IMPLEMENTATION AND APPLICATION

Article 18

Relation to other International obligations

1. This Agreement shall be without prejudice to the rights, obligations and responsibilities of the Community, the Member States and the Russian Federation arising from International Law, and in particular from:

(a) the Convention of 28 July 1951 and the Protocol of 31 January 1967 relating to the Status of Refugees;

(b) the European Convention of 4 November 1950 for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;

(d) international treaties on extradition and transit;

(e) multilateral international treaties containing rules on the readmission of foreign nationals, such as the Convention on International Civil Aviation of 7 December 1944.

2. The provisions of this Agreement shall take precedence over the provisions of any bilateral treaties or arrangements on readmission which have been or may, under Article 20 of this Agreement, be concluded between individual Member States and the Russian Federation insofar as the provisions of the latter treaties or arrangements cover issues that are dealt with by the present Agreement.

3. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the return of a person under other formal or informal arrangements.

Article 19

Joint readmission committee

1. The Parties shall set up a joint readmission committee (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) which will, in particular, have the task:

(a) to monitor the application of this Agreement;

(b) to decide on arrangements necessary for the uniform execution of this Agreement;

(c) to have a regular exchange of information on the implementing Protocols concluded by individual Member States and the Russian Federation pursuant to Article 20 of this Agreement;

(d) to decide on amendments to the Annexes to this Agreement;

(e) to propose amendments to this Agreement;

(f) to examine and, if deemed necessary, propose amendments to this Agreement in case of new accessions to the European Union.

2. The decisions of the Committee shall be binding on the Parties.

3. The Committee shall be composed by representatives of the Community and the Russian Federation; the Community shall be represented by the European Commission, assisted by experts from Member States.

4. The Committee shall meet where necessary at the request of one of the Parties.

5. The Committee shall establish its rules of procedures.

Article 20

Implementing Protocols

1. The Russian Federation and Member States shall conclude implementing Protocols which shall cover rules on:

(a) the competent authorities, the border crossing points, the exchange of information on contact points and the languages in communication;

(b) the modalities for readmission under the accelerated procedure;

(c) the conditions for escorted transfers, including the transit of third-country nationals and stateless persons under escort;

(d) proofs and evidence additional to those listed in the Annexes 2 to 5 to this Agreement;

(e) the procedure for interviews provided for in Article 9 of this Agreement;

(f) where necessary, specific arrangements concerning time limits for the handling of readmission applications in accordance with Article 11(2) of this Agreement.