Title

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA ON THE PROMOTION AND RECIPROCAL PROTECTION OF INVESTMENTS

Preamble

The Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter referred to as the "Contracting Parties");

Desiring to promote greater economic co-operation between them, with respect to investment by investors of one Contracting Party in the territory of the other Contracting Party;

Recognising that agreement upon the treatment to be accorded such investment will stimulate the flow of private capital and the economic development of the Contracting Parties;

Agreeing that a stable framework for investment will maximise effective utilisation of economic resources and improve living standards;

Having resolved to conclude the Agreement on the promotion and reciprocal protection of investments;

Have agreed as follows:

Body

Article 1. Definitions

For the purposes of the Agreement:

1. The term "investment" means every kind of assets invested by investors of one Contracting Party in the territory of the other Contracting Party and shall include in particular, though not exclusively: a) Movable and immovable property as well as any other rights in ream such as mortgages, liens, pledges, usufructs and similar rights;

b) Shares, stocks, debentures and other forms of participation in companies;

c) Claims to money or to any performance having economic value, including every loan granted for the purpose of creating economic value;

d) Intellectual and industrial property rights, as defined in the multilateral agreements concluded under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, in as far as both Contracting Parties are parties to them, including, but not limited to, copyrights and neighbouring rights, industrial property rights, trademarks, patents, industrial designs and technical processes, rights in plants varieties, know-how, trade secrets, trade names and goodwill;

e) Rights to engage in economic and commercial activities conferred by law and by virtue of a contract, including concessions to search for, cultivate, extract or exploit natural resources.

Any change of the form in which assets are invested or reinvested shall not affect their character as an investment.

2. The term "investor" means in respect of either Contracting Party: a) A natural persons, a national of a Contracting Party who makes an investment in the territory of the other Contracting Party;

b) A legal person incorporated, constituted or otherwise duly organised in accordance with the laws and regulations of the Contracting Party, having its seat and performing real business activity in the territory of the same Contracting Party and making an investment in the territory of the other Contracting Party;

c) Any legal entity, or partnership, constituted in accordance with the laws and regulations of a third State, which invests in the territory of either of the Contracting Parties in which the investor referred to in a) or b) of this paragraph exercises a dominant influence.

3. The term "returns" means income deriving from an investment and includes, in particular though not exclusively, profits, dividends, interests, capital gains, royalties, patents licence fees, and other fees.

4. The term „without delay" shall mean such period as is normally required for the completion of necessary formalities for the transfer of payments. The said period shall commence on the day on which the request for transfer has been submitted and may on no account exceed one month.

5. The term "freely convertible currency" shall mean any currency that the International Monetary Fund determines, from time to time, as freely usable currency in accordance with the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund and any amendment thereto.

6. The term territory means: - With respect to the Republic of Croatia: the territory of the Republic of Croatia as well as those maritime areas adjacent to the outer limit of the territorial sea including the seabed and subsoil over which the Republic of Croatia exercises, in accordance with international law, its sovereign rights and jurisdiction.

- With respect to the Republic of Moldova: geographical area composed by the soil and subsoil, waters and air column over the soil and territorial waters, over which the Republic of Moldova exercises its sovereign rights and jurisdiction, in accordance with its legislation and international law.

Article 2. Promotion and Admission of Investments

1. Each Contracting Party shall encourage and create favourable conditions for investors of the other Contracting Party to make investments in its territory and shall admit such investments in accordance with its laws and regulations.

2. In order to encourage mutual investment flows, each Contracting Party shall endeavour to inform the other Contracting Party, at the request of either Contracting Party, on the investment opportunities in its territory.

3. Each Contracting Party shall grant, whenever necessary, in accordance with its laws and regulations, without delay, the permits required in connection with the activities of consultants or experts engaged by investors of the other Contracting Party.

4. Each Contracting Party shall, subject to its laws, regulations and procedures affecting the entry, stay and work of natural persons, examine in good faith and give due consideration, regardless of nationality to requests of key personnel including top managerial and technical persons who are employed for the purposes of investments in its territory, to enter, remain temporary and work in its territory. Immediate family members (spouse and minor children) of such key personnel shall also be granted similar treatment with regard to the entry and temporary stay in the host Contracting Party.

Article 3. Protection of Investments

1. Each Contracting Party shall extend in its territory full protection and security to investments and returns of investors of the other Contracting Party. Neither Contracting Party shall hamper, by arbitrary or discriminatory measures, the development, management, maintenance, use, enjoyment, expansion, sale and if it is the case, the liquidation of such investments. Either Contracting Party shall observe any other obligation it may have entered into with regard to investments of investors of the other Contracting Party.

2. Investments or returns of investors of either Contracting Party in the territory of the other Contracting Party shall be accorded fair and equitable treatment in accordance with international law and provisions of this Agreement.

Article 4. National Treatment and Most Favoured Nation Treatment

1. Neither Contracting Party shall accord in its territory to investments and returns of investors of the other Contracting Party a treatment less favourable than that which it accords to investments and returns of its own investors, or investments and returns of investors of any other third State, whichever is more favourable to the investor concerned.

2. Neither Contracting Party shall accord in its territory to the investors of the other Contracting Party, as regards management, maintenance, enjoyment, use or disposal of their investment, a treatment which is less favourable than that which it accords to its own investors or to investors of any third State, whichever is more favourable to the investor concerned.

3. The provisions of paragraph 1 and 2 of this Article shall not be construed so as to oblige one Contracting Party to extend to the investors of the other the benefit of any treatment, preference or privilege which may be extended by the former Contracting Party by virtue of:

a) Any existing or future customs union or economic union, free trade area or similar international agreements to which either of the Contracting Party is or may become a Party in the future;

b) Any international agreement or arrangement, completely or partially related to taxation.

Article 5. Expropriation

1. A Contracting Party shall not expropriate or nationalise directly or indirectly an investment in its territory of an investor of another Contracting Party or take any measure or measures having equivalent effect (hereinafter referred to as "expropriation") except:

a) For a purpose which is in the public interest,

b) On a non-discriminatory basis,

c) In accordance with due process of law, and

d) Accompanied by payment of prompt, adequate and effective compensation.

2. Compensation shall be paid without delay.

3. Compensation shall be equivalent to the fair market value of the expropriated investment immediately before the expropriation occurred. The fair market value shall not reflect any change in value occurring because the expropriation had become publicly known earlier.

4. Compensation shall be fully realisable and freely transferable.

5. An investor of a Contracting Party affected by the expropriation carried out by the other Contracting Party shall have the right to prompt review of its case, including the valuation of its investment and the payment of compensation in accordance with the provisions of this Article, by a judicial authority or another competent and independent authority of the latter Contracting Party.

Article 6. Compensation for Damage or Loss

1. When investments made by investors of either Contracting Party suffer loss or damage owing to war or other armed conflict which is not a result of the activities of the Contracting Party to which the investors belong, civil disturbances, revolution, riot or similar events in the territory of the latter Contracting Party, they shall be accorded by the latter Contracting Party, treatment, as regards restitution, indemnification, compensation or any other settlement, not less favourable than that accorded by the latter Contracting Party to its own investors or to investors of any third State, whichever is more favourable to the investors concerned.

2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1 of this Article, investors of one Contracting Party who in any of the events referred to in that paragraph suffer damage or loss in the territory of the other Contracting Party resulting from:

a) Requisitioning of their property or part thereof by its forces or authorities;

b) Destruction of their property or part thereof by its forces or authorities which was not caused in combat action or was not required by the necessity of the situation,

Shall be accorded a prompt restitution, and where applicable prompt, adequate and effective compensation for damage or loss sustained during the period of requisitioning or as a result of destruction of their property. Resulting payments shall be made in freely convertible currency and be freely transferable without delay.

Article 7. Transfers

1. Each Contracting Party shall ensure that all payments relating to an investment in its territory of an investor of the other Contracting Party may be freely transferred into and out of its territory without delay. Such transfers shall include, in particular, though not exclusively:

a) The initial capital and additional amounts to maintain or increase an investment;

b) Returns;

c) Payments made under a contract including a loan agreement;

d) Proceeds from the sale of liquidation of all or any part of an investment;

e) Payments of compensation under Articles 5, 6 and 8 of this Agreement;

f) Payments arising out of the settlement of a dispute;

g) Earnings and other remuneration of personnel engaged from abroad in connection with an investment.

2. Each Contracting Party shall ensure that the transfers under paragraph 1 of this Article are made in a freely convertible currency at the market rate of exchange valid on the date of transfer in the territory of the Contracting Party in which the investment is made.

3. Each Contracting Party shall ensure that the interest at LIBOR rate is calculated together with compensation for the period starting from the occurrence of events under Articles 5, 6 and 8 until the date of transfer of payment and payment will be effected in accordance with provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article.

Article 8. Subrogation

If a Contracting Party or its designated Agency makes a payment under an indemnity, guarantee or contract of insurance given in respect of an investment in the territory of the other Contracting Party, the latter Contracting Party shall recognise the assignment of any right or claim of such investor to the former Contracting Party or its designated agency to exercise by virtue of subrogation any such right and claim to the same extent as its predecessor in title.

Article 9. Application of other Provisions

1. If the provisions of law of either Contracting Party or international obligations existing at present or established thereafter between the Contracting Parties in addition to the present Agreement, contain a rule, whether general or specific, entitling investments by investors of the other Contracting Party to a treatment more favourable than is provided for by the present Agreement, such rule shall to the extent that it is more favourable prevail over the present Agreement.

