Overenskomster med fremmede stater
Over enskomster med fr emmede stater Hefte nr . 4/2013
Overenskomster med
fremmede stater
Innhold
Side
1976
Feb. 24. Traktat om vennskapelige forbindelser og samarbeid i Sørøst-Asia med protokoller ... 345 2003
Mai 21. Protokoll om registre over utslipp og transport av forurensende stoffer ... 357 Nov. 28. Endring i artiklene 25 og 26 i Konvensjon om beskyttelse og bruk av grenseoverskridende
vassdrag og internasjonale innsjøer ... 396 2005
Okt. 14. Protokoll av 2005 til Konvensjon av 10. mars 1988 om bekjempelse av ulovlige handlinger
mot sikkerheten ved skipsfart ... 398 2006
Feb. 23. Konvensjon om sjøfolks arbeids- og levevilkår (ILO 186) ... 422
24. feb. 1976 nr. 22
Traktat om vennskapelige forbindelser og samarbeid i Sørøst-Asia med protokoller
I henhold til kgl.res. av 28. september 2012 ble traktaten undertegnet og tiltrådt 1. juli 2013. Traktaten trådte i kraft samme dag.
Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia Indonesia, 24 February 1976 The High Contracting Parties:
CONSCIOUS of the existing ties of history, geography and culture, which have bound their peoples together;
ANXIOUS to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule or law and enhancing regional resilience in their relations;
DESIRING to enhance peace, friendship and mutual cooperation on matters affecting Southeast Asia consistent with the spirit and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Ten Principles adopted by the Asian-African Conference in Bandung on 25 April 1955, the Declaration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations signed in Bangkok on 8 August 1967, and the Declaration signed in Kuala Lumpur on 27 November 1971;
CONVINCED that the settlement of differences or disputes between their countries should be regulated by rational, effective and sufficiently flexible procedures, avoiding negative attitudes which might endanger or hinder cooperation;
BELIEVING in the need for cooperation with all peace-loving nations, both within and outside Southeast Asia, in the furtherance of world peace, stability and harmony;
SOLEMNLY AGREE to enter into a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation as follows:
CHAPTER I
PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES
Article 1The purpose of this Treaty is to promote perpetual peace, everlasting amity and cooperation among their peoples which would contribute to their strength, solidarity and closer relationship,
Article 2
In their relations with one another, the High Contracting Parties shall be guided by the following fundamental principles:
a. Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations;
b. The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coersion;
c. Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
d. Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means;
e. Renunciation of the threat or use of force;
f. Effective cooperation among themselves.
CHAPTER II AMITY
Article 3In pursuance of the purpose of this Treaty the High Contracting Parties shall endeavour to develop and strengthen the traditional, cultural and historical ties of friendship, good neighbourliness and cooperation which bind them together and shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed under this Treaty. In order to promote closer understanding among them, the High Contracting Parties shall encourage and facilitate contact and intercourse among their peoples.
CHAPTER III COOPERATION
Article 4
The High Contracting Parties shall promote active cooperation in the economic, social, technical, scientific and administrative fields as well as in matters of common ideals and aspirations of international peace and stability in the region and all other matters of common interest.
Article 5
Pursuant to Article 4 the High Contracting Parties shall exert their maximum efforts multilaterally as well as bilaterally on the basis of equality, non-discrimination and mutual benefit.
Article 6
The High Contracting Parties shall collaborate for the acceleration of the economic growth in the region in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of nations in Southeast Asia.
To this end, they shall promote the greater utilization of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade and the improvement of their economic infrastructure for the mutual benefit of their peoples. In this regard, they shall continue to explore all avenues for close and beneficial cooperation with other States as well as international and regional organisations outside the region.
Article 7
The High Contracting Parties, in order to achieve social justice and to raise the standards of living of the peoples of the region, shall intensify economic cooperation. For this purpose, they shall adopt appropriate regional strategies for economic development and mutual assistance.
Article 8
The High Contracting Parties shall strive to achieve the closest cooperation on the widest scale and shall seek to provide assistance to one another in the form of training and research facilities in the social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields.
Article 9
The High Contracting Parties shall endeavour to foster cooperation in the furtherance of the cause of peace, harmony, and stability in the region. To this end, the High Contracting Parties shall maintain regular contacts and consultations with one another on international and regional matters with a view to coordinating their views actions and policies.
Article 10
Each High Contracting Party shall not in any manner or form participate in any activity which shall constitute a threat to the political and economic stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of another High Contracting Party.
Article 11
The High Contracting Parties shall endeavour to strengthen their respective national resilience in their political, economic, socio-cultural as well as security fields in conformity with their respective ideals and aspirations, free from external interference as well as internal subversive activities in order to preserve their respective national identities.
Article 12
The High Contracting Parties in their efforts to achieve regional prosperity and security, shall endeavour to cooperate in all fields for the promotion of regional resilience, based on the principles of self-confidence, self-reliance, mutual respect, cooperation and solidarity which will constitute the foundation for a strong and viable community of nations in Southeast Asia.
CHAPTER IV
PACIFIC SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
Article 13The High Contracting Parties shall have the determination and good faith to prevent disputes from arising. In case disputes on matters directly affecting them should arise, especially disputes likely to disturb regional peace and harmony, they shall refrain from the threat or use of force and shall at all times settle such disputes among themselves through friendly negotiations.
Article 14
To settle disputes through regional processes, the High Contracting Parties shall constitute, as a continuing body, a High Council comprising a Representative at ministerial level from each of the High Contracting Parties to take cognizance of the existence of disputes or situations likely to disturb regional peace and harmony.
Article 15
In the event no solution is reached through direct negotiations, the High Council shall take cognizance of the dispute or the situation and shall recommend to the parties in dispute appropriate means of settlement such as good offices, mediation, inquiry or conciliation. The High Council may however offer its good offices, or upon agreement of the parties in dispute, constitute itself into a committee of mediation, inquiry or conciliation. When deemed necessary, the High Council shall recommend appropriate measures for the prevention of a deterioration of the dispute or the situation.
Article 16
The foregoing provision of this Chapter shall not apply to a dispute unless all the parties to the dispute agree to their application to that dispute. However, this shall not preclude the other High Contracting Parties not party to the dispute from offering all possible assistance to settle the said dispute. Parties to the dispute should be well disposed towards such offers of assistance.
Article 17
Nothing in this Treaty shall preclude recourse to the modes of peaceful settlement contained in Article 33(l) of the Charter of the United Nations. The High Contracting Parties which are parties to a dispute should be encouraged to take initiatives to solve it by friendly negotiations before resorting to the other procedures provided for in the Charter of the United Nations.
