Agreement between the government of the Republic of Finland and the government of the Russian Federation on coöperation in the Murmansk region, the Republic of Karelia, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad regionThe Government of the Republic of Finland and the Government of the Russian Federation, hereinafter referred to as the "Contracting Parties", Bearing in mind the traditions of good-neighbourliness and trust in relations between the peoples of their countries, Having the intention to further develop mutually advantageous coöperation on both sides of the common frontier, Being convinced that coöperation between adjoining regions will create greater opportunities both for the development of the Murmansk region, the Republic of Karelia, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, and for the expansion of multilateral contacts between Finland and Russia, Desiring to encourage coöperation between regional organs of power, and also to develop new forms of coöperation between adjoining regions, Have agreed as follows: Article 1 The Contracting Parties shall develop and expand coöperation in the Murmansk region, the Republic of Karelia, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region in order to promote the stable development of these regions, taking into account the interests of both Contracting Parties. Article 2 Coöperation shall take place primarily in the following fields: promotion of reciprocal trade, economic development, utilization of natural resources, development of agriculture and the food industry, improvement of transport links and means of communication, amelioration of the exchange of information, protection of the environment and enhancement of the safety of nuclear installations, improvement of administrative management, health care and social security, scientific research and development, tourism, education, culture, fraternal ties, sport and contacts among young people. The coöperation may also take place in other mutually agreed areas. The coöperation may include the conduct of scientific and other research, the design and implementation of projects, education, technical assistance, the establishment of joint enterprises and also other mutually agreed forms of coöperation. If necessary, programmes shall be worked out for the development of coöperation containing joint schemes of coöperation, expanding the areas of coöperation or defining new forms of coöperation. Article 3 The Contracting Parties have decided to establish a Group for the development of coöperation between adjoining regions which shall coordinate coöperation, draw up programmes for coöperation and also make amendments to the annexes to this Agreement. Each Contracting Party shall appoint its members of the Group for the development of coöperation between adjoining regions, and shall inform each other of the appointments within 30 days of the date of entry into force of this Agreement. The competent bodies in the fields of coöperation envisaged in article 2 of this Agreement shall be responsible for developing coöperation; they may have direct contacts with each other and reach agreement within the limits of their competence and of the resources available on questions arising from the implementation of this Agreement. A list of competent bodies is provided in annex 1 to this Agreement. Article 4 The Contracting Parties undertake to promote the development of bilateral coöperation at the regional and local levels. The Contracting Parties, in accordance with article 3, shall develop contacts with each other in order to provide regional and local organs of power with sufficient facilities to engage in the coöperation envisaged in this Agreement. Regional and local organs of power, establishments, enterprises and companies may make direct contact with each other in order to consider questions arising from the implementation of specific projects involving the coöperation envisaged in this Agreement, in accordance with the laws and decisions in force in each of their countries. The regional and local organs of power listed in annex 2 to this Agreement may, within the limits of their competence and the resources provided, reach agreement with each other on the implementation of specific coöperation projects. Article 5 The Contracting Parties shall endeavour, within the limits of their laws and decisions, to reduce the formalities involved in the development of coöperation in accordance with this Agreement. Article 6 The Contracting Parties shall jointly promote the implementation of the projects envisaged in this Agreement. The Government of the Republic of Finland undertakes to help reimburse the expenses of coöperation within the limits of the appropriations provided for each budget year for this purpose. The Government of the Russian Federation undertakes to facilitate the implementation of projects in every possible way, and in particular to improve conditions for the activity of Finnish firms in the regions envisaged in this Agreement. Questions linked with the financing of coöperation projects, and also questions linked with the right to use areas of land or natural resources, including their use under rental, concessional or other arrangements, in the regions envisaged in this Agreement, shall be agreed upon separately. The projects to be implemented on the basis of this Agreement, and also the Finnish personnel working on them and the related supplies and services, shall be partially or fully exempt from taxes, customs duties, tariffs and other payments in the regions envisaged in this Agreement, on the basis of decisions taken in each individual case. Article 7 The annexes to this Agreement shall constitute an inseparable part of it. Article 8 This Agreement shall enter into force 30 days after the Contracting Parties inform each other of the completion of the legal formalities required for its entry into force. This Agreement shall remain in force until one of the Contracting Parties denounces it, by means of written notification to the other Contracting Party six months before it expires. The termination of this Agreement shall not affect the implementation of projects being carried out in accordance with this Agreement, which shall be extended on agreed conditions. DONE at Helsinki on 20 January 1992, in two original copies, each in the Finnish and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.
Annex 1Supplementary information relating to article 3Competent authorities For Finland:
For the Russian Federation:
Annex 2Supplementary information relating to article 4Regional and local government bodies In the Republic of Finland:
In the Russian Federation:
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