Νόμος 3826/2010

Άρθρο 30 ΛΗΞΗ

Η Σύμβαση παραμένει σε ισχύ μέχρι να καταγγελθεί από ένα Συμβαλλόμενο Κράτος. Το καθένα από τα Συμβαλλόμενα Κράτη μπορεί να καταγγείλει τη Σύμβαση, επιδίδοντας έγγραφη καταγγελία μέσω της διπλωματικής οδού τουλάχιστον έξι μήνες πριν το τέλος οποιουδήποτε ημερολογιακού έτους που αρχίζει μετά το πέρας πέντε ετών απο την ημερομηνία της θέσης σε ισχύ αυτής της Συμφωνίας. Σε αυτή την περίπτωση, η Σύμβαση παύει να ισχύει:

α) σε σχέση με τους φόρους που παρακρατούνται στη πηγή, για λογαριασμό ποσών που καταβλήθηκαν ή πιστώθηκαν κατά ή μετά την πρώτη ημέρα του Ιανουαρίου, του ημερολογιακού έτους που ακολουθεί αυτό κατά το οποίο επιδόθηκε η έγγραφη καταγγελία, και

β) αναφορικά με τους άλλους φόρους για καταβληθέντα ποσά της περιόδου που αρχίζει κατά ή μετά την πρώτη ημέρα του Ιανουαρίου του ημερολογιακού έτους που ακολουθεί αυτό κατά το οποίο επιδόθηκε η έγγραφη καταγγελία.

Σε επιβεβαίωση των ανωτέρω οι αντιπρόσωποι των δύο Συμβαλλομένων Κρατών, δεόντως εξουσιοδοτημένοι γι' αυτό, υπέγραψαν την παρούσα Σύμβαση.

Έγινε σε δύο πρωτότυπα στην Αθήνα στις 16 Φεβρουαρίου του 2009 στην ελληνική, αζερική και αγγλική γλώσσα, Ολα τα κείμενα είναι εξίσου αυθεντικά. Το αγγλικό κείμενο υπερισχύει, σε περίπτωση διαφορετικής ερμηνείας.

Για την Κυβέρνηση Για την Κυβέρνηση

της Ελληνικής της Δημοκρατίας

Δημοκρατίας του Αζερμπαϊτζάν

ΠΡΩΤΟΚΟΛΛΟ

Κατά την υπογραφή της παρούσας Σύμβασης μεταξύ της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας και της Δημοκρατίας του Αζερμπαϊτζάν για την αποφυγή της διπλής φορολογίας και την αποτροπή της φοροδιαφυγής σε σχέση με τους φόρους εισοδήματος και κεφαλαίου οι υπογράφοντες συμφώνησαν ότι οι ακόλουθες διατάξεις αποτελούν αναπόσπαστο μέρος της Συμφωνίας.

Είναι ευνόητο ότι οι πληρωμές από την εκμίσθωση πλοίων ή αεροσκαφών κενών φορτίου σε έκτακτα δρομολόγια θεωρούνται δικαιώματα. Σε πίστωση των ανωτέρω οι αντιπρόσωποι των δύο Κρατών, δεόντως εξουσιοδοτημένοι για αυτό, υπέγραψαν αυτό το Πρωτόκολλο. Έγινε σε δύο πρωτότυπα στην Αθήνα στις 16 Φεβρουαρίου του 2009, στην ελληνική, αζερική και αγγλική γλώσσα, όλα τα κείμενα είναι εξίσου αυθεντικά. Το αγγλικό κείμενο υπερισχύει, σε περίπτωση αμφιβολίας.

Για την Κυβέρνηση Για την Κυβέρνηση

της Ελληνικής της Δημοκρατίας

Δημοκρατίας του Αζερμπαϊτζάν

CONVENTI ^^1^ BETWEEN

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBLE TAXATION AND THE PREVENTION OF FISCAL EVASION WITH RJESPECTI* TO TA^CES ^)]N" INC^JIViE AJSD OIN^ C-.A.PITA.L

The Government of the Hellenic Republic and

The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Desiring to conclude, a Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital,

Have agreed as follows:

CHAPTER I SCOPE OF THE CONVENTION

Article 1 PERSONS COVERED

This Convention shall apply to persons who are residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

Article 2 TAXES COVERED

1. This Convention shall apply to taxes on income and on capital imposed on behalf of a Contracting State or of its administrative territorial subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.