CHAPTER V
GENERAL PROVISION
Article 18This Treaty shall be signed by the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Thailand. It shall be ratified in accordance with the constitutional procedures of each signatory State. It shall be open for accession by other States in Southeast Asia.
Article 19
This Treaty shall enter into force on the date of the deposit of the fifth instrument of ratification with the Governments of the signatory States which are designated Depositories f this Treaty and the instruments of ratification or accession.
Article 20
This Treaty is drawn up in the official languages of the High Contracting Parties, all of which are equally authoritative. There shall be an agreed common translation of the texts in the English language. Any divergent interpretation of the common text shall be settled by negotiation.
IN FAITH THEREOF the High Contracting Parties have signed the Treaty and have hereto affixed their Seals.
DONE at Denpasar, Bali, this twenty-fourth day of February in the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy-six.
Protocol Amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia Philippines, 15 December 1987
The Government of Brunei Darussalam The Government of the Republic of Indonesia The Government of Malaysia
The Government of the Republic of the Philippines The Government of the Republic of Singapore The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand
DESIRING to further enhance cooperation With all peace-loving nations, both within and outside Southeast Asia and, in particular, neighbouring States of the Southeast Asia region
CONSIDERING Paragraph 5 of the preamble of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, done at Denpasar, Bali, on 24 February 1976 (hereinafter referred to as the Treaty of Amity) which refers to the need for cooperation with all peace-loving nations, both within and outside Southeast Asia, in the furtherance of world peace, stability and harmony.
HEREBY AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:
Article 1
Article 18 of the Treaty of Amity shall be amended to read as follows:
«This Treaty shall be signed by the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Thailand. It shall be ratified in accordance with the constitutional procedures of each signatory State.
It shall be open for accession by other States in Southeast Asia.
States outside Southeast Asia may also accede to this Treaty by the consent of all the States in Southeast Asia which are signatories to this Treaty and Brunei Darussalam.»
Article 2
Article 14 of the Treaty of Amity shall be amended to read as follows:
«The settle disputes through regional processes, the High Contracting Parties shall constitute, as a continuing body, a High Council comprising a Representative at ministerial level from each of the High Contracting Parties to take cognizance of the existence of disputes or situations likely to disturb regional peace and harmony.
However, this article shall apply to any of the States outside Southeast Asia which have acceded to the Treaty only in cases where that state is directly involved in the dispute to be settled through the regional processes.»
Article 3
This Protocol shall be subject to ratification and shall come into force on the date the last instrument of ratification of the High Contracting Parties is deposited.
DONE at Manila, the fifteenth day of December in the year one thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven.
Second Protocol Amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia Manila, Philippines, 25 July 1998
The Government of Brunei Darussalam The Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia The Government of the Republic of Indonesia
The Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic The Government of Malaysia
The Government of the Union of Myanmar The Government of the Republic of the Philippines The Government of the Republic of Singapore The Government of the Kingdom of Thailand The Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam The Government of Papua New Guinea
Hereinafter referred to as the High Contracting Parties:
DESIRING to ensure that there is appropriate enhancement of cooperation with all peaceloving nations, both within and outside Southeast Asia and, in particular, neighbouring States of the Southeast Asia region;
CONSIDERING Paragraph 5 of the preamble of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, done at Denpasar, Bali, on 24 February 1976 (hereinafter referred to as the Treaty of Amity) which refers to the need for cooperation with all peace-loving nations, both within and outside Southeast Asia, in the furtherance of world peace, stability and harmony.
HEREBY AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:
Article 1
Article 18, Paragraph 3, of the Treaty of Amity shall be amended to read as follows:
«States outside Southeast Asia may also accede to this Treaty with the consent of all the States in Southeast Asia, namely, Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.»
Article 2
This Protocol shall be subject to ratification and shall come into force on the date the last instrument of ratification of the High Contracting Parties is deposited.
DONE at Manila, the twenty-fifth day of July in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight.
Third Protocol Amending the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia
Brunei Darussalam The Kingdom of Cambodia The Republic of Indonesia
The Lao People's Democratic Republic Malaysia
The Union of Myanmar The Republic of the Philippines The Republic of Singapore The Kingdom of Thailand
The Socialist Republic of Viet Nam The Commonwealth of Australia The People's Republic of Bangladesh The People's Republic of China
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea The French Republic
The Republic of India Japan
Mongolia New Zealand
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan Papua New Guinea
The Republic of Korea The Russian Federation
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste The Republic of Turkey
The United States of America
Hereinafter referred to as the High Contracting Parties:
DESIRING to ensure that there is appropriate enhancement of cooperation with all peace-loving nations both within and outside Southeast Asia, in particular, neighbouring States of the Southeast Asian region, as well as with regional organisations whose members are only sovereign States;
CONSIDERING Paragraph 5 of the preamble of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, done at Denpasar, Bali, on 24 February 1976 (hereinafter referred to as the Treaty of Amity) which refers to the need for cooperation with all peace-loving nations, both within and outside Southeast Asia, in the furtherance of world peace, stability and harmony;
HEREBY AGREE TO THE FOLLOWING:
Article 1
Article 18, Paragraph 3, of the Treaty of Amity shall be amended to read as follows:
«This Treaty shall be open for accession by States outside Southeast Asia and regional organisations whose members are only sovereign States subject to the consent of all the States in Southeast Asia, namely, Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.»
Article 2
Article 14, Paragraph 2, of the Treaty of Amity shall be amended to read as follows:
«However, this article shall apply to any of the High Contracting Parties outside Southeast Asia only in cases where that High Contracting Party is directly involved in the dispute to be settled through the regional processes.»
Article 3
This Protocol shall be subject to ratification and shall come into force on the date the last instrument of ratification of the High Contracting Parties is deposited.
DONE at Ha Noi, Viet Nam, on the Twenty-Third Day of July in the Year Two Thousand and Ten, in a single copy in the English language.
