UNITED STATES MISSION August 3, 1984 No. 167 The Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva presents its compliments to the Permanent Mission of Japan to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva and has the honor to request the Permanent Mission of Japan to confirm, on behalf of the Government of Japan, the understanding of the Government of the United States of America that both exploration and commercial recovery of deep seabed mineral resources are regulated by the Law on Interim Measures for Deep Seabed Mining, July 1982, and therefore the Provisional Understanding Regarding Deep Seabed Matters will be implemented accordingly. The Permanent Mission of the United States of America takes this opportunity to renew to the Permanent Mission of Japan the assurance of its highest consideration. The Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Geneva presents its compliments to the Permanent Mission of the United States of America and, with reference to the latter's Note Verbale dated August 3, 1984, has the honor to confirm on behalf of the Government of Japan, the understanding of the Government of the United States of America that both exploration and commercial recovery of deep seabed mineral resources are regulated by the Law on Interim Measures for Deep Seabed Mining, July 1982, and therefore the Provisional Understanding Regarding Deep Seabed Matters will be implemented accordingly. [Initials] Convention for a North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), Ottawa, 1990 Done at Ottawa 12 December 1990 Entered into force 24 March 1992 Depositary: Canada Primary source citation: Senate Treaty CONVENTION FOR A NORTH PACIFIC MARINE SCIENCE ORGANIZATION (PICES) PREAMBLE The contracting parties, recognizing the need for improved scientific understanding of the North Pacific Ocean and its processes, living resources, and oceanographic features; Aware that due to the vast expanse of the North Pacific Ocean, scientific understanding of the area can be best achieved through a spirit of international scientific cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis; Desiring to establish an appropriate intergovernmental organization to promote and facilitate such scientific cooperation and avoid duplication of effort; Acknowledging that the activity of the organization must be based on the principles and rules of the international law of the sea applicable to marine scientific research; Have agreed as follows: ARTICLE I ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION The Contracting Parties hereby establish an intergovernmental organization entitled the North Pacific Marine Science Organization (PICES), hereinafter referred to as the "Organization." ARTICLE II THE AREA CONCERNED The area which the activities of the Organization concern shall be the temperate and sub-Arctic region of the North Pacific Ocean and its adjacent seas, especially northward from 30 degrees North Latitude, hereinafter referred to as the "area concerned”. Activities of the Organization, for scientific reasons, may extend farther southward in the North Pacific Ocean. ARTICLE III PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION The purpose of the Organization shall be: (a) to promote and coordinate marine scientific research in order to advance scientific knowledge of the area concerned and of its living resources, including but not necessarily limited to research with respect to the ocean environment and its interactions with land and atmosphere, its role in and response to global weather and climate change, its flora, fauna and ecosystems, its uses and resources, and impacts upon it from human activities; and (b) to promote the collection and exchange of information and data related to marine scientific research in the area concerned. ARTICLE IV STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION The Organization shall consist of: (a) a Governing Council (the "Council"); such permanent or ad hoc scientific groups and committees as the Council may establish from time to time; and (a) to identify research priorities and problems pertaining to the area concerned, as well as appropriate methods for their solution; (b) to recommend coordinated research programmes and related activities pertaining to the area concerned, which shall be undertaken through the national efforts of the participating Contracting Parties; (c) to promote and facilitate the exchange of scientific data, information, and personnel; (d) to consider requests to develop scientific advice pertaining to the area concerned; (a) to adopt and, if necessary, to amend the Rules of Procedure and financial regulations of (d) to examine and adopt the annual budget and final accounts of the Organization; 3. The Council shall take such other decisions as may be necessary or desirable to enable the Organization to carry out its activities efficiently and effectively. 1. ARTICLE VI COMPOSITION AND PROCEDURES OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL Each Contracting Party shall be a member of the Council and shall appoint to the Council not more than two delegates, who may be accompanied as appropriate by alternates, experts and advisers. 2. The Council shall elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, taking due account of the principle of rotation among Contracting Parties. The Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be representatives of different Contracting Parties. During his term the Chairman shall cease to be part of his national delegation. 3. The Chairman of the Council shall convene a regular annual meeting of the Organization. The annual meetings shall ordinarily be held at the seat of the Organization, unless otherwise decided by the Council. 4. Any meeting of the Council, other than the annual meeting, shall be called by the Chairman at such time and place as the Chairman may determine, upon the request of the Council. 5. The Council may invite other states, organizations, and experts to attend scientific meetings of the Organization, or to participate in activities of the Organization on such terms as the Council may establish. ARTICLE VII DECISION MAKING IN THE GOVERNING COUNCIL 1. Each Contracting Party shall have one vote in the proceedings of the Council. 2. The Council shall make every effort to take decisions on the basis of consensus. For the purpose of this Convention, consensus means the absence of a formal objection. 3. If all efforts at consensus have been exhausted, and no agreement has been reached, decisions of the Council may be adopted by a three-quarters majority vote of the Contracting Parties present and voting. 4. Notwithstanding paragraph 3, consensus shall be required for the following: (a) the establishment of permanent or ad hoc scientific groups and committees; (e) the holding of any meeting of the Council other than the annual meeting; and The Council shall appoint an Executive Secretary on such terms and with such duties as it may determine. The staff of the Secretariat shall be appointed by the Executive Secretary in accordance with such rules, procedures, and requirements as may be determined by the Council. 1. 2. ARTICLE IX FINANCIAL PROVISIONS The Council shall adopt an annual budget for the Organization. Each Contracting Party shall contribute to the annual budget. Contributions shall be paid in the currency of the state in which the Secretariat is located in accordance with the respective laws and regulations of each Contracting Party. 3. The Council shall consider at its annual meeting the failure of any Contracting Party to discharge its financial obligations under this Convention. A Contracting Party that fails to pay its contributions for two consecutive years shall not, during the period of its default, have the right to participate in the taking of decisions in the Council unless the Council decides otherwise. ARTICLE X WORKING AND OFFICIAL LANGUAGE The working and official language of the Council shall be English. ARTICLE XI PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES 1. The Organization shall enjoy such legal personality and capacity as may be agreed between the Organization and the Contracting Party in whose territory the Secretariat is located. |