2. There shall be regarded as taxes on income and on capital all taxes imposed on total income, on total capital, or on elements of income or of capital, including taxes on gains from the alienation of movable or immovable property, as well as taxes on capital appreciation.

3. The existing taxes to which the Convention shall apply are in particular:

a) in the case of the Hellenic Republic:

(i) the income and capital tax on natural persons;

(ii) the income and capital tax on legal persons; (hereinafter referred to as "Hellenic tax").

b) in Azerbaijan:

(i) the tax on profit of legal persons;

(ii) the income tax on physical persons;

(iii) the tax on property; (hereinafter referred to as "Azerbaijan tax").

4. The Convention shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes that are imposed after the date of signature of the Convention in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall notify each other of any significant changes, which have been made in their respective taxation laws.

CHAPTER II DEFINITIONS

Article 3 GENERAL DEFINITIONS

1. For the purposes of this Convention, unless the context otherwise requires:

a) the term "Territory" means respectively the territory of the Hellenic Republic or the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan;

b) the terms "a Contracting State" and "the other Contracting State" mean Republic of Azerbaijan or Hellenic Republic, as the context requires;

c) the term "person" includes an individual, a company and any other body of persons;

d) the term "company" means any body corporate or any entity that is treated as a body corporate for tax purposes;

e) the terms "enterprise of a Contracting State" and "enterprise of the other Contracting State" mean respectively an enterprise carried on by a resident of a Contracting State and an enterprise carried on by a resident of the other Contracting State;

f) the term "international traffic" means any transport by a ship or aircraft except when the ship or aircraft is operated solely between places in the other Contracting State;

g) the term "national" means:

(i) any individual possessing the nationality of a Contracting State;

(ii) any legal person, partnership or association deriving its status as such from the laws in force in a Contracting State;

h) the term "competent authority" means:

(i) in Hellenic Republic: Minister of Economy & Finance or his authorized representative;

(ii) in Azerbaijan: the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Taxes

2. As regards the application of the Convention at any time by a Contracting State, any term not defined therein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the law of that State for the purposes of the taxes to which the Convention applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that State prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that State.

Article 4 RESIDENT

1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "resident of a Contracting State" means any person who, under the laws of that State, is liable to tax therein by reason of his domicile, residence, place of registration, place of effective management or any other criterion of a similar nature, and also includes that State and any administrative-territorial subdivision or local authority thereof. This term, however, does not include any person who is liable to tax in that State in respect only of income from sources in that State or capital situated therein.

2. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then his status shall be determined as follows:

a) he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has a permanent home available to him; if he has a permanent home available to him in both States, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State with which his personal and economic relations are closer (center of vital interests);

b) if the State in which he has his center of vital interests cannot be determined, or if he has not a permanent home available to him in

either State, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State in which he has an habitual abode;

c) if he has an habitual abode in both States or in neither of them, he shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State of which he is a national;

d) if he is a national of both States or of neither of them, the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall settle the question by mutual agreement.

3. Where by reason of the provisions of paragraph 1 a person other than an individual is a resident of both Contracting States, then it shall be deemed to be a resident only of the State where it is registered and in which its place of effective management is situated. If the place of registration and the place of effective management are not the same Contracting State the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavor to settle the question by mutual agreement.

Article 5

PERMANENT ESTABLISHMENT

1. For the purposes of this Convention, the term "permanent establishment" means a fixed place of business through which the business of an enterprise is wholly or partly carried on.

2. The term "permanent establishment" includes especially:

a)	a place of management;
b)	a branch;
c)	an office;
d)	a factory;
e)	a workshop;
0	an installation, or structure or vessel or any other place used for the
	exploration of natural resources;
g)	a mine, an oil or gas well, a quarry or any other place of extraction of
	natural resources.

3. The term "permanent establishment" shall also be deemed to include:

a) a building site or construction or installation project, or supervisory activities, connected with them, but only if such site, project or activities continue for more than nine (9) months;

b) the furnishing of services, including consultancy services, by an enterprise through its employees or other personnel engaged by the enterprise for such purpose, but only if activities of that nature continue (for the same or a connected project) within a Contracting State for a period or periods aggregating more than six (6) months within any twelve- month (12) period.

4. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this article, the term "permanent establishment" shall be deemed not to include:

a) the use of facilities solely for the purpose of storage or display of goods

or merchandise belonging to the enterprise;

b) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of storage or display;

c) the maintenance of a stock of goods or merchandise belonging to the enterprise solely for the purpose of processing by another enterprise;

d) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of purchasing goods or merchandise, or of collecting information, for the enterprise;

e) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for the purpose of carrying on, for the enterprise, any other activity of a preparatory or auxiliary character;

f) the maintenance of a fixed place of business solely for any combination of activities mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e), provided that the overall activity of the fixed place of business resulting from this combination is of a preparatory or auxiliary character.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, where a person - other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies - is acting in a Contracting State on behalf of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, that enterprise shall be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the first-mentioned Contracting State in respect of any activities which that person undertakes for the enterprise, if such a person:

a) has and habitually exercises in that State on authority to conclude contracts in the name of the enterprise, unless the activities of such person are limited to those mentioned in paragraph 4 which, if exercised through a fixed place of business, would not make this fixed place of business a permanent establishment under the provisions of that paragraph; or - .

b) is authorized to negotiate all elements and details of a contract in a way binding on the enterprise, can be said to exercise the authority in the Contracting State, even if the contract is signed by another person in the other Contracting State in which the enterprise is situated;

c) has Qo such authority, but habitually maintains in the first - mentioned State a stock of goods or merchandise from which he regularly delivers goods or merchandise on behalf of the enterprise.

Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, an insurance enterprise of a Contracting State shall, except in regard to re-insurance, be deemed to have a permanent establishment in the other Contracting State if it collects premiums in the territory of that other State or insures risks situated therein through a person other than an agent of an independent status to whom paragraph 7 applies.

An enterprise shall not be deemed to have a permanent establishment in a Contracting State merely because it carries on business in that State through a broker, general commission agent or any other agent of an independent status, provided that such persons are acting in the ordinary course of their business.

The fact that a company which is a resident of a Contracting State controls or is controlled by a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State,

or which carries on business in that other State (whether through a permanent establishment or otherwise), shall not of itself constitute either company a permanent establishment of the other.

CHAPTER III TAXATION OF INCOME

Article 6

INCOME FROM IMMOVABLE PROPERTY

1. Income derived by a resident of a Contacting State from immovable property (including income from agriculture or forestry) situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. The term "immovable property" shall have the meaning which it has under the law of the Contracting State in which the property in question is situated. The term shall in any case include property accessory to immovable property, livestock and equipment used in agriculture and forestry, rights to which the provisions of general law respecting landed property apply, usufruct of immovable property and rights to variable or fixed payments as consideration for the working of, or the right to work, mineral deposits, sources and other natural resources; ships, boats and aircraft shall not be regarded as immovable property.

3. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall also apply to income derived from the direct use, letting, or use in any other form of immovable property.

4. ι he provisions of paragraphs i and 3 shaii also appiy to the income from immovable property of an enterprise and to income from immovable property used for the performance of independent personal services.

Article 7 BUSINESS PROFITS

1. The profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State unless the enterprise carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein. If the enterprise carries on or has carried on business as aforesaid, the profits of the enterprise may be taxed in the other State but only so much of them as is attributable to that permanent establishment.

2. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, where an enterprise of a Contracting State carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, there shall in each Contracting State be attributed to that permanent establishment the profits which it might be expected to make if it were a distinct and separate enterprise engaged in the same or similar activities under the same or similar conditions and dealing wholly independently with the enterprise of which it is a permanent establishment.

In determining the profits of a permanent establishment, there shall be allowed as deductions expenses which are incurred for the purposes of the permanent establishment, including executive and general administrative expenses so incurred, whether in the State, in which the permanent establishment is situated or elsewhere.

Insofar as it has been customary in a Contracting State to determine the profits to be attributed to a permanent establishment on the basis of an apportionment of the total profits of the enterprise to its various parts, nothing in paragraph 2 shall preclude that Contracting State from determining the profits to be taxed by such an apportionment as may be customary; the method of apportionment adopted shall, however, be such that the result shall be in accordance with the principles contained in this Article.

For the purposes of the preceding paragraphs, the profits to be attributed to the permanent establishment shall be determined by the same method year by year unless there is good and sufficient reason to the contrary.

Where profits include items of income which are dealt with separately in other Articles of this Convention, then the provisions of those Articles shall not be affected by the provisions of this Article.

Article 8

SHIPPING AND AIR TRANSPORT

Profits derived from the operation of ships engaged in international traffic shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the ships are registered.

auojeci to me provisions 01 paragrapn l, proms ucnveu uy aii cuicipuae υχ *x Contracting State from the operation of ship in international traffic, shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

Profits of an enterprise of a Contracting State from the operation of aircraft in international traffic shall be taxable only in that Contracting State.

The provisions of paragraph 1 and 2 shall also apply to profits form the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.

Article 9 ASSOCIATED ENTERPRISES

Where

an enterprise of a Contracting State participates directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of the other Contracting State, or

the same persons participate directly or indirectly in the management, control or capital of an enterprise of a Contracting State and an enterprise of the other Contracting State,

and in either case conditions are made or imposed between the two enterprises in their commercial or Financial relations which differ from those which would be made between independent enterprises, then any profits which would, but

for those conditions, have accrued to one of the enterprises, but, by reason of those conditions, have not so accrued, may be included in the profits of that enterprise and taxed accordingly.

2. Where a Contracting State includes in the profits of an enterprise of that State -and taxes accordingly - profits on which an enterprise of the other Contracting State has been charged to tax in that other State and the profits so included are profits which would have accrued to the enterprise of the first-mentioned State if the conditions made between the two enterprises had been those which would have been made between independent enterprises, then that other "State shall make an appropriate adjustment to the amount of the tax charged therein on those profits. In determining such adjustment, due regard shall be had to the other provisions of this Convention and the competent authorities of the Contracting States shall if necessary consult each other.

Article 10 DIVIDENDS

1. Dividends paid by a company, which is a resident of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

2. However, such dividends may also be taxed in the Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the dividends is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed eight per cent (8%) of gross amount of the dividends.

This paragraph shall not affect the taxation of the company in respect of the proms oui ol wrucn uie uiviucnus are paiu.

3. The term "dividends" as used in this Article means income from shares, "jouissance" shares or "jouissance" rights, mining shares, founders' shares or other rights, not being debt-claims, participating in profits, as well as income from other corporate rights which is subjected to the same taxation treatment as income from shares by the laws of the State of which the company making the distribution is a resident.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the dividends, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State of which the company paying the dividends is a resident, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the holding in respect of which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

5. Where a company which is a resident of a Contracting State derives profits or income from the other Contracting State, that other State may not impose any tax on the dividends paid by the company, except insofar as such dividends are paid to a resident of that other State or insofar as the holding in respect of

which the dividends are paid is effectively connected with a permanent estafalishment or a fixed base situated in that other State, nor subject the company's undistributed profits to a tax on the company's undistributed profits, even if the dividends paid or the undistributed profits consist wholly or partly of profits or income arising in such other State.

Article 11 INTEREST

1. Interest arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. However, such interest may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which it arises and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the interest is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed eight per cent (8%) of the gross amount of the interest.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, interest arising in:

a) the Hellenic Republic and paid to the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan shall be exempted from the Hellenic tax;

b) the Republic of Azerbaijan and paid to the Government of the Hellenic Republic shall be exempted from the Azerbaijan tax.

4. The term "interest" as used in this Article means income from debt-claims of every kind, whether or not secured by mortgage and whether or not carrying a right to participate in the debtor's profits, and in particular, income from government securities and income from bonds or debentures, including premiums and prizes attaching to such securities, bonds or debentures. Penally charges for late payment shall not be regarded as interest for the purpose of this Article.

5. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the interest, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the interest arises, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the debt-claim in respect of which the interest is paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

6. Interest shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the interest, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the indebtedness on which the interest is paid was incurred, and such interest is borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such interest shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent c tablishment or fixed base is situated.

7. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the

beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the interest, having regard to the debt-claim for which it is paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention

Article 12 ROYALTIES

1. Royalties arising in a Contracting State and paid to a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. However, such royalties may also be taxed in the Contracting State in which they arise and according to the laws of that State, but if the beneficial owner of the royalties is a resident of the other Contracting State, the tax so charged shall not exceed eight per cent (8%) of the gross amount of royalties.

3. The term "royalties" as used in this Article means payments of any kind received as a consideration for the use of, or the right to use, any copyright of literary, artistic or scientific work including cinematography films and films or tapes for television or radio broadcasting or broadcasting by satellite, cables, optical fibres or similar technology used for broadcasting, magnetic tapes, discs or laser discs, computer software, any patent, trade mark, design or model, plan, secret formula or process, or for the use of, or the right to use, industrial, commercial or scientific equipment or for information concerning industrial, commercial or scientific experience.

4. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply if the beneficial owner of the royalties, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State in which the royalties arise, through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the royalties are paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

5. Royalties shall be deemed to arise in a Contracting State when the payer is a resident of that State. Where, however, the person paying the royalties, whether he is a resident of a Contracting State or not, has in a Contracting State a permanent establishment or a fixed base in connection with which the obligation to pay the royalties was incurred, and such royalties are borne by such permanent establishment or fixed base, then such royalties shall be deemed to arise in the State in which the permanent establishment or fixed base is situated.

6. Where, by reason of a special relationship between the payer and the beneficial owner or between both of them and some other person, the amount of the royalties, having regard to the use, right or information for which they are paid, exceeds the amount which would have been agreed upon by the payer

and the beneficial owner in the absence of such relationship, the provisions of this Article shall apply only to the last-mentioned amount In such case, the excess part of the payments shall remain taxable according to the laws of each Contracting State, due regard being had to the other provisions of this Convention.

Article 13 CAPITAL GAINS

1. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of immovable property referred to in Article 6 and situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

2. Gains derived by a resident of a Contracting State from the alienation of shares or other corporate rights in a company 50% or more the assets of which directly or indirectly consists of immovable property situated in the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

3. Gains from the alienation of movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or of movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, including such gains from the alienation of such a permanent establishment (alone or with the whole enterprise) or of such fixed base, may be taxed in that other State.

4. Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting State from the alienation of ships or aircraft operated in intemaiionai oniric or movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft, shall be taxable according to the provisions of Article 8.

5. Gains from the alienation of any property other than that referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State of which the alienator is a resident.

Article 14

INDEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES

1. Income derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of professional services or other activities of an independent character shall be taxable only in that State except in the following circumstances, when such income may also be taxed in the other Contracting State:

a) if he has a fixed base regularly available to him in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing his activities; in that case, only so much of die income as is attributable to that fixed base may be taxed in that other Contracting State; or

b) if his stay in the other Contracting State is for a period or periods amounting to or exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelvemonth period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned; in

that case, only so much of the income as is derived from his activities performed in that other State may be taxed in that other State.

2. The term "professional services" includes especially independent scientific, literary, artistic, educational or teaching activities as well as the independent activities of physicians, lawyers, engineers, architects, dentists, accountants and auditors.

Article 15

DEPENDENT PERSONAL SERVICES

1. Subject to the provisions of Articles 16,18, and 19, salaries, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of a Contrasting State in respect of an employment shall be taxable only in that State unless the employment is exercised in the other Contracting State. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived therefrom may be taxed in that other State.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, remuneration derived by a resident of a Contracting State in respect of an employment exercised in the other Contracting State shall be taxable only in the first-mentioned State if:

a) the recipient is present in the other State for a period or periods not exceeding in the aggregate 183 days in any twelve month period commencing or ending in the fiscal year concerned, and

b) the remuneration is paid by, or on behalf of, an employer who is not a resident of the other State, and

c) the remuneration is not borne by a permanent establishment or a fixed base which the employer has in the other State.

3. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this Article, remuneration derived in respect of an employment exercised aboard a ship or aircraft operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State may be taxed in the Contracting State in which the profits from the operation of the ship or aircraft are taxable according to the provisions of Article 8.

Article 16 DIRECTORS' FEES

Directors' fees and other similar payments derived by a resident of a Contracting State in his capacity as a member of the board of directors or the supervisory board, or any similar organ of a company which is a resident of the other Contracting State may be taxed in that other State.

Article 17 ARTISTES AND SPORTSPERSONS

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 14 and 15, income derived by a resident of a Contracting State as an entertainer, such as a theatre, motion picture, variety, radio or television artiste, or a musician, or as a sportsperson, from his personal activities as such exercised in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

Where income in respect of personal activities exercised by an entertainer or a sportsperson in his capacity as such accrues not to the entertainer or sportsperson itself but to another person, that income may, notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 7,14 and 15, be taxed in the Contracting State in which the activities of the entertainer or sportsperson are exercised.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, income derived from activities referred to in paragraph 1 performed under a cultural agreement or arrangement between the Contracting State shall be exempt from tax in the Contracting State in which the activities are exercised if the visit to that State is wholly or substantially supported by public funds of the other Contacting State or of an administrative-territorial or local authority thereof.

Article 18 PENSIONS

Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2 of Article 19, pensions and other similar remuneration paid to a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State.

