Accordo 29 aprile 2011

INTER APOSTOLICAM SEDEM ET AZERBAIGIANIAE REMPUBLICAM
AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
ON THE JURIDICAL STATUS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
(in Acta Apostolicae Sedis, n. 8 2011)

The Holy See and the Republic of Azerbaijan, having in common the desire to strengthen and promote, in the spirit of friendship, the relations already existing between them, and with the intention of regulating through a common understanding the juridical status of the Catholic Church in the Republic of Azerbaijan, have agreed to the following:

Article 1
The Republic of Azerbaijan, which recognizes religious freedom on the basis of its Constitution, guarantees freedom to profess and to practice in public the Catholic Religion.
The Catholic Church in the Republic of Azerbaijan has the right to organize itself in conformity with the legislation of the Catholic Church and to carry out its mission within the ambit of its religious competence and with due regard for the Legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan as well as for the provisions of the present Agreement.

Article 2
The Republic of Azerbaijan recognizes and registers the juridical personality of the Catholic Church, as well as of all its institutions established on the basis of the legislation of the Catholic Church, in conformity with the present Agreement.

Article 3
The Holy See and the Catholic Church in the Republic of Azerbaijan enjoy unimpeded availability of communication and correspondence with each other.
The Holy See and the Republic of Azerbaijan will maintain diplomatic relations at the level of Apostolic Nunciature and Embassy.

Article 4
The Catholic Church has the right to use the means of public mass communication, in accordance with the national legislation of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Article 5
The Holy See freely chooses an ecclesiastic for the Office of Ordinary, who is the person in charge of the ecclesiastical circumscription.
Before publishing the appointment of such an Ordinary of the ecclesiastical circumscription the Holy See, out of courtesy and confidentially, informs the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Article 6
Upon formal request and under the responsibility of the Ordinary of the ecclesiastical circumscription, a residence permit and a work permit intended for the exercise of pastoral ministry is issued in accordance with the present Agreement.

Article 7
If divergences should arise in the future concerning the interpretation or application of the present Agreement, the Holy See and the Republic of Azerbaijan, through negotiations and consultations, will proceed by common accord to an amicable solution.

Article 8
The present Agreement requires ratification and enters into force on the day of the exchange of the instruments of ratification.
The present Agreement may be terminated by either Party which shall notify the other Party of its decision in writing. The Agreement shall cease to exist six months following the date of the notification.

Done at Baku on 29 April 2011 in English and Azerbaijani languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Republic of Azerbaijan Hiday et Orucov
For the Holy See   Claudio Gugerotti