MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA CONCERNING THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, as a result of discussions of their representatives and considering that the Governments have re-established diplomatic relations effective this date, have agreed as follows:
Article I
- The Governments shall conduct their diplomatic relations in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, signed at San Francisco on June 26, 1945 and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, signed at Vienna on April 18, 1961, to which both Governments are parties. The Governments shall exchange diplomatic representatives with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, as soon as the necessary administrative and legal arrangements in the sending State so permit.
- The two Governments shall provide all necessary assistance for the early establishment, and performance of the functions, including consular functions, of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals, in accordance with international law and practice. Such assistance shall include, inter alia, consent to the use of wireless transmitters including the use of satellite links, by the respective Embassies for purposes of official communication, subject to compliance with the laws and regulations of the receiving State. Such laws and regulations shall, however, be applied so as to give full effect to the consent hereby recorded.
- The Governments affirm their intent to respect the fundamental principles of which diplomatic intercourse is based, including, inter alia, the principle of inviolability of the premises of the diplomatic mission.
- The two Governments shall extend the privileges and immunities of diplomatic agents, as defined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, to those members of their respective administrative and technical staffs of the diplomatic missions accredited to Washington and Tirana, as well as their families. The stated privileges and immunities will not be accorded to persons who are nationals or permanent residents of the receiving State.
- The two Governments intend to hold discussions on the conduct of consular relations at the earliest practicable time. Until such time, the two Governments agree to the following interim practical arrangement:
If a citizen of the sending country is arrested or detained in any manner, the authorities of the receiving country shall, within 72 hours, notify the designated representative of the sending country of the arrest and detention of the person and permit within 24 hours of such notification access by a representative of the sending country to the citizen who is under arrest or detained in custody.
Article II
The two Governments intend to promote relations in economic, cultural and other fields.
Article III
The Treaty of Naturalization signed at Tirana on April 5, 1932 shall terminate upon the entry into force of this Memorandum of Understanding. In this connection, the Government of the United States of America notes that the statement made in paragraph 2 of the diplomatic note delivered on June 23, 1922 by the American Commissioner in Tirana to the President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania concerning the "interpretation and application of laws affecting naturalization in the United States" has for a number of years ceased to be an accurate representation of United States law.
Article IV
Following the re-establishment of relations, the two Governments, upon the request of either side, shall enter into negotiations for the prompt settlement of claims and other financial and property matters that remain unresolved between them, each Government being entitled to raise during such negotiations the matters it wishes to be addressed.
Article V
This Memorandum of Understanding shall enter into force upon signature.
DONE at Washington, this 15th day of March, 1991, in duplicate, in the English and Albanian languages, both texts being equally authentic.
FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA