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Exchange of letters constituting an Agreement between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of the Solomon Islands regarding the early deployment of unarmed New Zealand Civilians, Armed Forces and Police Personnel as part of an Advance Party for the planned International Peace Monitoring Team, 10 November 2000 (with accompanying statutory declaration dated 8 June 2000) [2000] PITSE 7 (10 November 2000)

EXCHANGE OF LETTERS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE SOLOMON ISLANDS CONSTITUTING AN AGREEMENT ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF NEW ZEALAND PERSONNEL TO THE SOLOMON ISLANDS AS MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE MONITORING TEAM
(WITH ACCOMPANYING STATUTORY DECLARATION)

(Honiara, 9-10 November 2000)

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 10 NOVEMBER 2000^[1]

No. 1

9 November 2000

Hon Manasseh Sogavare
Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
HONIARA

Dear Prime Minister

I have the honour to refer to my recent discussions with you concerning arrangements for the early deployment of unarmed New Zealand civilian, armed forces and police personnel as part of an Advance Party for the planned International Peace Monitoring Team (IPMT) whose task will be to support the Peace Monitoring Council in implementation of the Townsville Peace Agreement, in particular with confidence-building, monitoring safe custody of surrendered weapons, and monitoring and reporting on the peace process.

In this regard, I have the honour to advise that the New Zealand Government wishes to put in place appropriate interim arrangements covering the deployment of such personnel pending the conclusion of more broad-ranging arrangements covering their deployment and possibly the deployment of all other members of the IPMT.

I now therefore propose on behalf of the Government of New Zealand that an Agreement be reached between our two Governments in this matter on the following terms:

All New Zealand personnel who are deployed to Solomon Islands as members of the IPMT shall be accorded immunity from the jurisdiction of the Solomon Islands authorities, except in any case where the New Zealand authorities expressly consent otherwise.

The Government of Solomon Islands shall waive all claims against the Government of New Zealand or against New Zealand personnel arising out of the performance by those personnel of their duties. The two Governments shall consult on the settlement of any other claims.

The two Governments, in consultation with the Governments of those other countries contributing members of the IPMT, shall consult with a view to concluding a more broad-ranging agreement to replace this interim agreement. The terms of this interim agreement shall however continue to govern the deployment of New Zealand members of the IPMT in Solomon Islands until such time as they are superseded by such a subsequent and more broad-ranging agreement.

If the foregoing is acceptable to the Government of Solomon Islands, I have the honour to propose that this letter, together with your reply to that effect, shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments which shall enter into force on the date of your reply.

Accept, Prime Minister, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

Yours sincerely

Nick Hurley
New Zealand High Commissioner

No. 2

10 November 2000

H E Mr Nick Hurley
New Zealand High Commissioner
HONIARA

Your Excellency

I refer to your letter dated 9 November 2000 which reads as follows:

[as in 1]

I have the honour to confirm that the contents of your letter are acceptable to the Solomon Islands Government, and that your letter and this reply shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments relating to the deployment of New Zealand personnel to Solomon Islands for the International Peace Monitoring Team, which shall enter into force on the date of this reply.

Yours sincerely

Hon Manasseh Sogavare
Prime Minister of Solomon Islands

STATUTORY DECLARATION

I, PHILIP BRUCE GOFF

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
of New Zealand

do certify that

NICHOLAS JOHN HURLEY
New Zealand High Commissioner to Solomon Islands

is vested with full power and authority to sign on behalf of the Government of New Zealand the Agreement between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of Solomon Islands Relating to the Deployment of New Zealand Forces to Solomon Islands

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have signed and sealed these presents at Wellington this 8^th day of June 2000.

Philip Bruce Goff
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

^[1] It is the intention that this be an interim agreement and that the two Governments, in consultation with the Governments of those other countries contributing members of the IPMT, shall consult with a view to concluding a more broad-ranging agreement to replace this one. The terms of this interim agreement shall however continue to govern the deployment of New Zealand members of the IPMT in Solomon Islands until such time as they are superseded by such a subsequent agreement.