Traktat om vennskapelige forbindelser og samarbeid i Sørøst-Asia Indonesia, 24. februar 1976
De kontraherende parter,
SOM ER SEG BEVISST de historiske, geografiske og kulturelle bånd som har bundet og fortsatt binder deres folk sammen,
SOM ER OPPTATT AV å fremme regional fred og stabilitet ved å vise respekt for rettferd og rettsstatens prinsipper og å styrke regional mestringsevne i sine forbindelser,
SOM ØNSKER å styrke freden, vennskapet og det gjensidige samarbeidet i saker som angår Sørøst-Asia, i tråd med ånden og prinsippene i De forente nasjoners pakt, de ti grunnprinsippene vedtatt på den asiatisk-afrikanske konferansen i Bandung 25. april 1955, erklæringen undertegnet av Sammenslutningen av sørøstasiatiske stater (ASEAN) i Bangkok 8. august 1967 samt erklæringen undertegnet i Kuala Lumpur 27. november 1971,
SOM ER OVERBEVIST OM at uoverensstemmelser og tvister som oppstår dem imellom, må løses gjennom rasjonelle, effektive og tilstrekkelig fleksible prosedyrer for å unngå negative holdninger som kan være til skade eller hinder for samarbeid,
SOM MENER det er nødvendig å samarbeide med alle fredselskende nasjoner, både i og utenfor Sørøst-Asia, for å fremme fred, stabilitet og harmoni i verden,
SAMTYKKER HØYTIDELIG I å inngå en vennskaps- og samarbeidstraktat med følgende innhold:
KAPITTEL I
FORMÅL OG PRINSIPPER
Artikkel 1Denne traktat har som formål å fremme uavbrutt fred, varig vennskap og samarbeid mellom partene, noe som vil bidra til å styrke deres folk, til solidaritet og til tettere forbindelser.
Artikkel 2
De kontraherende parter skal i samkvemmet seg imellom ta utgangspunkt i følgende grunnprinsipper:
a. gjensidig respekt for alle nasjoners uavhengighet, suverenitet, likeverd, territorielle integritet og nasjonale identitet,
b. enhver stats rett til å ha en nasjonal eksistens uten innblanding utenfra, uten undergravende virksomhet og uten tvang,
c. ikke-innblanding i hverandres indre anliggender, d. løsning av uoverensstemmelser og tvister på fredelig vis, e. avkall på trusler om eller bruk av makt,
f. effektivt samarbeid seg imellom.
KAPITTEL II
VENNSKAPELIGE FORBINDELSER
Artikkel 3For å fremme denne traktats formål skal de kontraherende parter bestrebe seg på å videreutvikle og styrke det tradisjonelle, kulturelle og historiske vennskapet, det gode naboforholdet og samarbeidet som binder dem sammen, og i god tro oppfylle de forpliktelser de har påtatt seg etter denne traktat. For å fremme bedre forståelse seg imellom skal de kontraherende parter oppmuntre til og legge til rette for kontakt og samkvem mellom sine folk.
KAPITTEL III SAMARBEID
Artikkel 4
De kontraherende parter skal fremme aktivt samarbeid innenfor det økonomiske, sosiale, tekniske, vitenskapelige og forvaltningsmessige området samt i saker som angår felles idealer og ønskemål om internasjonal fred og stabilitet i regionen, og i alle øvrige saker av felles interesse.
Artikkel 5
I henhold til artikkel 4 skal de kontraherende parter gjøre sitt ytterste multilateralt så vel som bilateralt, på grunnlag av likeverd, likebehandling og gjensidig nytte.
Artikkel 6
De kontraherende parter skal samarbeide om å fremme den økonomiske veksten i regionen for å styrke grunnlaget for et fremgangsrikt og fredelig nasjonsfellesskap i Sørøst-Asia. For dette formål skal de arbeide for bedre utnyttelse av landbruket og næringslivet, for å utvide handelen og for å bedre den økonomiske infrastrukturen til gjensidig nytte for sine folk. I den forbindelse skal de fortsette å utforske alle muligheter for et tett og nyttig samarbeid med andre stater og med internasjonale og regionale organisasjoner utenfor regionen.
Artikkel 7
Med sikte på å oppnå sosial rettferdighet og å heve levestandarden for regionens folk skal de kontraherende parter intensivere det økonomiske samarbeidet. For dette formål skal de vedta egnede regionale strategier for økonomisk utvikling og gjensidig bistand.
Artikkel 8
De kontraherende parter skal etterstrebe tettest mulig samarbeid på bredest mulig grunnlag, og skal søke å bistå hverandre gjennom opplærings- og forskningstiltak på det sosiale, kulturelle, tekniske, vitenskapelige og forvaltningsmessige området.
Artikkel 9
De kontraherende parter skal bestrebe seg på å fremme samarbeid for å bidra til fred, harmoni og stabilitet i regionen. For dette formål skal de kontraherende parter ha jevnlig kontakt med og konsultere hverandre i internasjonale og regionale saker med sikte på å samordne synspunkter, tiltak og politikk.
Artikkel 10
En kontraherende part skal ikke på noe vis delta i aktiviteter som innebærer en trussel mot en av de øvrige kontraherende parters politiske og økonomiske stabilitet, suverenitet eller territorielle integritet.
Artikkel 11
De kontraherende parter skal bestrebe seg på å styrke sin nasjonale mestringsevne på det politiske, økonomiske, sosiokulturelle og sikkerhetsmessige området, i tråd med sine respektive idealer og ønskemål og uten innblanding utenfra eller undergravende virksomhet innenfra, for å kunne bevare sin nasjonale identitet.
Artikkel 12
De kontraherende parter skal i sitt arbeid for regional velstandsutvikling og sikkerhet bestrebe seg på å samarbeide på alle områder for å fremme regional mestringsevne, med utgangspunkt i prinsippene om selvtillit, selvberging, gjensidig respekt, samarbeid og solidaritet, noe som vil danne grunnlaget for et sterkt og levedyktig nasjonsfellesskap i Sørøst-Asia.
KAPITTEL IV
FREDELIG LØSNING AV TVISTER
Artikkel 13De kontraherende parter skal vise vilje til og samarbeide i god tro for å hindre at det oppstår tvister.
Dersom det oppstår uenighet om forhold som angår dem direkte, særlig tvister som kan forstyrre den regionale freden og harmonien, skal de avstå fra trusler om eller bruk av makt, og skal til enhver tid løse slike tvister seg imellom gjennom vennskapelige forhandlinger.
Artikkel 14
For å løse tvister gjennom regionale prosesser skal de kontraherende parter nedsette et høyt råd som skal bestå av en representant på ministernivå fra hver av de kontraherende parter og skal fungere som et løpende organ som skal sette tvister eller situasjoner som kan forstyrre den regionale freden og harmonien, på dagsordenen.
Artikkel 15
Dersom det ikke er mulig å finne en løsning ved direkte forhandling, skal Det høye råd sette tvisten eller situasjonen på dagsordenen og legge fram forslag til egnede løsningsmekanismer for partene i tvisten, som velvillig mellomkomst, mekling, granskning eller forlik. Det høye råd kan imidlertid selv tilby velvillig mellomkomst eller med samtykke fra partene i tvisten innsette seg selv i et meklings-, gransknings- eller forliksorgan. Dersom det anses nødvendig, skal Det høye råd foreslå egnede tiltak for å unngå at tvisten eller situasjonen forverrer seg.
