AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC ON CULTURAL COOPERATION
The Republic of Turkey and the Hellenic Republic, hereinafter called the Parties, Desiring
to strengthen and further develop the friendly relations existing between the two peoples,
as well as to promote their co-operation in the fields of science and education, culture
and arts, sports, youth and mass media, Have agreed upon the following:
ARTICLE I
The Parties shall take the appropriate measures in order to enhance their cooperation the
fields of science and education.
To this end, the Parties shall:
a) promote and strengthen direct cooperation between their respective institutions of
higher education, as well as the scientific and research organizations.
b) encourage studies within their respective universities, with a view to promote the
teaching of each other's language and literature,
c) exchange members of the teaching and scientific staff of the universities, higher
educational and the technological institutions, as well as students, scientists, experts,
lecturers and researchers,
d) grant scholarships for graduate. post-graduate studies and research, within the
availability of their means,
e) exchange teachers and experts from the primary and the secondary education, as well as
from the administration of education.
f) develop joint school activities, school twinnings and exchange of pupils,
g) support the participation in seminars and training programmes of language and
civilization organized by each Party,
h) encourage the participation conferences and congresses organized by Party,
i) encourage the exchange of information and experience at every level the education,
j) co-operate on the presentation of history, geography, culture and economy of the other
country, especially in the school textbooks. To this end, they shall create a Mixed
Committee of Experts which shall exchange and study school textbooks, with a view to
propose the correction of inaccuracies,
k) encourage co-operation between their respective relevant agencies with a view to
consider how far and under what conditions degrees, diplomas and certificates issued in
the territory of one of them may be accepted as equivalent to corresponding degrees,
diplomas and certificates issued in the territory of the other for academic purposes.
Any other issue related to educational activities as specified by this Agreement shall be
included in this Agreement's Executive Programmes.
ARTICLE 2
The Parties shall support the cooperation between their state archives and libraries.
shall facilitate, on a mutual basis, the access of their researchers and experts to them
and shall exchange specialists from the aforesaid fields.
ARTICLE 3
The Parties shall promote their active and friendly co-operation and mutual assistance in
the fields of culture, science and education within UNESCO, OSCE, the Council of Europe
and other international organizations, and they shall refrain from actions which are
likely to be opposed to the other Party's interests.
ARTICLE 4
The Parties shall encourage the cooperation between the youth organizations of the two
countries. They shall also exchange information and experience on youth issues, aiming at
the strengthening of bonds of friendship among young people, creating a friendly
atmosphere and promoting the cause of peace.
ARTICLE 5
The Parties shall develop their cooperation in the field of culture and they shall
encourage especially the following:
a) initiatives leading to the organization, through the competent authorities of each
country, of exhibitions and other cultural events promoting various works of art,
b) the presentation of the works of the other Party, including translations, exchange of
books, publications and other cultural material,
c) the participation of their representatives in international conferences, competitions,
festivals and meetings on cultural issues organized by the other Party,
d) the development of individual or institutional contacts between the artists and the
authors of the two countries and the exchange of specialists in the fields of arts and art
training, as well as authors, critics and artists,
e) the exchange of theatre, opera, ballet, music, art and folklore groups or individual
performers and experts,
f) the development of contacts in the field of cinema, through exchange of movies and
participation in international film festivals organized by the other country,
g) the exchange of information and visits of experts concerning cultural heritage and most
specifically in the fields of archaeology, history of art, museology, fine arts,
conservation, restoration, architecture, materials and structural assessment,
h) the exchange of information on the works related to the protection and conservation of
natural, architectural, historical and cultural monuments, complexes, sites, objects and
works of art,
i) the organization of bilateral events for the studying of issues related to the
protection of cultural heritage
ARTICLE 6
The Parties shall encourage their cooperation in the fields of intellectual property and
related rights.
ARTICLE 7
The Parties acknowledge the importance of sports as a means of consolidating world peace
and promoting brotherhood and friendship among peoples and individuals They also
acknowledge the significance of the educational, social and recreational mission of
sports, as well as its particular contribution to public health. Consequently, the Parties
shall seek to encourage broader co-operation in the fields of sports and physical
education, so as to have direct contacts between state sport organizations in both
countries. The content and the details of this collaboration which shall include the
possibility of co-operation between sports organizations in the two countries, shall be
determined by the aforementioned state organizations.
ARTICLE 8
The Parties shall encourage direct cooperation between the radio and television
organizations of the two countries including TRT and ERT S.A. aiming at the signing of a
co-operation Protocol.
The Parties shall also co-operation between their national news agencies (AA and APE)
aiming of a co-operation Protocol.
ARTICLE 9
For the implementation of the present Agreement, a joint Turkish-Greek Committee shall be
set up. The aforesaid Committee shall meet every three years, alternatively in each
Party's capital, with a view to elaborate, negotiate and conclude the Executive Programmes
of the present Agreement.
ARTICLE 10
The present Agreement shall enter into force on the date the Parties shall have notified
each other, through diplomatic channels, of the completion of all necessary formalities
required by their respective internal legislation to this end.
Upon the entry into force of the present Agreement, the operation of the 1951 Cultural
Agreement between the Parties shall be terminated.
The present Agreement shall be without prejudice to previous arrangements agreed by the
two Sides since 1952 with respect to minority rights on educational issues.
ARTICLE 11
The present Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five years. Then, unless
denounced by either Party up to six months prior to the expiry of the said period, it
shall automatically be renewed for the next five-year period.
Done in duplicate February 2000, in the Turkish, Greek and English languages. All are
equally authentic.
In case of divergence of interpretation, the English text shall prevail.
For the Republic of Turkey For the
Hellenic Republic
Ismail
CEM George
A. PAPANDREOU
Minister of Foreign
Affairs Minister of Foreign
Affairs