(Pretoria, 21.XI.2002)
Preamble
The Government of the Russian Federation through its Ministry of Education and the Government of the Republic of South Africa through its Department of Education (hereinafter jointly referred to as "the Parties" and in the singular as "a Party");
Convinced that cooperation in the field of education constitutes one of the important spheres of the bilateral relations;
Desirous for the development of cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of education and taking into account the significance of such cooperation for mutual understanding between the peoples of the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa;
Willing to create a firm base for this cooperation;
Hereby agree as follows:
Article 1
The Parties shall exchange delegations consisting of officials from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation and the Department of Education of the Republic of South Africa to familiarize themselves with the educational system.
Article 2
The Parties shall encourage the exchange of educational information.
Article 3
The Parties shall encourage the development of direct contacts and partnerships between Russian and South African higher education institutions in compliance with the domestic law of the Parties.
Article 4
The Parties shall encourage various exchanges for educational purposes including visits of scientists, experts and students.
Article 5
The Russian Federation shall annually provide South African scholars with full course and upgrading scholarships tenable at educational State institutions in Russia. The conditions of scholarships shall be discussed additionally by the Parties annually.
Article 6
The Parties shall encourage the participation of their representatives in educational congresses, conferences, seminars, workshops and other meetings held in the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa.
Article 7
The Parties shall consider the possibility of drafting a bilateral Intergovernmental Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Educational Documents.
Article 8
The Parties shall encourage the implementation of activities organized within their respective National Commissions for UNESCO, established in their countries.
Article 9
The Parties shall cooperate in studying the languages, literature, culture and history of the Russian Federation in the Republic of South Africa and those of the Republic of South Africa in the Russian Federation.
Article 10
The Parties shall also cooperate in other spheres on the basis of mutual interest.
Article 11
Conditions including financial aspects as well as time frames, related to the implementation of this Protocol, shall be determined through bilateral consultations.
Article 12
This Protocol may be amended by mutual consent of the Parties through an exchange of notes between the Parties through the diplomatic channel.
Article 13
Termination of this Protocol does not affect obligations or programmes of any separate protocols, contracts or agreements until their completion.
Article 14
Disputes as to the interpretation, application and implementation of the provisions of this Protocol shall be resolved through negotiations between the Parties.
Article 15
(1) This Protocol shall enter into force on the date of its signing and shall remain in force for a period of three years.
(2) This Protocol shall automatically be renewed for additional periods of one year unless notice to terminate it is given in writing by one of the Parties six months prior to the expiration thereof.
Done at Pretoria on this the 21st day of November, 2002 in duplicate in the English and Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.
(Follow the signatories)