Notification by the Consultative Parties of the list of Observers under Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty and Article 14 of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty through the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty

The Representatives,

Recalling that Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty and Article 14 of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty provide that the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties shall inform the other Consultative Parties of the designation of observers to carry out inspections;
Bearing in mind that since the entry into force of the Antarctic Treaty and the subsequent creation of the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (“the Secretariat”), new and more efficient ways of sending and exchanging information have been developed, such as the circulars that the Secretariat sends to the Contracting Parties via electronic mail;
Recalling in this regard Article 2.2 (c) of Measure 1 (2003);
Considering that the preservation and distribution of information constitutes one of the principal functions of the Secretariat;

Decide that:

1. the communication of the names of designated observers and the notice of termination of their appointment through the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (“the Secretariat”) is considered to be a suitable and adequate means of communication in conformity with Article VII (1) of the Antarctic Treaty and Article 14 of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty;
2. in addition, this information may, but need not, also be communicated to each of the Consultative Parties via the traditional diplomatic channels;
3. once such information has been received, the Secretariat shall immediately notify all of the Consultative Parties via a circular sent through electronic mail;
4. the Secretariat shall include all information provided in communications identified in paragraph 1 of this Decision on the restricted section of its website; and
5. Decision 7 (2013) be revoked.