Convention on the (INMARSAT)

 
Article 15. Council–Functions

The Council shall have the responsibility, having due regard for the
views and recommendations of the Assembly, to make provision for the
space segment necessary for carrying out the purposes of the Organization
in the most economic, effective and efficient manner consistent with this
Convention and the Operating Agreement. To discharge this responsibility,
the Council shall have the power to perform all appropriate functions,
including:
(a) Determination of maritime and aeronautical satellite
telecommunications requirements and adoption of policies, plans,
programmes, procedures and measures for the design, development,
construction, establishment, acquisition by purchase or lease
operation, maintenance and utilization of the INMARSAT space
segment, including the procurement of any necessary launch services
to meet such requirements.

(b) Adoption and implementation of management arrangements which shall
require the Director General to contract for technical and
operational functions whenever this is more advantageous to the
Organization.

(c) Adoption of criteria and procedures for approval of earth stations
on land, on ships, on aircraft, and on structures in the marine
environment for access to the INMARSAT space segment and for
verification and monitoring of performance of earth stations having
access to and utilization of the INMARSAT space segment. For earth
stations on ships and aircraft, the criteria should be in
sufficient detail for use by national licensing authorities, at
their discretion, for type-approval purposes.

(d) Submission of recommendations to the Assembly in accordance with
article 12(1)(c).

(e) Submission to the Assembly of periodic reports on the activities of
the Organization, including financial matters.

(f) Adoption of procurement procedures, regulations and contract terms
and approval of procurement contracts consistent with this
Convention and the Operating Agreement.

(g) Adoption of financial policies, approval of the financial
regulations, annual budget and annual financial statements,
periodic determination of charges for use of the INMARSAT space
segment, and decisions with respect to all other financial matters
including investment shares and capital ceiling consistent with
this Convention and the Operating Agreement.

(h) Determination of arrangements for consultation on a continuing
basis with bodies recognized by the Council as representing
shipowners, aircraft operators, maritime and aeronautical personnel
and other users of maritime and aeronautical telecommunications.

(i) Designation of an arbitrator where the Organization is a party to
an arbitration.

(j) Exercise of any other functions conferred upon it in any other
Article of this Convention or the Operating Agreement or any other
function appropriate for the achievement of the purposes of the
Organization.

Article 16. Directorate

(1) The Director General shall be appointed, from among candidates
proposed by Parties or Signatories through Parties, by the Council,
subject to confirmation by the Parties. The Depositary shall immediately
notify the Parties of the appointment. The appointment is confirmed
unless within sixty days of the notification more than one-third of the
Parties have informed the Depositary in writing of their objection to the
appointment. The Director General may assume his functions after
appointment and pending confirmation.

(2) The term of office of the Director General shall be six years.
However, the Council may remove the Director General earlier on its own
authority. The Council shall report the reasons for the removal to the
Assembly.

(3) The Director General shall be the chief executive and legal
representative of the Organization and shall be responsible to and under
the direction of the Council.

(4) The structure, staff levels and standard terms of employment of
officials and employees and of consultants and other advisers to the
Directorate shall be approved by the Council.

(5) The Director General shall appoint the members of the Directorate.
The appointment of senior officials reporting directly to the Director
General shall be approved by the Council.

(6) The paramount consideration in the appointment of the Director
General and other personnel of the Directorate shall be the necessity of
ensuring the highest standards of integrity, competency and efficiency.

Article 17. Representation at meetings

All Parties and Signatories which, under this Convention or the Operating
Agreement are entitled to attend and/or participate at meetings of the
Organization shall be allowed to attend and/or participate at such
meetings as well as any other meeting held under the auspices of the
Organization, regardless of where the meeting may take place. The
arrangements made with any host country , shall be consistent with these
obligations.

Article 18. Costs of meetings

(1) Each Party and Signatory shall meet its own costs of representation
at meetings of the Organization.

(2) Expenses of meetings of the Organization shall be regarded as an
administrative cost of the Organization. However, no meeting of the
Organization shall be held outside its headquarters, unless the
prospective host agrees to defray the additional expenditure involved.

Author: international