The Government of the State of Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Interior,
The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL),
Out of the desire of the State of Qatar to host the 79th session of the General Assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) in 2010,
Whereas such hosting requires the granting of privileges and immunities to the staff of INTERPOL during the meeting of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly session,
Hereby agreed as follows:

Article 1
Entering the territory of the State of Qatar:
1.         The competent government authorities in the State of Qatar shall grant entry into and exit from its territory to:
 
(a)          Members of the Executive Committee of INTERPOL;
(b)          The representatives of the member countries of the General Assembly enumerated in the list of participants, a copy of which should be referred to the authorities of the State of Qatar at least seven days from the start of the General Assembly;
(c)          Members of the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files, and persons who perform official functions on its behalf;
(d)          Secretariat staff appointed to assist the Executive Committee and the General Assembly;
(e)          Interpreters and clerks to be selected by the Secretariat;
(f)           The adviser of the organization;
(g)          Observers and experts invited to attend the meeting of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly session;
(h)          Members of the families of these persons and their staff who accompany them for the period of the meeting of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly session.
 
2.         Necessary visas or entry and exit permits shall be granted, free of charge and without delay, to the participants of the meeting of the Executive Committee or the General Assembly session.



Article 2
Privileges and immunities

1. The relevant government authorities in the State of Qatar shall grant INTERPOL the privileges and immunities usually granted to international organizations;

 
 
 
2.         INTERPOL shall enjoy judicial immunity and immunity from execution in civil, administrative and criminal lawsuits in its work related to the performance of its function and for the purpose of this Agreement during the period referred to herein. INTERPOL may expressly waive such judicial immunity in accordance with a decision of the Secretary-General at a justified request provided by the competent authorities in the State of Qatar.
 


Article 3
Inviolability of files and correspondence


1.         All documents owned by the INTERPOL or in its possession, including archives and accounts, in whatever form and wherever they shall exist, shall enjoy inviolability;
2.         Inviolability of the official correspondence of the INTERPOL shall be guaranteed, and its official communications shall not be subjected to censorship and such communications may be ciphered.
 


Article 4
Currency exchange
Without being subject to any financial control, or restriction, or postponement, INTERPOL may:
 
1.         Receive and hold any funds and foreign currency whatsoever, and open accounts in all major currencies in the territory of the State of Qatar;
2.         Transfer its funds and foreign currencies without restriction within the territory of the State of Qatar, or from its headquarters or from any of its sub-regional offices to the State of Qatar and vice versa.


Article 5
Exemption from customs duties
Any imports, or any administrative, technical and scientific material required by INTERPOL for the purpose of organizing a meeting of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly session shall be exempt from customs duties and taxes, as shall any publications and other INTERPOL official documents related to its work, and traditional gifts presented or received by the Secretary-General and the staff of the organization during the session of the General Assembly. INTERPOL shall re-export such materials, publications and gifts that have not been used or distributed following the end of the General Assembly session.

Article 6
Privileges and immunities of the participants
The State of Qatar shall take the appropriate measures to enable the participants of the meetings of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly to enjoy immunities and privileges. These participants shall include advisers of the organization, observers, experts and the staff of the Secretariat appointed to assist the Executive Committee and the General Assembly, as well as their family members who accompany them, with the exception of local staff within the territory, during the course of the work and during their travel to the venue of the meeting or session. Such privileges and immunities include the following:
 
1.         Immunity from personal arrest and detention and control of personal baggage, except in the case of inflagrante delicto;
2.         Judicial immunity for acts undertaken when exercising their functions until after the meeting of the Executive Committee and the General Assembly session;
3.         Inviolability of all official papers and documents;
4.         The same facilities accorded to diplomatic agents regarding the currency exchange system.

Article 7
Diplomatic privileges
Apart from the privileges and immunities set forth in Article 6 of this Agreement, INTERPOL’s Secretary-General and members of the Executive Committee and their family members who accompany them shall enjoy the privileges, immunities and facilities accorded to diplomatic agents under international law.

Article 8
The privileges and immunities provided for in articles 6 and 7 of this Agreement shall be accorded to the beneficiaries not for their personal benefit but for the good work of the bodies affiliated to INTERPOL. However, such beneficiaries may forfeit such privileges and immunities should the competent authorities in INTERPOL’s member countries deem such privileges and immunities an obstacle to the course of justice, and provided such forfeit will not damage the interests of the organization.

Article 9
Responsibility

1. The State of Qatar shall take the appropriate measures to insure against all damages that may affect the people concerned with the work of the General Assembly and the Executive Committee or its participants, as well as any damages that may be caused inadvertently by the participants of the meetings thereof to buildings and vehicles.

2.         Qatar shall indemnify INTERPOL, its staff and delegates against lawsuits, complaints and claims and shall hold them immune therefrom, except in cases of damage or loss or injury resulting from the negligence or wilful misconduct of the organization and its staff and delegates.

Article 10
Settlement of disputes
In the event of any dispute between the parties regarding the interpretation or implementation of the articles of this Agreement, matters shall be settled amicably through consultation and negotiation between them.

Article 11
Entry into force
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of exchange of instruments of ratification in accordance with the legal procedures applicable to each of the parties, and shall remain in force until the end of the activities of the session, and also for any subsequent periods deemed by both parties necessary for the settlement of all matters relating to any of the provisions that need to be settled after the session.

In witness whereof, the persons hereunder commissioned by the Government of the State of Qatar and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) have signed this Agreement.

Prepared in duplicate, in English and Arabic, which are equally authentic.

Signed in the city of Lyon                                                              Signed in the city of Lyon
Dated 11/28/1430 AH                                                                     dated 11/28/1430 AH
Corresponding to November 16, 2009 AD                             Corresponding to November 16, 2009 AD                            

For the Government of the State of Qatar                           For INTERPOL
Brigadier Khalifa Nasr Al Nasr                                                Ronald K. Nobel
Head of Communication and INTERPOL Secretary-General