The Government of the State of Qatar, represented in the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, and the Government of Albania, represented in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sport (referred to hereinafter as “The Parties”),

Whereas the Parties are desirous to enhance and develop mutual cooperation between the two friendly countries in culture, publishing and other similar areas,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

The Parties shall endeavour to enhance and facilitate cultural cooperation between their countries by organizing cultural weeks, establishing plastic arts exhibitions and exchanging musical, theatre and artistic team visits.

Article 2

The Parties shall exchange cultural information, documents, photos and brochures, and shall encourage cooperation between the national libraries of both countries.

Article 3

The Parties shall encourage the translation of new literary, artistic and cultural works related to the development of their culture into the language of the other country without prejudice to the authors’ copyright in accordance with the international laws and agreements.

Article 4

The Parties shall encourage mutual cooperation between youth centres and organizations in the two countries by the following means:

1.     Exchanging information, research and studies related to youth work;

2.     Exchanging invitations to participate in international youth activities in both countries;

3.     Exchanging visits between the youth of the two countries to realize cooperation and understanding and to increase knowledge.

Article 5

The Parties shall establish a joint committee to undertake the application of the articles of this Agreement and to consider inquiries that may arise during their implementation and to design periodic bilateral programs for cultural cooperation, provided that such committee shall meet in each country alternately on the date and at the time determined through diplomatic channels in the two countries.

Article 6

The delegating Party shall bear the expenses of its delegates to and from the host Party, and the host Party shall bear the expenses of accommodation, internal transport and emergency medical treatment of the delegates of the other Party according to the applicable rules in both countries.

Article 7

Any dispute that may arise between the Parties regarding the interpretation or implementation of this Agreement shall be settled amicably through negotiations and cooperation between them.

Article 8

The provisions of this Agreement or any of its text may be amended by the written agreement of the Parties according to the legal practice in the two countries.

Article 9

1.     This Agreement shall come into force from the date on which the Parties notify each other of the fulfillment of the internal legal procedures necessary for the enforcement of the Agreement. The Agreement shall be valid for three years, automatically renewable for similar term(s) unless one of the Parties notifies the other, in writing through diplomatic channels, of its intention to terminate it at least three months before the date of its expiration or termination.

2.     The expiration or termination of this Agreement shall not affect the established or continuing programs and projects unless the Parties otherwise agree.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned being duly authorized by their respective governments have signed this Agreement.

This Agreement is issued and signed in the city of Tirana on 18/10/2011 in two equally authentic original copies in the Arabic, Albanian and English languages. In case of disagreement/divergence/dispute in the interpretation hereof, the English text shall prevail.

On behalf of the State of Qatar

On behalf of the Cabinet of Albania