Preamble
The Kingdom of the Netherlands and Belize, hereinafter jointly referred to as the
“Parties” and separately as a “Party”
Desiring to define the status of personnel of the Ministry of Defence of the Kingdom
of the Netherlands and their dependents, while present in the territory of Belize
Have agreed on the following:
For the purpose of this Agreement and its implementation:
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1. The term “Personnel” means military or civilian personnel of the Ministries of Defence
of the Parties.
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2. The term “Military personnel” means the military of the Ministry of Defence of the
sending Party.
Article II. Entry and exit requirements
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1 The Personnel of the sending Party and their dependents shall have the right to enter
into, stay, and depart from the territory of the receiving Party. The Personnel of
the sending Party and their dependents shall have the same freedom of movement as
is accorded to nationals of the receiving Party.
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2 Provided they are in possession of official identity cards or other documents of identity
normally issued to them, the Military personnel shall be exempted from passport and
visa regulations and immigration requirements on entering or leaving the territory
of the receiving Party. The civilian personnel of the Ministry of Defence of the sending
Party and dependents shall be similarly exempted, provided they are in possession
of valid passports.
Article III. Discipline and jurisdiction
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2 The Personnel of the sending Party shall respect the laws of the receiving Party and
shall abstain from any activity inconsistent with the spirit of this Agreement and,
in particular, from any political activity in the receiving Party. The officer in
command of the Personnel of the sending Party shall take the necessary measures to
that end.
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3 The sending Party shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction with respect to all criminal
and civil proceedings against the Personnel of the sending Party, but shall only do
so after immediate consultation with the Government of the receiving Party if the
proceedings involve persons and or property of persons other than Personnel of the
sending Party and shall send a written report on the matter to the officer in command
of the Personnel of the sending Party.
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4
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a. In the event that the authorities of the receiving Party take into custody any member
of the Personnel of the sending Party, they shall hand over such custody to the officer
in command of the Personnel of the sending Party forthwith and shall send a written
report on the matter to the officer in command of the Personnel of the sending Party
without any delay.
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b. The appropriate authorities of the sending Party shall inform the appropriate authorities
of the receiving Party of their decision to institute legal action against the member
of the Personnel of the sending Party and of the outcome of the procedures that have
been initiated in the sending Party.
Article IV. Importation and exportation
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1 The receiving Party waives the right to levy import and export fees, duties, taxes
and other charges otherwise leviable in the receiving Party on equipment, materials,
supplies and other property imported into the receiving Party by the sending Party
in connection with this Agreement.
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2 Equipment, materials, supplies, and other property imported into the receiving Party
by the sending Party shall be exempted from any inspection.
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3 Baggage, personal effects, products, and other property for the personal use of the
Personnel of the sending Party imported into the receiving Party shall be exempt from
import and export fees, duties, taxes, and other charges otherwise leviable in the
receiving Party.
Article V. Arms and uniforms
Article VI. Driving permits
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3 Third party claims (other than contractual claims) for any loss, damage or injury
caused by the Personnel of the sending Party shall be settled by the receiving Party
on behalf of the sending Party in accordance with the laws and regulations of the
receiving Party. Costs related to the settlement of any such claims shall be reimbursed
by the sending Party.
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4 Third party claims for any loss, damage, or injury caused by the Personnel of both
Parties in the performances of their official duties shall be settled by the receiving
Party also on behalf of the sending Party in accordance with the laws and regulations
of the receiving Party. Costs related to the settlement of any such claims shall be
distributed between the Parties on an equal basis.
Article VIII. Medical and dental support
Article IX. Exemptions for vessels, vehicles and aircraft
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1 Vessels, vehicles and aircraft which are the property of the sending Party shall be
exempt from any form of registration or any form of compulsory insurance. For the
purpose of this sub-paragraph, a vessel or aircraft on hire or charter to the authorities
of the sending Party and for the period of such hire or charter exclusively in their
service will be treated as being the property of the sending Party.
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2 The sending Party shall have the right for military aircraft of that Party, as well
as for aircraft hired or chartered by its authorities, to use the Philip Goldson International
Airport or any other aerodromes including facilities on or connected with those airfields
and pay charges as determined by the Belize Airport Concession Company (BACC) or any
other management authority at those aerodromes and to operate with due regard to the
requirements of civil aviation at the aerodromes.
Article X. Implementing arrangements
The terms and conditions for the conduct of mutually agreed activities can be specified
in implementing arrangements between both Ministers of Defence.
Article XI. Settlement of disputes
Any disagreement that may arise from the application or implementation of this Agreement
shall be settled through consultation between the appropriate authorities of the Parties.
Article XII. Movable property
Title to any property of the sending Party brought into Belize by or on behalf of
the sending Party shall remain with the sending Party. Such property, including official
papers, shall be exempt from inspection, search and seizure and such property may
be freely removed from Belize.
Article XIII. Telecommunications
Subject to the prior concurrence of the Government of Belize, the sending Party may
use any radio frequencies, powers and bandwidths for radio services (including radar)
in Belize, which are necessary for the operation of the Personnel of the sending Party
in Belize. All radio communications shall comply at all times with the provisions
of the International Telecommunications Convention (Treaty Series No 104 (1975), Cmnd
6219).
Article XIV. Postal and courier services
The Personnel of the sending Party may operate in Belize, without restriction, by
means of forces’ post offices, established within Belize, full postal services to,
from and within Belize, for the use of the Personnel of the sending Party in Belize
and their dependents.
Article XV. Health quarantine and sanitation
The officer in command of the Personnel of the sending Party and the Government of
Belize shall collaborate in the enforcement in Belize of necessary health, quarantine
and sanitation provisions.
Article XVI. Remittance of funds
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2 Remittance of funds from Belize to the Kingdom of the Netherlands shall be freely
permitted in respect of funds derived from the proceeds of sale of personal effects,
furniture, motor vehicles and other property used by the Personnel of the sending
Party while serving in Belize, which are disposed of in anticipation of their departure
from Belize.
Article XVII. Final provisions