Artikkel 16
Foregående bestemmelse i dette kapittel får ikke anvendelse på en tvist med mindre alle parter i tvisten samtykker i at den kan anvendes på denne tvisten. Dette er imidlertid ikke til hinder for at andre kontraherende parter som ikke er part i tvisten, kan tilby all mulig hjelp for å løse den foreliggende tvisten.
Partene i tvisten skal være velvillig innstilt til slike tilbud om hjelp.
Artikkel 17
Ingen bestemmelse i denne traktat er til hinder for å anvende metoder for fredelig løsning av tvister som er beskrevet i artikkel 33 nr. 1 i De forente nasjoners pakt. Kontraherende parter som er part i en tvist, bør oppmuntres til å treffe tiltak for å løse tvisten ved fredelige forhandlinger før de benytter en av de øvrige prosedyrene som er foreskrevet i De forente nasjoners pakt.
KAPITTEL V
ALMINNELIGE BESTEMMELSER
Artikkel 18Denne traktat skal undertegnes av Republikken Indonesia, Malaysia, Republikken Filippinene, Republikken Singapore og Kongeriket Thailand. Den skal ratifiseres i samsvar med den enkelte signatarstats forfatningsregler. Den skal være åpen for tiltredelse av andre stater i Sørøst-Asia.
Artikkel 19
Denne traktat trer i kraft samme dag det femte ratifikasjonsdokumentet deponeres hos regjeringene i de signatarstater som er utpekt til depositar for denne traktat og ratifikasjons- eller tiltredelsesdokumentene.
Artikkel 20
Denne traktat er utarbeidet på de kontraherende parters offisielle språk, med samme gyldighet for alle språk. Det skal utarbeides en omforent felles oversettelse av tekstene på engelsk. Uenighet om for
tolkningen av fellesteksten skal løses ved forhandling.
SOM BEKREFTELSE PÅ DETTE har de kontraherende parter undertegnet traktaten og påført den sitt segl.
UTFERDIGET i Denpasar, Bali, 24. februar 1976.
Protokoll om endring av traktaten om vennskapelige forbindelser og samarbeid i Sørøst-Asia
Filippinene, 15. desember 1987
Brunei Darussalams regjering Republikken Indonesias regjering Malaysias regjering
Republikken Filippinenes regjering Republikken Singapores regjering Kongeriket Thailands regjering
SOM ØNSKER ytterligere å styrke samarbeidet med alle fredselskende nasjoner, både i og utenfor Sørøst-Asia og særlig med nabostater i den sørøstasiatiske region,
SOM TAR I BETRAKTNING avsnitt 5 i fortalen til traktaten om vennskapelige forbindelser og samarbeid i Sørøst-Asia, utferdiget i Denpasar, Bali, 24. februar 1976 (heretter kalt «vennskapstraktaten»), som viser til at det er nødvendig å samarbeide med alle fredselskende nasjoner, både i og utenfor Sørøst-Asia, for å fremme fred, stabilitet og harmoni i verden,
ER HERVED BLITT ENIGE OM FØLGENDE:
Artikkel 1 Artikkel 18 i vennskapstraktaten skal lyde:
«Denne traktat skal undertegnes av Republikken Indonesia, Malaysia, Republikken Filippinene, Republikken Singapore og Kongeriket Thailand. Den skal ratifiseres i samsvar med den enkelte signatarstats forfatningsregler.
Den skal være åpen for tiltredelse av andre stater i Sørøst-Asia.
Stater utenfor Sørøst-Asia kan også tiltre denne traktat dersom alle sørøstasiatiske stater som har undertegnet traktaten, og Brunei Darussalam samtykker i det.»
Artikkel 2 Artikkel 14 i vennskapstraktaten skal lyde:
«For å løse tvister gjennom regionale prosesser skal de kontraherende parter nedsette et høyt råd som skal bestå av en representant på ministernivå fra hver av de kontraherende parter og skal fungere som et løpende organ som skal sette tvister eller situasjoner som kan forstyrre den regionale freden og harmonien, på dagsordenen.
For alle stater utenfor Sørøst-Asia som har tiltrådt traktaten, skal denne artikkel imidlertid gjelde bare i saker der vedkommende stat er direkte involvert i tvisten som skal løses gjennom regionale prosesser.»
Artikkel 3
Denne protokoll skal ratifiseres og skal tre i kraft samme dag de kontraherende parters siste ratifikasjonsdokument er deponert.
UTFERDIGET i Manila, 15. desember 1987.
Annen protokoll om endring av traktaten om vennskapelige forbindelser og samarbeid i Sørøst-Asia
Manila, Filippinene, 25. juli 1998
Brunei Darussalams regjering Kongeriket Kambodsjas regjering Republikken Indonesias regjering
Den demokratiske folkerepublikk Laos' regjering Malaysias regjering
Myanmarunionens regjering Republikken Filippinenes regjering Republikken Singapores regjering Kongeriket Thailands regjering
Den sosialistiske republikk Vietnams regjering Papua Ny-Guineas regjering,
heretter kalt «de kontraherende parter»,
SOM ØNSKER å sikre nødvendig styrking av samarbeidet med alle fredselskende nasjoner, både i og utenfor Sørøst-Asia og særlig med nabostater i den sørøstasiatiske region,
SOM TAR I BETRAKTNING avsnitt 5 i fortalen til traktaten om vennskapelige forbindelser og samarbeid i Sørøst-Asia, utferdiget i Denpasar, Bali, 24. februar 1976 (heretter kalt «vennskapstraktaten»), som viser til at det er nødvendig å samarbeide med alle fredselskende nasjoner, både i og utenfor Sørøst-Asia, for å fremme fred, stabilitet og harmoni i verden,
ER HERVED BLITT ENIGE OM FØLGENDE:
Artikkel 1 Artikkel 18 tredje ledd i vennskapstraktaten skal lyde:
«Stater utenfor Sørøst-Asia kan også tiltre denne traktat dersom alle sørøstasiatiske stater samtykker i det, det vil si Brunei Darussalam, Kongeriket Kambodsja, Republikken Indonesia, Den demokratiske folkerepublikk Laos, Malaysia, Myanmarunionen, Republikken Filippinene, Republikken Singapore, Kongeriket Thailand og Den sosialistiske republikk Vietnam.»
