MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL CONCERNING COOPERATION IN THE FIELDS OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND POSTS
Signed at Seoul on August 27, 1997 Entered into force on January 19, 1998
---
The Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of the State of Israel (hereinafter referred to as “the Parties”),
Sharing the views that the development of communications is a major factor for promoting trade and technical exchanges as well as the economic and social development of their respective countries,
Confirming the necessity of mutual cooperation for the improvement of state-of-the-art communications services, the modernization of communications networks in their respective countries and the expansion and development of communications services between their countries,
Desiring to develop and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of posts and telecommunications, and
Bearing in mind the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Government of the State of Israel, signed at Seoul on the 21st of November, 1994,
Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1
1. The Parties, on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit, will take appropriate measures to promote cooperation between their countries in the fields of posts and telecommunications.
2. Cooperative activities under this Memorandum of Understanding will be conducted in accordance with relevant mutually applicable provisions of international treaties, including those relating to intellectual property rights, as well as principles, standards
and recommendations of international communications organizations such as the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
3. In case of conflicting obligations, the international commitments of the Parties in the framework of UPU and ITU shall have precedence.
ARTICLE 2
The Parties will cooperate in the field of posts through the exchange of information on postal service development, including, but not limited to:
a. electronic mail, hybrid services and messaging;
b. computerization of postal counters and post offices;
c. optical character reader sorting systems;
d. management information systems;
e. express mail service (EMS);
f. mail distribution centers;
g. rural postal development planning;
h. general postal advisory services; and i. philatelic services.
ARTICLE 3
The Parties will promote the direct exchange of mail and the direct settlement of accounts for postal services between their respective countries with a view to providing maximum quality of postal service.
ARTICLE 4
The Parties will encourage cooperation between the philatelic services of their respective countries.
ARTICLE 5
The areas of common interest and cooperation in the field of telecommunications identified by the Parties include:
a. telecommunication policies and regulations;
b. technological developments in telecommunications and information technologies and the application of telecommunications technologies;
c. telecommunications projects in third countries; and
d. other areas of telecommunications as mutually agreed by the Parties.
ARTICLE 6
The Parties will cooperate in the field of telecommunications through, inter alia, the following:
a. exchange of information concerning the telecommunications technologies, policies and regulations, and the development plan in the field of telecommunications, and other related areas through conferences and seminars;
b. expansion of telecommunications services to support the increasing human and material exchanges between their countries;
c. exchange of administrative personnel and technical experts in the field of telecommunications and considering ways to fulfill the need for development in telecommunication training;
d. facilitation of joint R&D in new technologies between their government organs, research institutes and other related organs;
e. examination of opportunities for joint ventures in the telecommunications projects in third countries;
f. examination of possible means, within the scope of powers of the Parties, for promoting trade on a mutual basis between their countries in the telecommunication industry; and
g. any other forms of cooperation agreed by the Parties.
ARTICLE 7
The cooperative activities mutually agreed upon by the Parties in advance and to be carried out under this Memorandum of Understanding will be subject to the availability of funds and human resources of the Parties, and to the laws and regulations including those relating to intellectual property rights of the respective countries.
ARTICLE 8
Neither Party will disclose nor distribute any information which is supplied by the other Party without prior consent in writing from the other Party.
ARTICLE 9
The implementing agencies for the purposes of this Memorandum of Understanding shall be, on behalf of the Republic of Korea, the Ministry of Information and Communication, and on behalf of the Government of the State of Israel, the Ministry of Communications.
ARTICLE 10
This Memorandum of Understanding will enter into force on the date of the latter of the Diplomatic Notes by which the Parties notify each other that their internal legal procedures for the entering into force of the Memorandum of Understanding have been complied with, and shall be valid for an indefinite period of time, unless either Party notifies the other in writing, through the diplomatic channel six (6) months in advance, of its intention to terminate the Memorandum of Understanding.
ARTICLE 11
1. At any time, either Party may propose to the other any amendment to this Memorandum of Understanding. Direct consultation between the Parties regarding amendments will commence no later than sixty (60) days from the date of transmission of the diplomatic Note to that effect.
2. Any amendment to this Memorandum of Understanding made in accordance with Paragraph 1 of this Article shall follow the same procedure as its entering into force.
ARTICLE 12
The Parties agree to use the English language for the exchange of official documentation. The addresses indicated in telegrams, telexes and items of mail shall be indicated in the English language.
Done at Seoul on this day 27 of August, 1997, corresponding to the 24 day of Av, 5757 in two original copies in the Korean, Hebrew and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of divergency of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
/Sgd./
Yoo Chong-ha
(Minister of Foreign Affairs)
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL
/Sgd./
Arie Arazi
(Ambassador to the Republic of Korea)
