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| Entry into force: | 5 October 1978, in accordance with article IX (3). |
| Registration: | 5 October 1978, No. 17119. |
| Status: | Signatories: 48 ,Parties: 73. |
| Text: | United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1108, p. 151 and depositary notification C.N.263.1978.TREATIES-12 of 27 October 1978 (rectification of the English text). |
Note: The Convention was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 31/721 of 10 December 1976. In application of paragraph 2 of the said resolution, the Secretary-General decided to open the Convention for signature and ratification by States from 18 to 31 May 1977 at Geneva, Switzerland. Subsequently, the Convention was transmitted to the Headquarters of the Organization of the United Nations at New York, where it was open for signature by States until 4 October 1978.
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| Participant | Signature | Ratification, Accession (a), Succession (d) |
| Afghanistan | 22 Oct 1985 a | |
| Algeria | 19 Dec 1991 a | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 25 Oct 1988 d | |
| Argentina | 20 Mar 1987 a | |
| Armenia | 15 May 2002 a | |
| Australia | 31 May 1978 | 7 Sep 1984 |
| Austria | 17 Jan 1990 a | |
| Bangladesh | 3 Oct 1979 a | |
| Belarus | 18 May 1977 | 7 Jun 1978 |
| Belgium | 18 May 1977 | 12 Jul 1982 |
| Benin | 10 Jun 1977 | 30 Jun 1986 |
| Bolivia | 18 May 1977 | |
| Brazil | 9 Nov 1977 | 12 Oct 1984 |
| Bulgaria | 18 May 1977 | 31 May 1978 |
| Canada | 18 May 1977 | 11 Jun 1981 |
| Cape Verde | 3 Oct 1979 a | |
| Chile | 26 Apr 1994 a | |
| China2 | 8 Jun 2005 a | |
| Costa Rica | 7 Feb 1996 a | |
| Cuba | 23 Sep 1977 | 10 Apr 1978 |
| Cyprus | 7 Oct 1977 | 12 Apr 1978 |
| Czech Republic3 | 22 Feb 1993 d | |
| Democratic People's Republic of Korea | 8 Nov 1984 a | |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 28 Feb 1978 | |
| Denmark | 18 May 1977 | 19 Apr 1978 |
| Dominica | 9 Nov 1992 d | |
| Egypt | 1 Apr 1982 a | |
| Ethiopia | 18 May 1977 | |
| Finland | 18 May 1977 | 12 May 1978 |
| Germany4,5 | 18 May 1977 | 24 May 1983 |
| Ghana | 21 Mar 1978 | 22 Jun 1978 |
| Greece | 23 Aug 1983 a | |
| Guatemala | 21 Mar 1988 a | |
| Holy See | 27 May 1977 | |
| Hungary | 18 May 1977 | 19 Apr 1978 |
| Iceland | 18 May 1977 | |
| India | 15 Dec 1977 | 15 Dec 1978 |
| Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 18 May 1977 | |
| Iraq | 15 Aug 1977 | |
| Ireland | 18 May 1977 | 16 Dec 1982 |
| Italy | 18 May 1977 | 27 Nov 1981 |
| Japan | 9 Jun 1982 a | |
| Kazakhstan | 25 Apr 2005 a | |
| Kuwait | 2 Jan 1980 a | |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | 13 Apr 1978 | 5 Oct 1978 |
| Lebanon | 18 May 1977 | |
| Liberia | 18 May 1977 | |
| Lithuania | 16 Apr 2002 a | |
| Luxembourg | 18 May 1977 | |
| Malawi | 5 Oct 1978 a | |
| Mauritius | 9 Dec 1992 a | |
| Mongolia | 18 May 1977 | 19 May 1978 |
| Morocco | 18 May 1977 | |
| Netherlands6 | 18 May 1977 | 15 Apr 1983 |
| New Zealand7 | 7 Sep 1984 a | |
| Nicaragua | 11 Aug 1977 | 6 Sep 2007 |
| Niger | 17 Feb 1993 a | |
| Norway | 18 May 1977 | 15 Feb 1979 |
| Pakistan | 27 Feb 1986 a | |
| Panama | 13 May 2003 a | |
| Papua New Guinea | 28 Oct 1980 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 Apr 1999 d | |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 5 Oct 1979 a | |
| Sierra Leone | 12 Apr 1978 | |
| Slovakia3 | 28 May 1993 d | |
| Slovenia | 20 Apr 2005 a | |
| Solomon Islands | 19 Jun 1981 d | |
| Spain | 18 May 1977 | 19 Jul 1978 |
| Sri Lanka | 8 Jun 1977 | 25 Apr 1978 |
| Sweden | 27 Apr 1984 a | |
| Switzerland | 5 Aug 1988 a | |
| Syrian Arab Republic | 4 Aug 1977 | |
| Tajikistan | 12 Oct 1999 a | |
| Tunisia | 11 May 1978 | 11 May 1978 |
| Turkey | 18 May 1977 | |
| Uganda | 18 May 1977 | |
| Ukraine | 18 May 1977 | 13 Jun 1978 |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | 18 May 1977 | 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 Aug 1980 a | |
| Yemen8 | 18 May 1977 | 20 Jul 1977 |
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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.
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."
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'."
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.
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."
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."
"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".
"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."
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).
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."
| Participant: | Date of receipt of the notification: | Territories: |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland11 | 16 May 1978 | 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 |
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1. Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 39 (A/31/39), p. 36.
2. With the following declaration with respect of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macao Special Administrative Region:
In accordance with the provisions of Article 153 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and Article 138 of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, the Government of the People's Republic of China decides that the Convention shall apply to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
3. Czechoslovakia had signed and ratified the Convention on 18 May 1977 and 12 May 1978, respectively. See also note 1 under "Czech Republic" and note 1 under "Slovakia" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
4. The German Democratic Republic had signed and ratified the Convention on 18 May 1977 and 25 May 1978, respectively. See also note 2 under "Germany" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
5. See note 1 under "Germany" regarding Berlin (West) in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
6. For the Kingdom in Europe and the Netherlands Antilles. See also note 1 under "Netherlands" regarding Aruba/Netherlands Antilles in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
7. The accession shall also apply to the Cook Islands and Niue.
8. Democratic Yemen had acceded to the Convention on 12 June 1979. See also note 1 under "Yemen" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
9. 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).]
10. On 23 June 1980, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Israel the following communication concerning the above-mentioned understanding:
"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."
11. See note 2 under "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" regarding Hong Kong in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.