OPTIONAL PROTOCOL

On the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes Relating to the

Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union,

to the Convention of the International Telecommunication Union

and to the Administrative Regulations

At the time of signing the Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union and the Convention of the International Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 1992), the undersigned Plenipotentiaries have signed the present Optional Protocol on the Compulsory Settlement of Disputes.

The Members of the Union, parties to this Optional Protocol, expressing the desire to resort to compulsory arbitration, so far as they are concerned, for the settlement of any disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Constitution, the Convention or of the Administrative Regulations mentioned in Article 4 of the Constitution, have agreed upon the following provisions:

Came into force on 1 July 1994, for the following Parties, which had ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to it, in accordance with article 3:

ARTICLE 1

Unless one of the methods of settlement listed in Article 56 of the Constitution has been chosen by common agreement, disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Constitution, the Convention or the Administrative Regulations mentioned in Article 4 of the Constitution shall, at the request of one of the parties to the dispute, be submitted for compulsory arbitration. The procedure to be followed is laid down in Article 41 of the Convention, paragraph 5 (No. 511) of which shall be amplified as follows:

“5. Within three months from the date of receipt of the notification of the submission of the dispute to arbitration, each of the two parties to the dispute shall appoint an arbitrator. If one of the parties has not appointed an arbitrator within this time-limit, this appointment shall be made, at the request of the other party, by the Secretary-General who shall act in accordance with Nos. 509 and 510 of the Convention.”

ARTICLE 2

This Protocol shall be open to signature by Members at the same time as they sign the Constitution and the Convention. It shall be ratified, accepted or approved by any Signatory Member in accordance with its constitutional rules. It may be acceded to by any Members parties to the Constitution and the Convention and by any States which become Members of the Union. The instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General.

ARTICLE 3

This Protocol shall come into force for the Parties hereto, who have ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to it, on the same date as the Constitution and the Convention, provided that at least two instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in its respect have been deposited on that date. Otherwise, it shall come into force on the thirtieth day after the date on which the second instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession is deposited.

ARTICLE 4

This Protocol may be amended by the Parties hereto during a Plenipotentiary Conference of the Union.

ARTICLE 5

Each Member party to this Protocol may denounce it by a notification addressed to the Secretary-General, such denunciation taking effect at the expiration of a period of one year from the date of receipt of its notification by the Secretary-General.

ARTICLE 6

The Secretary-General shall notify all Members:

1. of the signatures appended to this Protocol and of the deposit of each instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession;
2. of the date on which this Protocol shall have come into force;
3. of the date of entry into force of any amendment;
4. of the effective date of any denunciation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed this Protocol in each of the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, in a single copy within which, in case of discrepancy, the French text shall prevail, and which shall remain deposited in the archives of the International Telecommunication Union, which shall forward a copy to each of the signatory countries.

Done at Geneva, 22 December 1992