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198 Travaux préparatoires: United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crimeher presence is no longer required by the judicial authorities, an opportunity ofleaving, has nevertheless remained voluntarily in the territory of the requestingState Party or, having left it, has returned of his or her own free will.28. The ordinary costs of executing a request shall be borne by the requestedState Party, unless otherwise agreed by the States Parties concerned. If expensesof a substantial or extraordinary nature are or will be required to fulfil therequest, the States Parties shall consult to determine the terms and conditions underwhich the request will be executed, as well as the manner in which the costs shallbe borne.29. The requested State Party:(a) Shall provide to the requesting State Party copies of governmentrecords, documents or information in its possession that under its domestic laware available to the general public;(b) May, at its discretion, provide to the requesting State Party in whole,in part or subject to such conditions as it deems appropriate, copies of any governmentrecords, documents or information in its possession that under its domesticlaw are not available to the general public.30. States Parties shall consider, as may be necessary, the possibility ofconcluding bilateral or multilateral agreements or arrangements that would servethe purposes of, give practical effect to or enhance the provisions of this article.C. Interpretative notesThe interpretative notes on article 18 of the convention approved by the AdHoc Committee and contained in its report on the work of its first to eleventhsessions (see A/55/383/Add.1, paras. 36-43) are as follows:Paragraph 2(a) The term “judicial proceedings” in article 18, paragraph 2, refers tothe matter for which mutual legal assistance is requested and is not intended tobe perceived as in any way prejudicing the independence of the judiciary.Paragraph 5(b) When a State party is considering whether to spontaneously provideinformation of a particularly sensitive nature or is considering placing strict restrictionson the use of information thus provided, it is considered advisable for theState party concerned to consult with the potential receiving State beforehand.When a State party that receives information under this provision already has similarinformation in its possession, it is not obliged to comply with any restrictionsimposed by the transmitting State.Paragraph 8(c) This paragraph is not inconsistent with paragraphs 17 and 21 of thisarticle.Paragraph 10 (b)(d) Among the conditions to be determined by States parties for the transferof a person, States parties may agree that the requested State party may be presentat witness testimony conducted in the territory of the requesting State party.