Article 19 GOVERNMENT SERVICE

a) Salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, other than a pension, paid by a Contracting State or an auministrative-territorial subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.

b) However, such salaries, wages and other similar remuneration shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the services are rendered in that State and the individual is a resident of that State who:

(i) is a national of that State; or

(ii) did not become a resident of that State solely for the purpose of rendering the services.

a) Any pension paid by, or out of funds created by, a Contracting State or an administrative-territorial subdivision or a local authority thereof to an individual in respect of services rendered to that State or subdivision or authority shall be taxable only in that State.

b) However, such pension shall be taxable only in the other Contracting State if the individual is a resident of, and a national of, that State.

The provisions of Articles 15, 16, and 18 shall apply to salaries, wages and other similar remuneration, and to pensions, in respect of services rendered in connection with a business carried on by a Contracting State or an administrative-territorial subdivision or a local authority thereof.

ΦΕΚ 29

Article 20 STUDENTS

Payments which a student or business apprentice who is or was immediately before visiting a Contracting State a resident of the other Contracting State and who is present in the first-mentioned State solely for the purpose of his education or training receives for the purpose of his maintenance, education or training shall not be taxed in that State, provided that such payments arise from sources outside that State.

Article 21 OTHER INCOME

1. Items of income of a resident of a Contracting State, wherever arising, not dealt with in the foregoing Articles of this Convention shall be taxable only in that State.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to income, other than income from immovable property as defined in paragraph 2 of Article 6, if the recipient of such income, being a resident of a Contracting State, carries on business in the other Contracting State through a permanent establishment situated therein, or performs in that other State independent personal services from a fixed base situated therein, and the right or property in respect of which the income paid is effectively connected with such permanent establishment or fixed base. In such case the provisions of Article 7 or Article 14, as the case may be, shall apply.

3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2, income in the form of winnings irom gamoung ana lotteries, arising m uie uuict ouuutivimg oww may also be taxed in that other State.

CHAPTER IV TAXATION OF CAPITAL

Article 22 CAPITAL

1. Capital represented by immovable property referred to in Article 6, owned by a resident of a Contracting State and situated in the other Contracting State, may be taxed in that other State.

2. Capital represented by movable property forming part of the business property of a permanent establishment which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State or by movable property pertaining to a fixed base available to a resident of a Contracting State in the other Contracting State for the purpose of performing independent personal services, may be taxed in that

other State.

3. Capital represented by ships and aircraft operated in international traffic by an enterprise of a Contracting State or by movable property pertaining to the operation of such ships or aircraft, shall be taxable only in the Contracting State in which the profits from the operation of the ship or aircraft are taxable according to the provisions of Article 8.

4. All other elements of capital of a resident of a Contracting State shall be taxable only in that State.

CHAPTER V

METHOD FOR ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

Article 23

METHOD FOR ELIMINATION OF DOUBLE TAXATION

Where a resident of a Contracting State derives income or owns capital which, in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, may be taxed in the other Contracting State, the first - mentioned State shall allow:

a) as a deduction from the tax on the income of that resident, an amount equal to the income tax paid in that other State,

b) as a deduction from the tax on the capital of that resident, an amount equal to the capital tax paid in that other State.

aucn aeaucuon m euner case snan not, nowever, exceeu uuu pan ui uic income tax or capital tax, as computed before the deduction is given, which is attributable, as the case may be, to the income or the capital which may be taxed in that other State.

CHAPTER VI SPECIAL PROVISIONS

Article 24 NON-DISCRIMINATION

1. Nationals of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in the other Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of that other State in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected. This provision shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 1, also apply to persons who are not residents of one or both of the Contracting States.

2. Stateless persons who are residents of a Contracting State shall not be subjected in either Contracting State to any taxation or any requirement connected therewith, which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which nationals of the State concerned in the same circumstances, in particular with respect to residence, are or may be subjected.

3. The taxation on a permanent establishment, which an enterprise of a Contracting State has in the other Contracting State, shall not be less favorably levied in that other State than the taxation levied on enterprises of that other State carrying on the same activities. This provision shall not be construed as obliging a Contracting State to grant to residents of the other Contracting State any personal allowances, relieves and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.

4. Except where the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article 9, paragraph 6 of Article 11, or paragraph 6 of Article 12, apply, interest, royalties and other disbursements paid by an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of determining the taxable profits of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been paid to a resident of the first-mentioned State. Similarly, any debts of an enterprise of a Contracting State to a resident of the other Contracting State shall, for the purpose of deterrmning the taxable capital of such enterprise, be deductible under the same conditions as if they had been contracted to a resident of the first-mentioned State.

