The Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Republic of Austria, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Kingdom of Denmark, the French Republic, the Italian Republic, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Kingdom of Norway, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Portuguese Republic, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Swiss Confederation, and the Turkish Republic (hereinafter called the “Turkish Government”);
Considering that they are Members of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (hereinafter called the “Organisation”);
Considering that on 29th July, 1958, the Council of the Organisation adopted a Resolution concerning the Turkish Stabilisation Programme (hereinafter called the “Resolution”) by which it took note of a declaration by the Turkish Government that the terms of servicing debts owed by residents of Turkey to residents of the countries of the other Contracting Parties must be revised;
Noting that after the expiration of the standstill on transfers of which the Organisation took note by the Resolution, the Turkish Government will be able, within the framework of the present Agreement, to resume, on the dates provided therein, the transfer of payments in respect of certain categories of such debts;
Recognising that, to this end, a common effort appears necessary;
Considering that the Organisation requested, in its Resolution, the Governments concerned to agree upon arrangements for the repayment of such debts due or falling due within the next years, and the spreading of their repayment over a period, taking into account the ability of Turkey to pay, given the requirements and the expected results of the Turkish Stabilisation Programme;
Desirous of giving effect to these principles in the provisions of the present Agreement;
Considering that, on 30th January, 1959, the Council of the Organisation adopted a Decision concerning the Execution and Development of the Turkish Stabilisation Programme and the Granting by the European Fund of Credit to Turkey in which it recommended its Member Governments to urge the residents of their respective countries who have concluded with residents of Turkey contracts, the execution of which began before 5th August, 1958, to negotiate with the latter the necessary changes in that part of the contracts which had not been carried out before 5th August, 1958, and for which payment will be due before 1st January, 1964, so that the terms will be more favourable, taking account of the Stabilisation Programme, to the residents of Turkey, it being understood that these terms will not be more favourable to the debtor than the terms provided for the spreading of the repayment of certain categories of debts in the present Agreement;
Considering that a Conference which dealt with financial aid to Turkey and the commercial debts owed by residents of Turkey was held under the auspices of the Organisation from 22nd September, 1958, to 6th May, 1959, in which the Contracting Parties and the Government of the United States of America took part and at which the present Agreement was elaborated;
Noting that, at that Conference, the Turkish Government and the Government of the United States of America expressed their intention to exchange Notes in respect of commercial debts owed by residents of Turkey to United States creditors; and
Considering that the principle of approximate equality of treatment between the various States whose Governments, together with the Turkish Government, have taken part in the said Conference should inspire that Exchange of Notes as well as the various bilateral Agreements which will be concluded by those Governments with the Turkish Government in order to agree on certain technical arrangements for the spreading of the repayment of such debts;