2. Each Contracting Party shall observe any contractual obligation it may have entered into towards an investor of the other Contracting Party with regard to investments approved by it in its territory.

Article 10. Settlement of Investment Disputes between a Contracting Party and an Investor of the other Contracting Party

1. Any investment dispute between a Contracting Party and an investor of the other Contracting Party shall be settled by negotiations.

2. If a dispute under paragraph 1 of this Article cannot be settled within six (6) months of a written notification, the dispute shall upon the request of the investor settled as follows:

a) By a competent court of the Contracting Party, or

b) By conciliation or arbitration by the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), established by the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of other States, opened for signature in Washington on March 18th 1965. In case of arbitration, each Contracting Party, by this Agreement irrevocably consents in advance, even in the absence of an individual arbitral agreement between the Contracting Party and the investor, to submit any such dispute to this Centre. This consent implies the renunciation of the requirement that the internal administrative or judicial remedies should be exhausted; or

c) By arbitration by three arbitrations in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), as amended by the last amendment accepted by both Contracting parties at the time of the request for initiation of the arbitration procedure. In case of arbitration, each Contracting Party, by this Agreement irrevocably consents in advance, even in the absence of an individual arbitral agreement between the Contracting Party and the investor, to submit any such dispute to the tribunal mentioned.; or

d) By arbitration in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

3. The award shall be final and binding; it shall be executed according to national law; each Contracting Party shall ensure the recognition and enforcement of the arbitral award in accordance with its relevant laws and regulations.

4. A Contracting Party which is a party to a dispute shall not, at any stage of conciliation or arbitration proceedings or enforcement of an award, raise the objection that the investor who is the other party to the dispute has received an indemnity by virtue of a guarantee in respect of all or a part of its losses.

Article 11. Settlement of Disputes between the Contracting Parties

1. Disputes between the Contracting Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement shall be settled as far as possible by negotiations.

2. If a dispute according to paragraph 1 of this Article cannot be settled within six (6) months it shall upon the request of either Contracting Party be submitted to an arbitral tribunal.

3. Such arbitral tribunal shall be constituted ad hoc as follows: each Contracting Party shall appoint one arbitral and these two arbitrators shall agree upon a national of a third State as their chairman. Such arbitrators shall be appointed within two (2) months from the date one Contracting Party has informed the other Contracting Party, of its intention to submit the dispute to an arbitral tribunal, the chairman of which shall be appointed within (2) two further months.

4. If the periods specified in paragraph 3 of this Article are not observed, either Contracting Party may, in the absence of any other relevant arrangement, invite the President of the International Court of Justice to make the necessary appointments. If the President of the International Court of Justice is a national of either of the Contracting Parties or if he is otherwise prevented from discharging the said function, the Vice-President or in case of his inability the member of the International Court of Justice next in seniority should be invited under the same conditions to make the necessary appointments.

5. The tribunal shall establish its own rules of procedure.

6. The arbitral tribunal shall reach its decision in virtue of the present Agreement and pursuant to the rules of international law. It shall reach its decision by a majority of votes; the decision shall be final and binding.

7. Each Contracting Party shall bear the costs of its own member and of its legal representation in the arbitration proceedings. The costs of the chairman and the remaining costs shall be borne in equal parts by both Contracting Parties. The tribunal may, however, in its award determine another distribution of costs.

Article 12. Amendments

The Contracting Parties may introduce amendments in the present Agreement in due manner by an Additional Protocol, which shall be an integral part of the present Agreement. The mentioned Protocol shall come into force in accordance with the provisions of Article 14.

Article 13. Application of the Agreement

The Agreement shall apply to investments made prior to or after the entry into force of this Agreement, but shall not apply to any investment dispute that may have arisen before its entry into force.

Article 14. Entry Into Force, Duration and Denunciation

1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the later notification through diplomatic channels by which one Contracting Party notifies the other Contracting Party that its internal legal requirements for the entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled.

2. This Agreement shall remain in force for a period of ten (10) years and shall continue in force automatically thereafter for the same period or periods unless one year before the expiry of the initial or any subsequent period, either Contracting Party notifies the other Contracting Party of its intention to denounce the Agreement. In that case, the notice of denunciation shall become effective by the expiration of current period of ten (10) years.

3. In respect of investments made prior to termination of this Agreement, the provisions of the Agreement shall continue to be effective for a period ten (10) years from the date of its termination.

Conclusion

Done at Chisinau on 5th December 2001, in two original, in Croatian, Moldavian and English languages, all three texts being equally authentic. In a case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

FOR THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIAFOR THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA