Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia Relating to the Establishment and Operation of a Mediterranean Marine Sorting Center in Tunisia, Tunis, 1966

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September 26, 1966

His Excellency HABIB BOURGUIBA, Jr., Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tunis.

No. 581

EXCELLENCY:

I have the honor to refer to discussion between representatives of the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia in which it appeared that both governments share an interest in the establishment and operation of a Mediterranean Marine Sorting Center and that both governments recognize the great scientific importance that such a Center can have for basic oceanographic research and for man's intelligent use of the products of the sea.

In the light of these discussions the United States Government proposes an agreement with the Government of the Republic of Tunisia for cooperative establishment and operation of a Mediterranean Marine Sorting Center, as follows:

1. The Government of the United States through the Smithsonian Institution will furnish as may be required for the project, United States and other non-Tunisian personnel, equipment and supplies, international transportation of such personnel, equipment, and supplies and support of such personnel while in Tunisia as well as Tunisian personnel all in an amount not to exceed $175,000, in dollars and Tunisian dinars, for the first year. Subsequent years' support will be determined on the basis of the first year's operation;

2. The Government of the United States proposes that the Director of the Sorting Center be an American, the first to be David Damkaer, Oceanographer of the Smithsonian Institution, who will receive general guidance from an international Advisory Board, the first Chairman of which would be Dr. Zakaria Ben Mustapha, Director of the Institut National Scientifique et Technique d'Oceanographie et de Peche;

3. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia will facilitate the establishment and operation of the Sorting Center including but not necessarily limited to equipment and supplies, transportation, laboratory, and living accommodations, and will assist in the recruitment of Tunisian personnel including two or more assistant supervisors;

4. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia will permit and facilitate shipments free of custom duties and all other taxes on all specimens to and from the Sorting Center. Given the fragile and special nature of the specimens, the Government of Tunisia will permit their immediate clearance through customs;

5. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia shall exempt from all custom duties and all other taxes shipments into and out of Tunisia of all supplies and equipment intended for use at the Sorting Center; and

6. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia shall accord the American Director and his non-Tunisian associates:

a) Free entry into and out of Tunisia for all personal property introduced into Tunisia for their own use within a period of six months from the date of their assignment to the Sorting Center;

b) Temporary free entry of one automobile per family during the period of their assignment to the Sorting Center;

c) Exemption from the payment of Tunisian income taxes and other direct taxes on income derived from activities related to the Sorting Center.

If your Government agrees with the above proposal, I propose that this note and your affirmative reply to that effect constitute an agreement effective on the date of your reply.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

TUNIS, September 26, 1966

His Excellency THE AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Tunis.

EXCELLENCY:

I have the honor to refer to your note of September 26, 1966, the terms of which are as follows:

‘I have the honor to refer to discussion between representatives of the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Tunisia in which it appeared that both governments share an interest in the establishment and operation of a Mediterranean Marine Sorting Center and that both governments recognize the great scientific importance that such a Center can have for basic oceanographic research and for man's intelligent use of the products of the sea.

In the light of these discussions the United States Government proposes an agreement with the Government of the Republic of Tunisia for cooperative establishment and operation of a Mediterranean Marine Sorting Center, as follows:

1. The Government of the United States through the Smithsonian Institution will furnish as may be required for the project, United States and other non-Tunisian personnel, equipment and supplies, international transportation of such personnel, equipment, and supplies and support of such personnel while in Tunisia as well as Tunisian personnel all in an amount not to exceed $175,000, in dollars and Tunisian dinars, for the first year's operation;

2. The Government of the United States proposes that the Director of the Sorting Center be an American, the first to be David Damkaer, Oceanographer of the Smithsonian Institution, who will receive general guidance from an international Advisory Board, the first Chairman of which would be Dr. Zakaria Ben Mustapha, Director of the Institut National Scientifique et Technique d'Oceanographie et de Peche;

3. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia will facilitate the establishment and operation of the Sorting Center including but not necessarily limited to equipment and supplies, transportation, laboratory, and living accommodations, and will assist in the recruitment of Tunisian personnel including two or more assistant supervisors;

4. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia will permit and facilitate shipments free of custom duties and all other taxes on all specimens to and from the Sorting Center. Given the fragile and special nature of the specimens, the Government of Tunisia will permit their immediate clearance through customs;

5. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia shall exempt from all custom duties and all other taxes shipments into and out of Tunisia of all supplies and equipment intended for use at the Sorting Center;

6. The Government of the Republic of Tunisia shall accord the American Director and his non-Tunisian associates:

a) Free entry into and out of Tunisia for all personal property introduced into Tunisia for their own use within a period of six months from the date of their assignment to the Sorting Center;

b) Temporary free entry of one automobile per family during the period of their assignment to the Sorting Center;

c) Exemption from the payment of Tunisian income taxes and other direct taxes on income derived from activities related to the Sorting Center.

If your Government agrees with the above proposal, I propose that this note and your affirmative reply to that effect constitute an agreement effective on the date of your reply.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.’

I have the honor to confirm the agreement of the Government of Tunisia to the above understanding.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

Pr Le Directeur de la Coopration Internationale HAMED AMMAR [Seal]