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Belarus Trade Relations Agreement

EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

No. BR-MFA/19/93

The Embassy of the United States of America presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus and acknowledges receipt of the note of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus No. 1062, dated January 6, 1993, which reads as follows:

Begin quote. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America, and has the honor to refer to the Agreement on Trade Relations between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America, signed in Washington on June 1, 1990, as amended by an exchange of letters dated September 26, 1990 and October 31, 1990, including the letters by the parties (hereinafter referred to as "the Agreement").[*]

In accordance with Article XVII of the Agreement, the Government of the Republic of Belarus is pleased to inform the Government of the United States of America of the fulfillment of all legal requirements necessary for entry into force of the aforementioned Agreement, and has the honor to confirm the following agreed mutual understandings which have been arrived at:

All references in the Agreement to a party and to its territory, nationals and organizations shall be construed as pertaining to the Republic of Belarus and its territory, nationals and organizations, or to the United States of America and its territory, nationals, and organizations, respectively

It is understood that with respect to Article VIII, Paragraph 1 (B) of the Agreement, the Republic of Belarus has undertaken the obligation to observe the Universal Copyright Convention of' September 6, 1952 with an effective date of May 27, 1973, as well as the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of March 20, 1883, as revised at Stockholm on July 14, 1967.

It is understood that the exchange of side letters of June 1, 1990 and related annexes concerning the status of the U.S. commercial Office and the Trade Representation in Washington, D.C. initiated by Secretary, of Commerce Robert A. Mosbacher of the United States of America is no longer relevant for the purposes of the Agreement, and shall therefore be deleted.

It is understood that in the absence of a joint U.S.-Belarus Commercial Commission the periodic consultations referred to in Article XIV, Paragraph 1, shall be conducted in an appropriate framework.

It is understood that in the letters on intellectual property which the sides exchanged on June 1, 1990, references to bills introduced prior to signature of this note are not relevant for purposes of this Agreement, without prejudice to any obligations to review, introduce, support, enact or implement specified provisions of Law, and that the Government of the Republic of Belarus will introduce in 1993 the drafts of laws required for fulfillment of the obligations contained in Article VIII of the Agreement and will take all measures necessary for enactment of these laws during 1993.

It is understood that the reference in Article IV, Paragraph 4 to federal and other levels of Government should be construed as pertaining to national and other levels of Government.

In view of the above facts, upon receipt of notification by the Government of the United States of America of the fulfillment of all legal requirements necessary for entry into force of the Agreement, this Agreement shall enter into force between the Republic of Belarus and the United States of America on the date of receipt of the note of reply from the U.S. side.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America assurances of its highest consideration. End quote.

The Embassy of the United States of America confirms that the foregoing understandings are shared by the Government of the United States of America and that, in accordance with Article XVII of the Agreement, the United States of America has fulfilled all legal requirements necessary for entry into force of the Agreement.

Therefore, all necessary legal requirements for entry into force having been fulfilled by the two Governments, the Agreement shall enter into force between the United States of America and the Republic of Belarus on the date of this note.

The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of the opportunity of renewing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus the assurances of its highest consideration.

Embassy of the United States of America

Minsk, February 16, 1993

[*Previously transmitted: August 13, 1992 (92-169)]


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