STATUS REPORT

CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF MILITARY OR ANY OTHER HOSTILE USE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES, NEW YORK

(New York, 10/12/1976)

ENTRY INTO FORCE : 06-Oct-82

Depositary: N/A

Last updated by PacLII: N/A
Parties Date of Signature Date of ratification
/
Other
Entry Into Force Domestication Legislation
(where available)
Papua New Guinea   28 October 1980 a    
Solomon Islands   19 Jun 1981 d    
 
Afghanistan   22 October 1985 a    
Algeria   19 Dec 1991 a    
Antigua and Barbuda   25 October 1988 d    
Argentina (3)   20 Mar 1987 a    
Armenia   15 May 2002 a    
Associated States (Antigua, Dominica, St. Kitts Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia and St. Vincent), Territories under the territorial sovereignty of the United Kingdom, the Solomon Islands, State of Brunei, United Kingdom Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in the island of Cyprus        
Australia 31 May 1978 7 Sep 1984    
Austria [#]   17 Jan 1990 a    
Bangladesh   3 October 1979 a    
Belarus 18 May 1977 7 Jun 1978    
Belgium 18 May 1977 12 July 1982    
Benin 10 Jun 1977 30 Jun 1986    
Bolivia 18 May 1977      
Brazil 9 November 1977 12 October 1984    
Bulgaria 18 May 1977 31 May 1978    
Canada 18 May 1977 11 Jun 1981    
Cape Verde   3 October 1979 a    
Chile   26 April 1994 a    
Cook Islands (1)   7 September 1984    
Costa Rica   7 February 1996 a    
Cuba 23 Sep 1977 10 April 1978    
Cyprus 7 October 1977 12 April 1978    
Czech Republic   22 February 1993 d    
Democratic People's Republic of Korea   8 November 1984 a    
Democratic Republic of the Congo 28 February 1978      
Denmark 18 May 1977 19 April 1978    
Dominica   9 November 1992 d    
Egypt   1 April 1982 a    
Ethiopia 18 May 1977      
Finland 18 May 1977 12 May 1978    
Germany [#] 18 May 1977 24 May 1983    
Ghana 21 Mar 1978 22 Jun 1978    
Greece   23 August 1983 a    
Guatemala [#]   21 Mar 1988 a    
Holy See 27 May 1977      
Hungary 18 May 1977 19 April 1978    
Iceland 18 May 1977      
India 15 Dec 1977 15 Dec 1978    
Iran (Islamic Republic of) 18 May 1977      
Iraq 15 August 1977      
Ireland 18 May 1977 16 Dec 1982    
Italy 18 May 1977 27 November 1981    
Japan   9 Jun 1982 a    
Kuwait   2 Jan 1980 a    
Lao People's Democratic Republic 13 April 1978 5 October 1978    
Lebanon 18 May 1977      
Liberia 18 May 1977      
Lithuania   16 April 2002 a    
Luxembourg 18 May 1977      
Malawi   5 October 1978 a    
Mauritius   9 Dec 1992 a    
Mongolia 18 May 1977 19 May 1978    
Morocco 18 May 1977      
Netherlands [#] 18 May 1977 15 April 1983    
New Zealand (1)   7 Sep 1984 a    
Nicaragua 11 August 1977      
Niger   17 February 1993 a    
Niue (1)   7 September 1984    
Norway 18 May 1977 15 February 1979    
Pakistan   27 February 1986 a    
Panama   13 May 2003 a    
Poland 18 May 1977 8 Jun 1978    
Portugal 18 May 1977      
Republic of Korea [#]   2 Dec 1986 a    
Romania 18 May 1977 6 May 1983    
Russian Federation 18 May 1977 30 May 1978    
Saint Lucia   27 May 1993 d    
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines   27 April 1999 d    
Sao Tome and Principe   5 October 1979 a    
Sierra Leone 12 April 1978      
Slovakia   28 May 1993 d    
Spain 18 May 1977 19 July 1978    
Sri Lanka 8 Jun 1977 25 April 1978    
Sweden   27 April 1984 a    
Switzerland [#]   5 August 1988 a    
Syrian Arab Republic 4 August 1977      
Tajikistan   12 October 1999 a    
Territories 16 May 1978      
Tunisia 11 May 1978 11 May 1978    
Turkey [#] 18 May 1977      
Uganda 18 May 197      
Ukraine 18 May 197 13 Jun 1978    
United Kingdom (Territorial Application) Date of receipt of notification      
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 18 May 197 16 May 1978    
United States of America 18 May 1977 17 Jan 1980    
Uruguay   16 Sep 1993 a    
Uzbekistan   26 May 1993 a    
Viet Nam   26 August 1980 a    
Yemen 2 18 May 1977 20 July 1977    
Keys:
  • Accession (a)
  • Acceptance (A)
  • Approval (AA)
  • Definitive Signature (s)
  • Formal confirmation (c)
  • Participation (P)
  • Notification (of provisional application, of special undertaking, etc) (n)
  • Ratification (Rt)
  • Reservation (r)
  • Succession (d)

(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made upon ratification, accession or succession.)

Argentina

The Argentine Republic interprets the terms "widespread, long-lasting or severe effects" in article I, paragraph 1, of the Convention in accordance with the definitions agreed upon in the understanding on that article. It likewise interprets articles II, III and VIII in accordance with the relevant understandings


Austria [up]

Reservation

Considering the obligations resulting from its status as a permanently neutral state, the Republic of Austria declares a reservation to the effect that its co-operation within the frame work of this Convention cannot exceed the limits determined by the Status of permanent neutrality and membership with the United Nations.


Germany [up]

Upon signature

With the proviso that the correct designation of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Russian language is `Federativnuju Respubliku Germaniju'.

16 June 1977

The correct designation of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Russian language following the preposition `sa' in the Russian text was spelled out in the afore-mentioned proviso as `Federativnuju Respubliku Germaniju'.


Guatemala [up]

Reservation

Guatemala accepts the text of article III, on condition that the use of environmental modification techniques for peaceful purposes does not adversely affect its territory or the use of its natural resources

Kuwait (5)

Reservation

This Convention binds the State of Kuwait only towards States Parties thereto. Its obligatory character shall ipso facto terminate with respect to any hostile state which does not abide by the prohibition contained therein

Understanding

It is understood that accession to the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or any other hostile use of Environmental Modification Techniques, done in Geneva , 1977, does not mean in any way recognition of Israel by the State of Kuwait. Furthermore, no treaty relation will arise between the State of Kuwait and Israel .


Netherlands [up]

Declaration

The Kingdom of the Netherlands accepts the obligations laid down in article 1 of the said Convention as extending to states which are not a party to the Convention and which act in conformity with article 1 of the Convention.

New Zealand

The Government of New Zealand hereby declares its interpretation that nothing in the Convention detracts from or limits the obligations of States to refrain from military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques which are contrary to international law


Republic of Korea [up]

It is the understanding of the Government of the Republic of Korea that any technique for deliberately changing the natural state of rivers falls within the meaning of the term 'environmental modification techniques' as defined in article II of the Convention

It is further understood that military or any other hostile use of such techniques, which could cause flooding, inundation, reduction in the water-level, drying up, destruction of hydrotechnical installations or other harmful consequences, comes within the scope of the Convention, provided it meets the criteria set out in article I therefore.


Switzerland [up]

Because of the obligation incumbent upon it by virtue of its status of perpetual neutrality, Switzerland must make a general reservation specifying that its co-operation in the framework of this Convention cannot go beyond the limits imposed by this status. This reservation refers, in particular, to article V, paragraph 5, of the Convention, and to any similar clause which may replace or supplement this provision in the Convention (or in any other arrangement)


Turkey [up]

Upon signature

Interpretative statement

In the opinion of the Turkish Government the terms 'wide- spread', 'long lasting' and 'severe effects' contained in the Con- vention need to be clearly defined. So long as this clarification is not made the Government of Turkey will be compelled to in- terpret itself the terms in question and consequently it reserves the right to do so as and when required

Furthermore, the Government of Turkey believes that the difference between `military or any other hostile purposes' and `peaceful purposes' should be more clearly defined so as to pre- vent subjective evaluations.

Notes

1. Territorial application to Cook Islands and Niue by virtue of New Zealand's accession

2. Democratic Yemen had acceded to the Convention on 12 June 1979

3. The Government of Argentina has specified that the understand- ings referred to in the declaration are the Understandings adopted as part of the report of the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament to the General Assembly at its thirty-first session, published under the symbol A/31/27. [Report of the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament to the General Assembly (Volume I, Annex I)

4. On 23 June 1980, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Israel the following communication concerning the above-mentioned understanding

5. "The Government of Israel has noted the political character of the statement made by the Government of Kuwait . In the view of the Government of Israel , this Convention is not the proper place for making such political pronouncements. Moreover, the said declaration cannot in any way affect whatever obligations are binding upon Kuwait , under general international law or under particular conventions. Insofar as concerns the substance of the matter, the Government of Israel will adopt towards the Government of Kuwait an attitude of complete reciprocity.


© 1998 University of the South Pacific

PacLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback| Report an error
URL: http://www.paclii.org/pits/en/status_pages/1976-3.html