5. Enterprises of . a Contracting State, the capital of which is wholly or partly owned or-controlled, directly or indirectly, by one or more residents of the other Contracting Stare, shah not be subjected in the first-mentioned State ίυ any taxation or any requirement connected therewith which is other or more burdensome than the taxation and connected requirements to which other similar enterprises of the first-mentioned State are or may be subjected.

6. The provisions of this Article shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 2, apply to taxes of every kind and description.

Article 25

MUTUAL AGREEMENT PROCEDURE

1. Where a person considers that the actions of one or both of the Contracting States result or will result for him in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of this Convention, he may, irrespective of the remedies provided by the domestic law of those States, present his case to the competent authority of the Contracting State of which he is a resident or, if his case comes under paragraph 1 of Article 24, to that of the Contracting State of which he is a national. The case must be presented within three years from the first notification of the action resulting in taxation not in accordance with the provisions of the Convention.

2. The competent authority shall endeavor, if the objection appears to it to be

justified and if it is not itself able to arrive at a satisfactory solution, to resolve the case by mutual agreement with the competent authority of the other Contracting State, with a view to the avoidance of taxation, which is not in accordance with the Convention. Any agreement reached shall be implemented notwithstanding any time limits in the domestic law of the Contracting States.

3. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavor to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of the Convention. They may also consult together for the elimination of double taxation in cases not provided for in the Convention.

4. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may communicate with each other directly, including through a joint commission consisting of themselves or their representatives, for the purpose of reaching an agreement in the sense of the preceding paragraphs.

Article 26 EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION

1. The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall exchange such information as is necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Convention or of the domestic laws concerning taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their adrmmstrative -territorial or local authorities, insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention. The exchange of information is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2. Any information received by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic law;, of that State and shall be disclosed only to pcisOiis or authorities (incSudiag courts and administrative bodies) concerned with the assessment or collection of, the enforcement or prosecution in respect of, or the determination of appeals in relation to the taxes referred to in the first sentence. Such persons or authorities shall use the information only for such purposes. They may disclose the information in public court proceedings or in judicial decisions.

2. In no case shall the provisions of paragraph 1 be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

a) to carry out aclniinistrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

b) to supply information which is not obtainable under the laws or in the normal course of the administration of that or of the other Contracting State;

c) to supply information which would disclose any trade, business, industrial, commercial or professional secret or trade process, or information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to public policy (ordre public).

Article 27

ASSISTANCE IN THE COLLECTION OF TAXES

1. The Contracting States shall lend assistance to each other in the collection of revenue claims. This assistance is not restricted by Articles 1 and 2. The competent authorities of the Contracting States may by mutual agreement settle the mode of application of this Article.

2. The term "revenue claim" as used in this Article means an amount owed in respect of taxes of every kind and description imposed on behalf of the Contracting States, or of their adnNnistrative-temtorial subdivisions or local authorities, insofar as the taxation there under is not contrary to this Convention or any other instrument to which the Contracting States are parties, as well as interest, administrative penalties and costs of collection or conservancy related to such amount.

3. When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes of collection by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That revenue claim shall be collected by that other State in accordance with the provisions of its laws applicable to the enforcement and collection of its own taxes as if the revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State.

4. When a revenue claim of a Contracting State is a claim in respect of which that State may, under its law, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection, that revenue claim shall, at the request of the competent authority of that State, be accepted for purposes uf taking measures of conservancy by the competent authority of the other Contracting State. That other State shall take measures of conservancy in respect of that revenue claim in accordance with the provisions of its laws as if the revenue claim were a revenue claim of that other State even if, at the time when such measures are applied, the revenue claim is not enforceable in the first-mentioned State or is owed by a person who has a right to prevent its collection.

5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for purposes of paragraph 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, be subject to the time limits or accorded any priority applicable to a revenue claim under the laws of that State by reason of its nature as such. In addition, a revenue claim accepted by a Contracting State for the purposes of paragraph 3 or 4 shall not, in that State, have any priority applicable to that revenue claim under the laws of the other Contracting State.

6. Proceedings with respect to the existence, validity or the amount of a revenue claim of a Contracting State shall not be brought before the courts or administrative bodies of the other Contracting State.

7. Where, at any time after a request has been made by a Contracting State under paragraph 3 or 4 and before the other Contracting State has collected and

remitted the relevant revenue claim to the first-mentioned State, the relevant revenue claim ceases to be

a) in the case of a request under paragraph 3, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State that is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection, or

b) in the case of a request under paragraph 4, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State in respect of which that State may, under its laws, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection

the competent authority of the first-mentioned State' shall promptly notify the competent authority of the other State of that fact and, at the option of the other State, the first-mentioned State shall either suspend or withdraw its request.

