(Japanese Note) 

　Skopje, March 5, 1998 

　ExcelIency, I have the honour to refer to the recent discussions held between the representatives of my Government and of your Government concerning Japanese economic cooperation to be extended with a view to strengthening friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, and to propose on behalf of my Government the following arrangements:

1. For the purpose of contributing to promotion of the economic structural adjustment efforts by your Government as well as mitigation of the economic difficulties, including indebtedness, of your country, my Government will extend to your Government, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of Japan , a grant of five hundred million yen (500,000,000) (hereinafter referred to as "the Grant").

2.(1) The Grant and its accrued interest will be used by your Government properly and exclusively for the purchase of products enumerated in a list to be mutually agreed upon between the authorities concerned of the two Governments and services incidental to such products, provided that those products are produced in eligible source countries.

(2) The list mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above will be subject to modifications which may be agreed upon between the authorities concerned of the two Governments.

(3) The scope of the eligible source countries mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above will be agreed upon between the authorities concerned of the two Governments.

3.(1) Your Government will open a yen ordinary deposit account at a bank of Japan in the name of your Government (hereinafter referred to as "the Account") after coming into force of the present arrangements and will notify in writing my Government of the completion of the procedure for opening the Account by March 24, 1998.

(2) The sole purpose of the Account is to receive the payment in Japanese yen by my Government referred to in paragraph 4 as well as to make payments necessary for the purchase of the products and services referred to in subparagraph (1) of paragraph 2, and such other payment as may be agreed upon between the authorities concerned of the two Governments.

4. My Government will execute the Grant by making payment in Japanese yen of the amount referred to in paragraph 1 to the A Account during the period between the date of receipt of the written notification referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 3 and March 31, 1998, unless the period is extended by mutual agreement between the authorities concerned of the two Governments.

5.(1) Your Government will take necessary measures:

(a) to use the Grant and its accrued interest within a period of twelve months after the date of the execution of the Grant and to refund the amount remaining in the Account after the period to my Government unless the period is extended by mutual agreement between the authorities concerned of the two Governments;

(b) to ensure that customs duties, internal taxes and other fiscal levies which may be imposed in your country with respect to the purchase of the products and services referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 shall not be borne by the Grant;

(c) to ensure that the Grant and its accrued interest be used properly and effectively for promotion of the economic structural adjustment efforts as well as mitigation of the economic difficulties, including indebtedness, of your country; and

(d) to present to my Government a report prepared in a written form acceptable to my Government on the transactions on the Account together with copies of contracts, vouchers and other documents concerning the relevant transactions without delay when the Grant and its accrued interest are completely drawn in accordance with the provisions of sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 3, or when the period for the use of the Grant and its accrued interest expires in accordance with the provisions of (a) above, or upon request by my Government.

(2) The products purchased under the Grant shall not be re-exported from your country.

6.(1) Your Government shall ensure that an amount equivalent to the yen disbursement paid with respect to the purchase of the products referred to in sub-paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 will be deposited in currency of Denah in an account to be opened in its name in the National Bank of your country. The deposit shall be made within the period of three years from the date of coming into force of the present arrangements, unless otherwise agreed between the authorities concerned of the two Governments.

(2) The currency thus deposited shall be utilized for economic and social development purposes in your country.

(3) The authorities concerned of the two Governments will consult with each other about the utilization of the currency deposited.

7. Further procedural details for the implementation of the present arrangements will be agreed upon through consultation between the authorities concerned of the two Governments.

8. The two Governments will consult with each other in respect of any matter that may arise from or in connection with the present arrangements.

　I have further the honour to propose that this Note and Your Excellency's Note in reply confirming on behalf of your Government the foregoing arrangements shall be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Governments, which will enter into force on the date of Your Excellency's reply.

　I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.

　(Signed) Yushu Takashima
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

　His Excellency Dr. Blagoj Handziski
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

(Macedonian Note)

　Skopje, March 5, 1998

　Excellency, I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's Note of today's date, which reads as follows:

"(Japanese Note)"

　I have further the honour to confirm on behalf of my Government the foregoing arrangements and to agree that Your Excellency's Note and this Note shall be regarded as constituting an agreement between the two Governments, which will enter into force on the date of this reply.

　I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.

　(Signed) Blagoj Handziski
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

　His Excellency Mr. Yushu Takashima
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia