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Art.3 |
Article 3 GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Art.3.1 |
1. The Contracting Parties may enter into bilateral or multilateral agreements, including regional or subregional agreements, for the protection of the marine and coastal environment of the West and Central African Region, provided that such agreements are consistent with this Convention and conform to international law. Copies of such agreements shall be deposited with the Organization and, through the Organization, communicated to all Contracting Parties. |
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Art.3.2 |
2. Nothing in this Convention or related protocols shall be deemed to affect obligations assumed by a Contracting Party under agreements previously concluded. |
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Art.3.3 |
3. Nothing in this Convention shall prejudice the codification and development of the law of the sea by the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea convened pursuant to resolution 2750 C (XXV) of the General Assembly of the United Nations, nor the present or future claims and legal views of any Contracting Party concerning the nature and extent of its maritime jurisdiction. |
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Art.16 |
Article 16 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS |
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Art.16.1 |
1. The Contracting Parties designate the United Nations Environment Programme as the secretariat of the Convention to carry out the following functions: |
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Art.16.1.i |
(i)To prepare and convene the meetings of Contracting Parties and conferences provided for in articles 17 and 18; |
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Art.16.1.ii |
(ii)To transmit to the Contracting Parties notifications, reports and other information received in accordance with articles 3, 12, and 22; |
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Art.16.1.iii |
(iii)To perform the functions assigned to it by the protocols to this Convention; |
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Art.16.1.iv |
(iv)To consider enquiries by, and information from, the Contracting Parties and to consult with them on questions relating to this Convention and its related protocols and annexes thereto; |
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Art.16.1.v |
(v)To co-ordinate the implementation of cooperative activities agreed upon by the meetings of Contracting Parties and conferences provided for in article 17; |
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Art.16.1.vi |
(vi)To enter into such administrative arrangements as may be required for the effective discharge of the secretariat functions. |
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Art.16.2 |
2. Each Contracting Party shall designate an appropriate national authority as responsible for the co-ordination of national efforts for implementing this Convention and its related protocols. The appropriate national authority shall serve as the channel of communication between the Contracting Party and the Organization. |
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Art.17 |
Article 17 MEETINGS OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES |
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Art.17.1 |
1. The Contracting Parties shall hold ordinary meetings once every two years and extraordinary meetings at any other time deemed necessary, upon the request of the Organization or at the request of any Contracting Party, supported by at least three other Contracting Parties. |
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Art.17.2 |
2. It shall be the function of the meetings of the Contracting Parties to keep under review the implementation of this Convention and its related protocols and, in particular: |
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Art.17.2.i |
(i)To consider reports submitted by the Contracting Parties under article 22; |
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Art.17.2.ii |
(ii)To adopt, review and amend as required annexes to this Convention and to its related protocols, in accordance with the provisions of article 20; |
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Art.17.2.iii |
(iii)To make recommendations |
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Art.18 |
Article 18 ADOPTION OF ADDITIONAL PROTOCOLS |
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Art.18.1 |
1. The Contracting Parties, at a conference of plenipotentiaries, may adopt additional protocols to this Convention pursuant to paragraph 2 of article 4. |
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Art.18.2 |
2. A conference of plenipotentiaries shall be convened for the purpose of adopting additional protocols by the Organization at the request of not less than two thirds of the Contracting Parties. |
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Art.18.3 |
3. Pending the entry into force of this Convention, the Organization may, after consulting with the signatories to this Convention, convene a conference of plenipotentiaries for the purpose of adopting additional protocols. |
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Art.19 |
Article 19 AMENDMENT OF THE CONVENTION OR PROTOCOLS |
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Art.19.1 |
1. Any Contracting Party to this Convention may propose amendments to the Convention or to any of the protocols. The texts of any such draft amendments shall be communicated to the Contracting Parties by the Organization six months before their submission to an ordinary meeting of the Contracting Parties for examination. |
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Art.19.2 |
2. Any amendment shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Parties and shall enter into force twelve months after its approval. |
