Mining Charter of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

1. Formation and development of the market of mineral raw materials and the products of their processing (transformation) within the limits of the common economic zone that is currently under formation also by means of creation of favourable conditions for renewal of mutually advantageous cooperative ties between the subjects of economic activity of the Parties.

2. Securing access to subsoil, its prospecting and exploitation in accordance with the national legislation of the Parties.

3. Elaboration and realization of joint programs in the sphere of geological study of subsoil, reproduction and qualitative improvement of mineral raw-material base.

4. Unification of the development policy and distribution of enterprises of mining industry.

5. Making arrangements for the development of industrial infrastructures of mining industry.

6. Facilitation of access to transportation infrastructures for the purpose of international transit of the flow of mineral raw materials as well as the products of their processing (transformation).

7. Facilitation of access on commercial basis to new technologies applied in the sphere of prospecting, extraction, transformation and use of mineral raw materials.

8. Creation of conditions guaranteeing rational and complex use of reserves of mineral deposits.

9. Assistance in carrying out measures aimed at elaboration and introduction of technologies and works for economy of resources.

10. Elaboration and realization of joint operative programs in the sphere of industrial safety aimed at achievement and/or maintenance of high industrial safety standards, cooperation in the sphere of prevention and liquidation of the consequences of large-scale accidents at the enterprises for extraction and processing (transformation) of mineral raw materials.

11. Elaboration and realization of mutually agreed approach to the solution of the environmental protection issues and specific joint programs in this sphere.

12. Assistance to bringing investments and credits into mining complex of the Parties; creation of mechanisms and conditions for bringing in investments out of extra-budgetary sources of the Parties.

13. Creation of joint ventures for extraction, processing (transformation) of minerals, production of mining equipment, materials, devices, mine-rescue and other techniques, fuel and energy, coal and metallurgy, oil and gas and mining industry complexes.

14. Exposure of priority directions of scientific research, prospective designing and experimental and design mine workings, financing of work, projects, programs of mutual interest on share holding basis.

15. Coordination of measures of improvement and concordance of normative and methodical documents that regulate geological prospecting on the basis of requirements on a world scale as regards work contents in accordance with stages, classification of reserves of mineral deposits, form and contents of geological reports, balance of reserve of minerals and other geological information.

16. Analysis of state of the world market of mineral raw materials as well as world achievements in the field of science, techniques, technology, elaboration of mutually agreed strategy and tactics on world market of mining geological produce and service.

17. Assistance in promoting cooperation between enterprises of mining industry and those of other branches, including war industry enterprises willing to accept orders for modernization, repairs and manufacture of mining equipment, elaboration of technologies and realization of service as regards prospecting, extraction, processing (transformation) of minerals, their transportation and use.

18. Assistance in carrying out coordinated arrangements as regards training and improvement of professional skill of personnel, including educational institutions of the third countries, organization of schools and courses of business, marketing and management.

19. Making arrangements for the creation of mining industry data base structured in accordance with the directions of mining science and technique, specific producers of mining equipment, suppliers of materials, producers of produce and service, etc.

20. Creation and introduction of legal assistance mechanisms and securing social guarantees to the specialists drawn in mining works of the Parties.

21. Creation of the favourable conditions for the complete fulfilment and within established terms of the agreements on mutual delivery of the most important kinds of minerals, products of their processing (transformation), mining equipment, materials, devices, mine-rescue and other techniques.

22. Assistance in promoting symposiums, contests, exhibitions and other analogous arrangements of mining and geological character.

23. Encouraging mining and geological projects with international and state awards.

24. Elaboration of prognoses of social and economic consequences of exploitation of reserves of mineral deposits. II. Basic work For the achievement of the aforesaid tasks the Parties shall apply efforts for the gradual rapprochement and unification of legislation in the sphere of study, prospecting, use and protection of subsoil. The Parties shall cooperate in the accomplishment of the basic work necessary for promulgation and improvement of legislative and other normative acts, which composition is adduced in the Annex that is integral part of this Mining Charter. III. Conclusive provisions

1. The Parties shall take into consideration the specific conditions of development of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states and shall recognize the possibility of gradual realization of the objects and tasks of the Mining Charter.

2. This Mining Charter is subject to amendments and addenda by mutual agreement of the Parties. 3. 2 months after entry into force of this Mining Charter the Parties shall hold a conference of the respective national institutions for the determination of immediate steps for its implementation.

4. This Mining Charter shall take effect from the date of signature, while for the states which national legislation requires the accomplishment of internal procedures necessary for its implementation it shall take effect from the date of serving due notice thereof on the Depositary of the present Charter.

5. The present Mining Charter shall be open for accession by any state accepting its objects and principles.

6. Each Party may declare its withdrawal from the present Mining Charter by serving due notice thereof in writing on the depositary at least 12 months in advance. Done at Moscow, on 27 March 1997 in one original in the Russian language. The authentic text shall be kept at the Secretariat of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which shall deliver a certified copy thereof to the states signatory to the present Mining Charter. Government of the Azerbaijan Republic Government of the Republic of Armenia Government of the Republic of Belarus Government of Georgia (With regard for paragraphs 1. 2. 4.) Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan (With due regards) Government of the Republic of Moldova Government of the Kyrgyz Republic Government of the Russian Federation Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Government of Turkmenistan