Notification by the Consultative Parties regarding 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 (1) of the Antarctic Treaty (“the Treaty”) and Article 14 of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (“the Protocol”) provide that the Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty shall inform the other Consultative Parties regarding the designation of observers to carry out inspections;
Taking into account that, since the entry into force of the Treaty and since the subsequent creation of the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (“the Secretariat”), new and more efficient ways of submitting and exchanging information have been developed, such as circulars that the Secretariat sends to Contracting Parties by email;
Recalling in this regard Article 2.2 (c) of Measure 1 (2003), which provides that the Secretariat shall facilitate and coordinate communications and exchange of information amongst Parties on all exchanges required under the Treaty and the Protocol;
Considering that the preservation and distribution of information constitutes one of the main functions of the Secretariat;
Seeking to give as much certainty as possible to the start and termination dates of the designated observer’s appointment, in order to always keep the current list of observers updated;
Decide that:
1. communication through the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty of the appointment of designated observers is considered an appropriate form of communication, in accordance 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 traditional diplomatic channels;
3. once such information has been received, the Secretariat will immediately notify all Consultative Parties via a circular sent through email;
4. the Secretariat will include all information provided in the communications identified in paragraph 1 of this Decision in the restricted access area of its website;
5. the communication of the appointment of designated observers will include both the start and termination date of their appointment;
6. in the absence of specification of the termination date, the termination date will be 3 years after the date of appointment;
7. should a designated observer’s appointment cease before the termination date communicated for their appointment or before the date indicated in paragraph 6 of this Decision, the Party will communicate this development to the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty in order to keep the current list updated; and
8. Decision 2 (2019) be revoked.
The Representatives,
Recalling that Article VII (1) of the Antarctic Treaty (“the Treaty”) and Article 14 of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (“the Protocol”) provide that the Consultative Parties to the Antarctic Treaty shall inform the other Consultative Parties regarding the designation of observers to carry out inspections;
Taking into account that, since the entry into force of the Treaty and since the subsequent creation of the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty (“the Secretariat”), new and more efficient ways of submitting and exchanging information have been developed, such as circulars that the Secretariat sends to Contracting Parties by email;
Recalling in this regard Article 2.2 (c) of Measure 1 (2003), which provides that the Secretariat shall facilitate and coordinate communications and exchange of information amongst Parties on all exchanges required under the Treaty and the Protocol;
Considering that the preservation and distribution of information constitutes one of the main functions of the Secretariat;
Seeking to give as much certainty as possible to the start and termination dates of the designated observer’s appointment, in order to always keep the current list of observers updated;
Decide that:
1. communication through the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty of the appointment of designated observers is considered an appropriate form of communication, in accordance 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 traditional diplomatic channels;
3. once such information has been received, the Secretariat will immediately notify all Consultative Parties via a circular sent through email;
4. the Secretariat will include all information provided in the communications identified in paragraph 1 of this Decision in the restricted access area of its website;
5. the communication of the appointment of designated observers will include both the start and termination date of their appointment;
6. in the absence of specification of the termination date, the termination date will be 3 years after the date of appointment;
7. should a designated observer’s appointment cease before the termination date communicated for their appointment or before the date indicated in paragraph 6 of this Decision, the Party will communicate this development to the Secretariat of the Antarctic Treaty in order to keep the current list updated; and
8. Decision 2 (2019) be revoked.