8. In no case shall the provisions of this Article be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

b) to carry out measures which would be contrary to public policy (order public);

c) to provide assistance if the other Contacting State has not pursued all reasonable measures of collection or conservancy, as the case may be, available under its laws or administrative practice;

d) to provide assistance in those cases where the administrative burden for that State is clearly disproportionate to the benefit to be derived by the other Contracting State.

Article 28

MEMBERS OF DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the fiscal privileges of members of diplomatic missions or consular posts under the general rules of international law or under the provisions of special agreements.

a) in the case of a request under paragraph 3, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State that is enforceable under the laws of that State and is owed by a person who, at that time, cannot, under the laws of that State, prevent its collection, or

b) in the case of a request under paragraph 4, a revenue claim of the first-mentioned State in respect of which that State may, under its laws, take measures of conservancy with a view to ensure its collection

the competent authority of the first-mentioned State' shall promptly notify the competent authority of the other State of that fact and, at the option of the other State, the first-mentioned State shall either suspend or withdraw its request.

8. In no case shall the provisions of this Article be construed so as to impose on a Contracting State the obligation:

a) to carry out administrative measures at variance with the laws and administrative practice of that or of the other Contracting State;

b) to carry out measures which would be contrary to public policy (order public);

CHAPTER VH FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 29 ENTRY INTO FORCE

1. Each of the Contracting States shall notify in written form the other through diplomatic channels on the completion of the necessary internal state procedures.

2. The Convention shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last notification and its provisions shall have effect in both Contracting States:

a) in respect of taxes withheld at source - for amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of January of the calendar year next following that in which the Convention enters into force;

b) in respect of other taxes - for amounts of taxes charged during period beginning on the first day of January of the calendar year next following that in which the Convention enters into force.

Article 30 TERMINATION

This Convention shall remain in force until terminated by any of the Contracting States. Either Contracting State may terminate the Convention by giving a written notice of termination through diplomatic channels at least six months before the end of any calendar year after expiration of the 5-years period from the date on which the Convention enters into force. In such case, the Convention shall cease to have effect:

a) in respect of taxes withheld at source - for amounts paid or credited on or after the first day of January of the calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination of Convention is given;

b) in respect of other taxes - for amounts of taxes charged during period beginning on the first day of January of the calendar year next following that in which the notice of termination of Convention is given.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto, have signed this Convention.

DONE in duplicate in Athens on the 16th of February of 2009 in the Greek, Azerbaijani, and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In the case of divergence in interpretation, the English text shall prevail.

For the Government of the For the Government of the Republic

Η ισχύς του νόμου αυτού αρχίζει από τη δημοσίευση του στην Εφημερίδα της Κυβερνήσεως, και της Σύμβασης που κυρώνεται, από την πλήρωση των προϋποθέσεων του άρθρου 29 παρ. 2 αυτής.

Παραγγέλλομε τη δημοσίευση του παρόντος στην Εφημερίδα της Κυβερνήσεως και την εκτέλεσή του ως νόμου του Κράτους.

of Azerbaijan

Αθήνα, 24 Φεβρουαρίου 2010

Ο ΠΡΟΕΔΡΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑΣ

ΚΑΡΟΛΟΣ ΓΡ. ΠΑΠΟΥΛΙΑΣ

ΟΙ ΥΠΟΥΡΓΟΙ

ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΙΚΩΝ

ΕΞΩΤΕΡΙΚΩΝ

ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΠΑΠΑΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥ

ΓΕΩΡΓΙΟΣ ΠΑΠΑΝΔΡΕΟΥ

ΟΙΚΟΝΟΜΙΑΣ, ΑΝΤΑΓΩΝΙΣΤΙΚΟΤΗΤΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΝΑΥΤΙΛΙΑΣ

ΛΟΥΚΙΑ-ΤΑΡΣΙΤΣΑ ΚΑΤΣΕΛΗ

Θεωρήθηκε και τέθηκε η Μεγάλη Σφραγίδα του Κράτους. Αθήνα, 25 Φεβρουαρίου 2010

Ο ΕΠΙ ΤΗΣ ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΥΝΗΣ ΥΠΟΥΡΓΟΣ

ΧΑΡΑΛΑΜΠΟΣ ΚΑΣΤΑΝΙΔΗΣ

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