We, Qaboos bin Said, the Sultan of Oman
after perusal of the Basic Statute of the State promulgated by Royal Decree 101/96,
and the Agreement between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Government of the Italian Republic on the Exemption of Visa Requirement for Holders of Diplomatic, Service and Special Passports signed on 10 October 2012,
and in pursuance of public interest,
have decreed as follows
Article I
The aforementioned agreement is hereby ratified in the form attached.
Article II
This decree shall be published in the Official Gazette, and comes into force on the date of its issuance.
Issued on: 22 Rabi Al-Thani 1434
Corresponding to: 5 March 2013
Qaboos bin Said
Sultan of Oman
Published in Official Gazette 1004 issued on 9 March 2013.
Agreement
Between the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Government of the Italian Republic on the exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, service and special passports
The Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Government of the Italian Republic, hereinafter referred to as “the Contracting Parties”,
desirous of promoting their bilateral relations,
considering the interest in strengthening the existing friendly relationship and with a view to facilitate the travel of nationals of both countries,
have agreed as follows:
Article 1
The provisions of this Agreement apply to holders of any of the following passports:
1. Valid Diplomatic, service and special passports of the government of the Sultanate of Oman.
2. Valid diplomatic and service passports of the government of the Italian Republic.
Article 2
1. Citizens of the Contracting Parties, holders of any of the passports referred to in Article (1) of this Agreement, and not accredited in the territory of the other contracting party, shall be exempted from visa requirement to enter into, transit through, stay on and exit from the territory of the other Party up to ninety (90) days (in one or several periods) within six (6) months, since the day of arrival. For citizens of the Sultanate of Oman, the period of ninety (90) days mentioned above shall begin from the date of first entry in Schengen Area.
2. Citizens of either Contracting Party referred to in the preceding paragraph, who intend to stay longer than ninety (90) days in the territory of the other Contracting Party, shall go through necessary application procedures with the competent authorities of the other Party.
Article 3
1. This Agreement does not exempt members of a diplomatic mission, a consular post or a permanent mission of their respective country to an international organization located in the territory of the other Contracting Party, as well as their family members holding passports referred to in Article (1) of this Agreement, from obtaining a visa to be accredited before the hosting Party.
2. After accreditation and during the period of their assignment, the persons mentioned in sub-Article (1) may enter, transit, reside on and leave the territory of the other Party without visa.
Article 4
Citizens of the Contracting Parties holders of any of the passports referred to in Article (1) of this Agreement, may enter into, exit from or transit through the territory of the other Contracting Party at all border crossing points open to international passengers’ traffic.
Article 5
This Agreement shall not affect the obligation of citizens of either Contracting Parties, specified in Article (2) and (3), to abide by the laws and regulations in force in the territory of the other Contracting Party during their stay in the territory of that Party.
Article 6
This Agreement does not affect the right of the competent authorities of either Contracting Parties to refuse entry into, shorten or terminate the stay in its territory of any citizens of the other Contracting Party whom it may consider as persona non grata.
Article 7
1. For reasons of national security, public order and public health, each Contracting Party reserves the right to suspend, either in whole or in part, the implementation of this Agreement. The other Party shall be notified about suspension of implementation of this Agreement through diplomatic channels, not later than seventy-two (72) hours before the entry into force of such measure. The Contracting Party which has suspended the implementation of this Agreement shall notify the other Contracting Party through diplomatic channels of the end of suspension soon after the absence of the reasons that lead to such suspension.
2. The suspension of the implementation of this Agreement shall not affect the rights of national, mentioned in Articles (2) and (3) of this Agreement, who already stay in the territory of the host State.
Article 8
In case of loss or damage of any of the passports referred to in Article (1) of this Agreement in the territory of the other Contracting Party, the diplomatic or consular mission, to which the holder of the lost or damaged passport belongs, shall provide the documents that enable the holder to return to the territory of this Party. Meanwhile, the diplomatic or consular mission shall notify the other Contracting Party of the incident.
Article 9
1. The Contracting Parties shall exchange specimens of the passports referred to in Article (1) of this Agreement through diplomatic channels not later than thirty (30) days before the entry into force of this Agreement.
2. In case of introduction of a new passport or modification of the existing one, the Contracting Parties shall convey to each other through diplomatic channels specimens of these passports, no later than thirty (30) days before the date of the new passports or modifications enter into force.
Article 10
This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the Contracting Parties by additional Protocols or exchanges of diplomatic notes, which are to be considered as integral parts of this Agreement.
Article 11
Any differences or disputes arising from the interpretation of the provisions of this Agreement shall be settled amicably by consultation or negotiation between the Contracting Parties through diplomatic channels.
Article 12
1. This Agreement shall enter into force thirty (30) days from the date of the receipt, through diplomatic channels, of the second written notification, by which the Contracting Parties shall formally communicate each other that their respective internal ratification procedures have been completed.
2. This Agreement shall remain in force for an indefinite period; it will cease to be in force three (3) months after the date of the receipt of the notice of termination of the other Contracting Party.
Article 13
This Agreement shall not affect other obligations of the Contracting Parties arising under international agreements, in particular obligations arising from the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 18 April 1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963.
Signed in Rome on Wednesday 10/10/2012, in two originals in Arabic, Italian and English languages, all being equally authentic. In case of divergence in interpretation, the English text shall prevail.
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For the Government of the Sultanate of Oman |
For the Government of the Italian Republic |
|
Badr bin Hamed bin Homood Al-Busaidi |
Giulio Terzi |