Artikkel 2
Denne protokoll skal ratifiseres og skal tre i kraft samme dag de kontraherende parters siste ratifikasjonsdokument er deponert.
UTFERDIGET i Manila, 25. juli 1998.
Tredje protokoll om endring av traktaten om vennskapelige forbindelser og samarbeid i Sørøst-Asia
Brunei Darussalam Kongeriket Kambodsja Republikken Indonesia
Den demokratiske folkerepublikk Laos Malaysia
Myanmarunionen Republikken Filippinene Republikken Singapore Kongeriket Thailand
Den sosialistiske republikk Vietnam Australia
Folkerepublikken Bangladesh Folkerepublikken Kina
Den demokratiske folkerepublikk Korea Republikken Frankrike
Republikken India Japan
Mongolia New Zealand
Den islamske republikk Pakistan Papua Ny Guinea
Republikken Korea Den russiske føderasjon
Den demokratiske sosialistiske republikk Sri Lanka Den demokratiske republikk Øst Timor
Republikken Tyrkia De forente stater,
heretter kalt «de kontraherende parter»,
SOM ØNSKER å sikre nødvendig styrking av samarbeidet med alle fredselskende nasjoner, både i og utenfor Sørøst Asia, særlig med nabostater i den sørøstasiatiske region, og med regionale organisasjoner der utelukkende suverene stater er medlem,
SOM TAR I BETRAKTNING avsnitt 5 i fortalen til traktaten om vennskapelige forbindelser og samarbeid i Sørøst Asia, utferdiget i Denpasar, Bali, 24. februar 1976 (heretter kalt «vennskapstraktaten»), som viser til at det er nødvendig å samarbeide med alle fredselskende nasjoner, både i og utenfor Sørøst Asia, for å fremme fred, stabilitet og harmoni i verden,
ER HERVED BLITT ENIGE OM FØLGENDE:
Artikkel 1 Artikkel 18 tredje ledd i vennskapstraktaten skal lyde:
«Denne traktat skal være åpen for tiltredelse av stater utenfor Sørøst Asia og av regionale organisasjoner der utelukkende suverene stater er medlem, dersom alle sørøstasiatiske stater samtykker i det, det vil si Brunei Darussalam, Kongeriket Kambodsja, Republikken Indonesia, Den demokratiske folkerepublikk Laos, Malaysia, Myanmarunionen, Republikken Filippinene, Republikken Singapore, Kongeriket Thailand og Den sosialistiske republikk Vietnam.»
Artikkel 2 Artikkel 14 annet ledd i vennskapstraktaten skal lyde:
«For alle kontraherende parter utenfor Sørøst Asia skal denne artikkel imidlertid gjelde bare i saker der vedkommende kontraherende part er direkte involvert i tvisten som skal løses gjennom regionale prosesser.»
Artikkel 3
Denne protokoll skal ratifiseres og skal tre i kraft samme dag de kontraherende parters siste ratifikasjonsdokument er deponert.
UTFERDIGET i Hanoi, Vietnam, 23. juli 2010 i ett enkelt eksemplar på engelsk.
21. mai 2003 nr. 14
Protokoll om registre over utslipp og transport av forurensende stoffer
I henhold til kgl.res. av 9. mai 2003 ble protokollen undertegnet 21. mai 2003.
I henhold til kgl.res. av 23. mai 2008 ble protokollen ratifisert. Protokollen trådte i kraft 8. oktober 2009.
Protocol on pollutant release and transfer registers to
the Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters
The Parties to this Protocol,
Recalling article 5, paragraph 9, and article 10, paragraph 2, of the 1998 Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters (the Aarhus Convention),
Recognizing that pollutant release and transfer registers provide an important mechanism to increase corporate accountability, reduce pollution and promote sustainable development, as stated in the Lucca Declaration adopted at the first meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention,
Having regard to principle 10 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Having regard also to the principles and commitments agreed to at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in particular the provisions in chapter 19 of Agenda 21,
Taking note of the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations at its nineteenth special session, 1997, in which it called for, inter alia, enhanced national capacities and capabilities for information collection, processing and dissemination, to facilitate public access to information on global environmental issues through appropriate means,
Having regard to the Plan of Implementation of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, which encourages the development of coherent, integrated information on chemicals, such as through national pollutant release and transfer registers,
Taking into account the work of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety, in particular the 2000 Bahia Declaration on Chemical Safety, the Priorities for Action Beyond 2000 and the Pollutant Release and Transfer Register/Emission Inventory Action Plan,
Taking into account also the activities undertaken within the framework of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals,
Taking into account furthermore the work of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, in particular its Council Recommendation on Implementing Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, in which the Council calls upon member countries to establish and make publicly available national pollutant release and transfer registers,
Wishing to provide a mechanism contributing to the ability of every person of present and future generations to live in an environment adequate to his or her health and well-being, by ensuring the development of publicly accessible environmental information systems,
Wishing also to ensure that the development of such systems takes into account principles contributing to sustainable development such as the precautionary approach set forth in principle 15 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development,
Recognizing the link between adequate environmental information systems and the exercise of the rights contained in the Aarhus Convention,
Noting the need for cooperation with other international initiatives concerning pollutants and waste, including the 2001 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and the 1989 Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal,
Recognizing that the objectives of an integrated approach to minimizing pollution and the amount of waste resulting from the operation of industrial installations and other sources are to achieve a high level of protection for the environment as a whole, to move towards sustainable and environmentally sound development and to protect the health of present and future generations,
Convinced of the value of pollutant release and transfer registers as a cost-effective tool for encouraging improvements in environmental performance, for providing public access to information on pollutants released into and transferred in and through communities, and for use by Governments in tracking trends, demonstrating progress in pollution reduction, monitoring compliance with certain international agreements, setting priorities and evaluating progress achieved through environmental policies and programmes,
Believing that pollutant release and transfer registers can bring tangible benefits to industry through the improved management of pollutants,
Noting the opportunities for using data from pollutant release and transfer registers, combined with health, environmental, demographic, economic or other types of relevant information, for the purpose of gaining a better understanding of potential problems, identifying «hot spots», taking preventive and mitigating measures, and setting environmental management priorities,
Recognizing the importance of protecting the privacy of identified or identifiable natural persons in the processing of information reported to pollutant release and transfer registers in accordance with applicable international standards relating to data protection,
Recognizing also the importance of developing internationally compatible national pollutant release and transfer register systems to increase the comparability of data,
Noting that many member States of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the European Community and the Parties to the North American Free Trade Agreement are acting to collect data on pollutant releases and transfers from various sources and to make these data publicly accessible, and recognizing especially in this area the long and valuable experience in certain countries,
Taking into account the different approaches in existing emission registers and the need to avoid duplication, and recognizing therefore that a certain degree of flexibility is needed,
Urging the progressive development of national pollutant release and transfer registers,
Urging also the establishment of links between national pollutant release and transfer registers and information systems on other releases of public concern,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1 OBJECTIVE
The objective of this Protocol is to enhance public access to information through the establishment of coherent, integrated, nationwide pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs) in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol, which could facilitate public participation in environmental decision-making as well as contribute to the prevention and reduction of pollution of the environment.
