cooperation in the field of protection and enhancement of the environment on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit. This cooperation shall be directed at resolving major issues of environmental protection and enhancement facing the Contracting Parties.
Article II
1. Cooperation in accordance with this Agreement shall be based on the identification and study of potentially harmful influences on the environment and the development and implementation of measures to control or prevent such influences.
2. Cooperation may be carried out in the following fields:
- monitoring the state of the environment, including development of environmental impact assessment techniques, as a means of ensuring socio-economic development which is not damaging to the environment;
- study of global climate change, protection of the ozone layer;
- the conduct of research concerning the Antarctic environment including its relationship with the global environment;
- protection of surface, underground and sea waters against pollution, and the rational use of water resources;
- combatting desertification;
- studies and protection of flora, fauna and landscape, including forests;
- organisation of protected areas and protection of rare and endangered species;
- protection against atmospheric pollution, including instruments and methods for measurement of concentrations of atmospheric pollutants and the study of the process of long range dispersal of atmospheric pollutants;
- development of methods and equipment involved in water and gas purification;
- development of methods and equipment for reprocessing industrial and domestic wastes;
- development of technologies resulting in minimal or no pollution;
- control of noise pollution;
- protection of the environment in urban areas;
- study of biological and genetic consequences of environmental pollution;
- protection of land resources, including rehabilitation, and combatting soil erosion and salinity;
- administrative, economic and legal measures for environmental protection and enhancement;
- environmental education and training, including dissemination of information on ecological issues.
3. The Contracting Parties may mutually determine other areas of cooperation.
Article III
1. Cooperation between the Contracting Parties may take the following forms:
- exchange of scientists, specialists and research students;
- organisation of bilateral workshops, symposia and conferences and publication of reports, articles and monographs;
- exchange of scientific and technical information;
- familiarisation with research techniques and equipment;
- implementation of joint research and other joint activities on problems of mutual interest;
- participation by specialists of the two countries in international conferences, symposia and exhibitions taking place in either country.
2. The Contracting Parties may mutually determine other forms of cooperation.
Article IV
1. In order to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall each appoint a responsible authority. Until the relevant Contracting Party designates another authority, the responsible authority in Australia shall be the Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories and the responsible authority in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall be the USSR State Committee for Hydrometeorology.
2. Within three months of this Agreement entering into force, the responsible authorities shall inform each other of the appointment of a representative responsible for coordination of cooperation under this Agreement. These representatives shall meet not less than once every two years alternately in Australia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics to develop and review proposals, working plans and programs for cooperation and to review activities undertaken within the framework of this Agreement.
3. Financial and organisational matters shall be decided on the basis of mutual understandings reached between the responsible authorities.
Article V
The Contracting Parties shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, promote and facilitate the development of direct contacts and cooperation between scientific, technical and other appropriate organisations of the two countries.
Article VI
Separate arrangements and contracts may be concluded between scientific, technical and other appropriate organisations of the two countries covering details of financing, the treatment of intellectual property and other matters for implementation of the cooperative activities under this Agreement.
Article VII
Cooperation under this Agreement shall be carried out in accordance with the laws and regulations in force in each country.
Article VIII
1. Where information is passed under this Agreement subject to specified conditions of use, the recipient of such information shall comply with such specified conditions of use and shall not transfer such information to third parties without the consent of the originating Contracting Party or of an organisation or person nominated by that Contracting Party.
2. Subject to consultation between the Contracting Parties and to any arrangements or contracts concluded in accordance with Article VI of this Agreement, information obtained as a result of joint research carried out within the framework of this Agreement may be passed to international organisations or third parties.
Article IX
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as being contrary to or amending any agreements in force between the Contracting Parties.
Article X
1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature.
2. This Agreement shall remain in force initially for five years, and thereafter shall remain in force until such time as one Contracting Party receives written notification from the other Contracting Party of its intention to terminate the Agreement. In this case the Agreement shall terminate 180 days after the receipt of such notification.
3. The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the validity of any arrangements and contracts concluded in accordance with Article VI of this Agreement between scientific, technical and other appropriate organisations of the two countries.
DONE at Canberra this fifteenth day of February 1990 in duplicate, in the English and Russian languages, each text being equally authentic.
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA: GARETH EVANS
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS: S A SITARIAN
