20 DE MARÇO DE 1997

440-(43)

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, reliefs and reductions for taxation purposes on account of civil status or family responsibilities which it grants to its own residents.

3 — 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 State, shall not be subject in the first-mentioned State to 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.

4 — 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 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 endeavour, 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 wich the- Convention.

3 — The competent authorities of the Contracting States shall endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any dificulties 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 of the Contracting States concerning taxes covered by the Convention insofar as the taxation thereunder is not contrary to the Convention. The exchange of information is not restricted by article 1. Any information received by a Contracting State shall be treated as secret in the same manner as information obtained under the domestic laws of that State and shall be disclosed only to persons or authorities (including

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 covered by the Convention. 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. The competent authorities shall, through consultation, develop appropriate conditions, methods and techniques concerning the matters in respect of which such exchanges of information shall be made, including,, where appropriate, exchanges of information regarding tax avoidance.

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 administrative 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 (order public).

Article 27

Members of dlplomaUc 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.

Article 28 Other provisions

1 — The provisions of this Convention shall not be construed as restricting in anyway the exemptions, allowances, deduction, credits or other reliefs which are or may be granted:

a) Under the laws of a Contracting State for the purpose of determining the tax levied by such State; or

b) Under any special agreement concluded by a Contracting State.

2 — The competent authorities of both Contracting States shall endeavour to solve the cases of undue use of this Convention.

CHAPTER VI Final provisions

Article 29 Entry into force

1 — The Contracting States shall notify each other that the constitutional requirements for the entry into force of this Convention have been complied with. The