Article 2 DEFINITIONS For the purposes of this Protocol,
1. «Party» means, unless the text indicates otherwise, a State or a regional economic integration organization referred to in article 24 which has consented to be bound by this Protocol and for which the Protocol is in force;
2. «Convention» means the Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, done at Aarhus, Denmark, on 25 June 1998;
3. «The public» means one or more natural or legal persons, and, in accordance with national legislation or practice, their associations, organizations or groups;
4. «Facility» means one or more installations on the same site, or on adjoining sites, that are owned or operated by the same natural or legal person;
5. «Competent authority» means the national authority or authorities, or any other competent body or bodies, designated by a Party to manage a national pollutant release and transfer register system;
6. «Pollutant» means a substance or a group of substances that may be harmful to the environment or to human health on account of its properties and of its introduction into the environment;
7. «Release» means any introduction of pollutants into the environment as a result of any human activity, whether deliberate or accidental, routine or non-routine, including spilling, emitting, discharging, injecting, disposing or dumping, or through sewer systems without final waste-water treatment;
8. «Off-site transfer» means the movement beyond the boundaries of the facility of either pollutants or waste destined for disposal or recovery and of pollutants in waste water destined for waste-water treatment;
9. «Diffuse sources» means the many smaller or scattered sources from which pollutants may be released to land, air or water, whose combined impact on those media may be significant and for which it is impractical to collect reports from each individual source;
10. The terms «national» and «nationwide» shall, with respect to the obligations under the Protocol on Parties that are regional economic integration organizations, be construed as applying to the region in question unless otherwise indicated;
11. «Waste» means substances or objects which are:
(a) Disposed of or recovered;
(b) Intended to be disposed of or recovered; or
(c) Required by the provisions of national law to be disposed of or recovered;
12. «Hazardous waste» means waste that is defined as hazardous by the provisions of national law;
13. «Other waste» means waste that is not hazardous waste;
14. «Waste water» means used water containing substances or objects that is subject to regulation by national law.
Article 3
GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. Each Party shall take the necessary legislative, regulatory and other measures, and appropriate enforcement measures, to implement the provisions of this Protocol.
2. The provisions of this Protocol shall not affect the right of a Party to maintain or introduce a more extensive or more publicly accessible pollutant release and transfer register than required by this Protocol.
3. Each Party shall take the necessary measures to require that employees of a facility and members of the public who report a violation by a facility of national laws implementing this Protocol to public authorities are not penalized, persecuted or harassed by that facility or public authorities for their actions in reporting the violation.
4. In the implementation of this Protocol, each Party shall be guided by the precautionary approach as set forth in principle 15 of the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.
5. To reduce duplicative reporting, pollutant release and transfer register systems may be integrated to the degree practicable with existing information sources such as reporting mechanisms under licences or operating permits.
6. Parties shall strive to achieve convergence among national pollutant release and transfer registers.
Article 4
CORE ELEMENTS OF A POLLUTANT RELEASE AND TRANSFER REGISTER SYSTEM In accordance with this Protocol, each Party shall establish and maintain a publicly accessible national pollutant release and transfer register that:
(a) Is facility-specific with respect to reporting on point sources;
(b) Accommodates reporting on diffuse sources;
(c) Is pollutant-specific or waste-specific, as appropriate;
(d) Is multimedia, distinguishing among releases to air, land and water;
(e) Includes information on transfers;
(f) Is based on mandatory reporting on a periodic basis;
(g) Includes standardized and timely data, a limited number of standardized reporting thresholds and limited provisions, if any, for confidentiality;
(h) Is coherent and designed to be user-friendly and publicly accessible, including in electronic form;
(i) Allows for public participation in its development and modification; and
(j) Is a structured, computerized database or several linked databases maintained by the competent authority.
Article 5
DESIGN AND STRUCTURE
1. Each Party shall ensure that the data held on the register referred to in article 4 are presented in both aggregated and non-aggregated forms, so that releases and transfers can be searched and identified according to:
(a) Facility and its geographical location;
(b) Activity;
(c) Owner or operator, and, as appropriate, company;
(d) Pollutant or waste, as appropriate;
(e) Each of the environmental media into which the pollutant is released; and
(f) As specified in article 7, paragraph 5, the destination of the transfer and, where appropriate, the disposal or recovery operation for waste.
2. Each Party shall also ensure that the data can be searched and identified according to those diffuse sources which have been included in the register.
3. Each Party shall design its register taking into account the possibility of its future expansion and ensuring that the reporting data from at least the ten previous reporting years are publicly accessible.
4. The register shall be designed for maximum ease of public access through electronic means, such as the Internet. The design shall allow that, under normal operating conditions, the information on the register is continuously and immediately available through electronic means.
5. Each Party should provide links in its register to its relevant existing, publicly accessible databases on subject matters related to environmental protection.
6. Each Party shall provide links in its register to the pollutant release and transfer registers of other Parties to the Protocol and, where feasible, to those of other countries.
Article 6
SCOPE OF THE REGISTER 1. Each Party shall ensure that its register includes the information on:
(a) Releases of pollutants required to be reported under article 7, paragraph 2;
(b) Off-site transfers required to be reported under article 7, paragraph 2; and (c) Releases of pollutants from diffuse sources required under article 7, paragraph 4.
2. Having assessed the experience gained from the development of national pollutant release and transfer registers and the implementation of this Protocol, and taking into account relevant international processes, the Meeting of the Parties shall review the reporting requirements under this Protocol and shall consider the following issues in its further development:
(a) Revision of the activities specified in annex I;
(b) Revision of the pollutants specified in annex II;
(c) Revision of the thresholds in annexes I and II; and
(d) Inclusion of other relevant aspects such as information on on-site transfers, storage, the specification of reporting requirements for diffuse sources or the development of criteria for including pollutants under this Protocol.
Article 7
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 1. Each Party shall either:
(a) Require the owner or the operator of each individual facility within its jurisdiction that undertakes one or more of the activities specified in annex I above the applicable capacity threshold specified in annex I, column 1, and:
(i) Releases any pollutant specified in annex II in quantities exceeding the applicable thresholds specified in annex II, column 1;
(ii) Transfers off-site any pollutant specified in annex II in quantities exceeding the applicable threshold specified in annex II, column 2, where the Party has opted for pollutant-specific reporting of transfers pursuant to paragraph 5 (d);
(iii) Transfers off-site hazardous waste exceeding 2 tons per year or other waste exceeding 2,000 tons per year, where the Party has opted for waste-specific reporting of transfers pursuant to paragraph 5 (d); or
(iv) Transfers off-site any pollutant specified in annex II in waste water destined for waste-water treatment in quantities exceeding the applicable threshold specified in annex II, column 1b;
to undertake the obligation imposed on that owner or operator pursuant to paragraph 2; or (b) Require the owner or the operator of each individual facility within its jurisdiction that
undertakes one or more of the activities specified in annex I at or above the employee threshold specified in annex I, column 2, and manufactures, processes or uses any pollutant specified in annex II in quantities exceeding the applicable threshold specified in annex II, column 3, to undertake the obligation imposed on that owner or operator pursuant to paragraph 2.
2. Each Party shall require the owner or operator of a facility referred to in paragraph 1 to submit the information specified in paragraphs 5 and 6, and in accordance with the requirements therein, with respect to those pollutants and wastes for which thresholds were exceeded.
3. In order to achieve the objective of this Protocol, a Party may decide with respect to a particular pollutant to apply either a release threshold or a manufacture, process or use threshold, provided that this increases the relevant information on releases or transfers available in its register.
4. Each Party shall ensure that its competent authority collects, or shall designate one or more public authorities or competent bodies to collect, the information on releases of pollutants from diffuse sources specified in paragraphs 7 and 8, for inclusion in its register.
5. Each Party shall require the owners or operators of the facilities required to report under paragraph 2 to complete and submit to its competent authority, the following information on a facility-specific basis:
(a) The name, street address, geographical location and the activity or activities of the reporting facility, and the name of the owner or operator, and, as appropriate, company;
(b) The name and numerical identifier of each pollutant required to be reported pursuant to paragraph 2;
(c) The amount of each pollutant required to be reported pursuant to paragraph 2 released from the facility to the environment in the reporting year, both in aggregate and according to whether the release is to air, to water or to land, including by underground injection;
(d) Either:
(i) The amount of each pollutant required to be reported pursuant to paragraph 2 that is transferred off-site in the reporting year, distinguishing between the amounts transferred for disposal and for recovery, and the name and address of the facility receiving the transfer; or
(ii) The amount of waste required to be reported pursuant to paragraph 2 transferred off-site in the reporting year, distinguishing between hazardous waste and other waste, for any operations of recovery or disposal, indicating respectively with «R» or «D» whether the waste is destined for disposal or recovery pursuant to annex III and, for transboundary movements of hazardous waste, the name and address of the disposer or recoverer of the waste and the actual disposal or recovery site receiving the transfer;
(e) The amount of each pollutant in waste water required to be reported pursuant to paragraph 2 transferred off-site in the reporting year; and
(f) The type of methodology used to derive the information referred to in subparagraphs (c) to (e), according to article 9, paragraph 2, indicating whether the information is based on measurement, calculation or estimation.
6. The information referred to in paragraph 5 (c) to (e) shall include information on releases and transfers resulting from routine activities and from extraordinary events.
7. Each Party shall present on its register, in an adequate spatial disaggregation, the information on releases of pollutants from diffuse sources for which that Party determines that data are being collected by the relevant authorities and can be practicably included. Where the Party determines that no such data exist, it shall take measures to initiate reporting on releases of relevant pollutants from one or more diffuse sources in accordance with its national priorities.
8. The information referred to in paragraph 7 shall include information on the type of methodology used to derive the information.
Article 8
REPORTING CYCLE
1. Each Party shall ensure that the information required to be incorporated in its register is publicly available, compiled and presented on the register by calendar year. The reporting year is the calendar year to which that information relates. For each Party, the first reporting year is the calendar year after the Protocol enters into force for that Party. The reporting required under article 7 shall be annual.
However, the second reporting year may be the second calendar year following the first reporting year.
2. Each Party that is not a regional economic integration organization shall ensure that the information is incorporated into its register within fifteen months from the end of each reporting year. However, the information for the first reporting year shall be incorporated into its register within two years from the end of that reporting year.
3. Each Party that is a regional economic integration organization shall ensure that the information for a particular reporting year is incorporated into its register six months after the Parties that are not regional economic integration organizations are required to do so.
Article 9
DATA COLLECTION AND RECORD-KEEPING
1. Each Party shall require the owners or operators of the facilities subject to the reporting requirements of article 7 to collect the data needed to determine, in accordance with paragraph 2 below and with appropriate frequency, the facility's releases and off-site transfers subject to reporting under article 7 and to keep available for the competent authorities the records of the data from which the reported information was derived for a period of five years, starting from the end of the reporting year concerned. These records shall also describe the methodology used for data gathering.
2. Each Party shall require the owners or operators of the facilities subject to reporting under article 7 to use the best available information, which may include monitoring data, emission factors, mass balance equations, indirect monitoring or other calculations, engineering judgments and other methods. Where appropriate, this should be done in accordance with internationally approved methodologies.
Article 10
QUALITY ASSESSMENT
1. Each Party shall require the owners or operators of the facilities subject to the reporting requirements of article 7, paragraph 1, to assure the quality of the information that they report.
2. Each Party shall ensure that the data contained in its register are subject to quality assessment by the competent authority, in particular as to their completeness, consistency and credibility, taking into account any guidelines that may be developed by the Meeting of the Parties.
Article 11
PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION
1. Each Party shall ensure public access to information contained in its pollutant release and transfer register, without an interest having to be stated, and according to the provisions of this Protocol, primarily by ensuring that its register provides for direct electronic access through public telecommunications networks.
2. Where the information contained in its register is not easily publicly accessible by direct electronic means, each Party shall ensure that its competent authority upon request provides that information by any other effective means, as soon as possible and at the latest within one month after the request has been submitted.
3. Subject to paragraph 4, each Party shall ensure that access to information contained in its register is free of charge.
4. Each Party may allow its competent authority to make a charge for reproducing and mailing the specific information referred to in paragraph 2, but such charge shall not exceed a reasonable amount.
5. Where the information contained in its register is not easily publicly accessible by direct electronic means, each Party shall facilitate electronic access to its register in publicly accessible locations, for example in public libraries, offices of local authorities or other appropriate places.
Article 12 CONFIDENTIALITY
1. Each Party may authorize the competent authority to keep information held on the register confidential where public disclosure of that information would adversely affect:
(a) International relations, national defence or public security;
(b) The course of justice, the ability of a person to receive a fair trial or the ability of a public authority to conduct an enquiry of a criminal or disciplinary nature;
(c) The confidentiality of commercial and industrial information, where such confidentiality is protected by law in order to protect a legitimate economic interest;
(d) Intellectual property rights; or
(e) The confidentiality of personal data and/or files relating to a natural person if that person has not consented to the disclosure of the information to the public, where such confidentiality is provided for in national law.
The aforementioned grounds for confidentiality shall be interpreted in a restrictive way, taking into account the public interest served by disclosure and whether the information relates to releases into the environment.
2. Within the framework of paragraph 1 (c), any information on releases which is relevant for the protection of the environment shall be considered for disclosure according to national law.
3. Whenever information is kept confidential according to paragraph 1, the register shall indicate what type of information has been withheld, through, for example, providing generic chemical information if possible, and for what reason it has been withheld.
Article 13
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL POLLUTANT RELEASE AND TRANSFER REGISTERS
1. Each Party shall ensure appropriate opportunities for public participation in the development of its national pollutant release and transfer register, within the framework of its national law.
2. For the purpose of paragraph 1, each Party shall provide the opportunity for free public access to the information on the proposed measures concerning the development of its national pollutant release and transfer register and for the submission of any comments, information, analyses or opinions that are relevant to the decision-making process, and the relevant authority shall take due account of such public input.
3. Each Party shall ensure that, when a decision to establish or significantly change its register has been taken, information on the decision and the considerations on which it is based are made publicly available in a timely manner.
Article 14
ACCESS TO JUSTICE
1. Each Party shall, within the framework of its national legislation, ensure that any person who considers that his or her request for information under article 11, paragraph 2, has been ignored, wrongfully refused, whether in part or in full, inadequately answered, or otherwise not dealt with in accordance with the provisions of that paragraph has access to a review procedure before a court of law or another independent and impartial body established by law.
2. The requirements in paragraph 1 are without prejudice to the respective rights and obligations of Parties under existing treaties applicable between them dealing with the subject matter of this article.
Article 15
CAPACITY-BUILDING
1. Each Party shall promote public awareness of its pollutant release and transfer register, and shall ensure that assistance and guidance are provided in accessing its register and in understanding and using the information contained in it.
2. Each Party should provide adequate capacity-building for and guidance to the responsible authorities and bodies to assist them in carrying out their duties under this Protocol.
Article 16
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 1. The Parties shall, as appropriate, cooperate and assist each other:
(a) In international actions in support of the objectives of this Protocol;
(b) On the basis of mutual agreement between the Parties concerned, in implementing national systems in pursuance of this Protocol;
(c) In sharing information under this Protocol on releases and transfers within border areas; and (d) In sharing information under this Protocol concerning transfers among Parties.
2. The Parties shall encourage cooperation among each other and with relevant international organizations, as appropriate, to promote:
(a) Public awareness at the international level;
(b) The transfer of technology; and
(c) The provision of technical assistance to Parties that are developing countries and Parties with economies in transition in matters relating to this Protocol.
Article 17
MEETING OF THE PARTIES
1. A Meeting of the Parties is hereby established. Its first session shall be convened no later than two years after the entry into force of this Protocol. Thereafter, ordinary sessions of the Meeting of the Parties shall be held sequentially with or parallel to ordinary meetings of the Parties to the Convention, unless otherwise decided by the Parties to this Protocol. The Meeting of the Parties shall hold an extraordinary session if it so decides in the course of an ordinary session or at the written request of any Party provided that, within six months of it being communicated by the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe to all Parties, the said request is supported by at least one third of these Parties.
2. The Meeting of the Parties shall keep under continuous review the implementation and development of this Protocol on the basis of regular reporting by the Parties and, with this purpose in mind, shall:
(a) Review the development of pollutant release and transfer registers, and promote their progressive strengthening and convergence;
(b) Establish guidelines facilitating reporting by the Parties to it, bearing in mind the need to avoid duplication of effort in this regard;
(c) Establish a programme of work;
(d) Consider and, where appropriate, adopt measures to strengthen international cooperation in accordance with article 16;
(e) Establish such subsidiary bodies as it deems necessary;
(f) Consider and adopt proposals for such amendments to this Protocol and its annexes as are deemed necessary for the purposes of this Protocol, in accordance with the provisions of article 20;
(g) At its first session, consider and by consensus adopt rules of procedure for its sessions and those of its subsidiary bodies, taking into account any rules of procedure adopted by the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention;
(h) Consider establishing financial arrangements by consensus and technical assistance mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of this Protocol;
(i) Seek, where appropriate, the services of other relevant international bodies in the achievement of the objectives of this Protocol; and
(j) Consider and take any additional action that may be required to further the objectives of this Protocol, such as the adoption of guidelines and recommendations which promote its implementation.
3. The Meeting of the Parties shall facilitate the exchange of information on the experience gained in reporting transfers using the pollutant-specific and waste-specific approaches, and shall review that experience in order to investigate the possibility of convergence between the two approaches, taking into account the public interest in information in accordance with article 1 and the overall effectiveness of national pollutant release and transfer registers.
4. The United Nations, its specialized agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any State or regional economic integration organization entitled under article 24 to sign this Protocol but which is not a Party to it, and any intergovernmental organization qualified in the fields to which the Protocol relates, shall be entitled to participate as observers in the sessions of the Meeting of the Parties. Their admission and participation shall be subject to the rules of procedure adopted by the Meeting of the Parties.
5. Any non-governmental organization qualified in the fields to which this Protocol relates which has informed the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe of its wish to be represented at a session of the Meeting of the Parties shall be entitled to participate as an observer unless one third of the Parties present at the session raise objections. Their admission and participation shall be subject to the rules of procedure adopted by the Meeting of the Parties.
Article 18 RIGHT TO VOTE
1. Except as provided for in paragraph 2, each Party to this Protocol shall have one vote.
2. Regional economic integration organizations, in matters within their competence, shall exercise their right to vote with a number of votes equal to the number of their member States which are Parties.
Such organizations shall not exercise their right to vote if their member States exercise theirs, and vice versa.
Article 19 ANNEXES
Annexes to this Protocol shall form an integral part thereof and, unless expressly provided otherwise, a reference to this Protocol constitutes at the same time a reference to any annexes thereto.