Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe

 

Article V

1. To ensure that the security of each State Party is not affected adversely
at any stage:

(A) within the area consisting of the entire land territory in Europe, which
includes all the European island territories, of the Republic of Bulgaria, the
Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Iceland, the Kingdom of Norway, Romania, the
part of the Republic of Turkey within the area of application and that part of
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics comprising the Leningrad, Odessa,
Transcaucasus and North Caucasus Military Districts, each State Party shall
limit and, as necessary, reduce its battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles and
artillery so that, 40 months after entry into force of this Treaty and
thereafter, for the group of States Parties to which it belongs the aggregate
numbers in active units do not exceed the difference between the overall
numerical limitations set forth in Article IV, paragraph 1 and those in Article
IV, paragraph 2, that is: (1) 4,700 battle tanks;

(2) 5,900 armoured combat vehicles; and

(3) 6,000 pieces of artillery;

(B) notwithstanding the numerical limitations set forth in subparagraph (A)
of this paragraph, a State Party or States Parties may on a temporary basis
deploy into the territory belonging to the members of the same group of States
Parties within the area described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph
additional aggregate numbers in active units for each group of States Parties
not to exceed:

(1) 459 battle tanks;

(2) 723 armoured combat vehicles; and

(3) 420 pieces of artillery; and

(C) provided that for each group of States Parties no more than one-third of
each of these additional aggregate numbers shall be deployed to any State Party
with territory within the area described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph,
that is:

(1) 153 battle tanks;

(2) 241 armoured combat vehicles; and

(3) 140 pieces of artillery.

2. Notification shall be provided to all other States Parties no later than
at the start of the deployment by the State Party or States Parties conducting
the deployment and by the recipient State Party or States Parties, specifying
the total number in each category of battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles and
artillery deployed. Notification also shall be provided to all other States
Parties by the State Party or States Parties conducting the deployment and by
the recipient State Party or States Parties within 30 days of the withdrawal of
those battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles and artillery that were temporarily
deployed.

Article VI

With the objective of ensuring that no single State Party possesses more than
approximately one-third of the conventional armaments and equipment limited by
the Treaty within the area of application, each State Party shall limit and, as
necessary, reduce its battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, artillery, combat
aircraft and attack helicopters so that, 40 months after entry into force of
this Treaty and thereafter, the numbers within the area of application for that
State Party do not exceed:

(A) 13,300 battle tanks;

(B) 20,000 armoured combat vehicles;

(C) 13,700 pieces of artillery;
(D) 5,150 combat aircraft; and

(E) 1,500 attack helicopters.

Article VII

1. In order that the limitations set forth in Articles IV, V and VI are not
exceeded, no State Party shall exceed, from 40 months after entry into force of
this Treaty, the maximum levels which it has previously agreed upon within its
group of States Parties, in accordance with paragraph 7 of this Article, for its
holdings of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty and of
which it has provided notification pursuant to the provisions of this Article.

2. Each State Party shall provide at the signature of this Treaty
notification to all other States Parties of the maximum levels for its holdings
of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty. The notification
of the maximum levels for holdings of conventional armaments and equipment
limited by the Treaty provided by each State Party at the signature of this
Treaty shall remain valid until the date specified in a subsequent notification
pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article.

3. In accordance with the limitations set forth in Articles IV, V and VI,
each State Party shall have the right to change the maximum levels for its
holdings of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty. Any
change in the maximum levels for holdings of a State Party shall be notified by
that State Party to all other States Parties at least 90 days in advance of the
date, specified in the notification, on which such a change takes effect. In
order not to exceed any of the limitations set forth in Articles IV and V, any
increase in the maximum levels for holdings of a State Party that would
otherwise cause those limitations to be exceeded shall be preceded or
accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the previously notified maximum
levels for holdings of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the
Treaty of one or more States Parties belonging to the same group of States
Parties. The notification of a change in the maximum levels for holdings shall
remain valid from the date specified in the notification until the date
specified in a subsequent notification of change pursuant to this paragraph.

4. Each notification required pursuant to paragraph 2 or 3 of this Article
for armoured combat vehicles shall also include maximum levels for the holdings
of armoured infantry fighting vehicles and heavy armament combat vehicles of the
State Party providing the notification.

5. Ninety days before expiration of the 40-month period of reductions set
forth in Article VIII and subsequently at the time of any notification of a
change pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article, each State Party shall provide
notification of the maximum levels for its holdings of battle tanks, armoured
combat vehicles and artillery with respect to each of the areas described in
Article IV, paragraphs 2 to 4 and Article V, paragraph 1, subparagraph (A).

6. A decrease in the numbers of conventional armaments and equipment limited
by the Treaty held by a State Party and subject to notification pursuant to the
Protocol on Information Exchange shall by itself confer no right on any other
State Party to increase the maximum levels for its holdings subject to
notification pursuant to this Article.

7. It shall be the responsibility solely of each individual State
Party to ensure that the maximum levels for its holdings notified pursuant to
the provisions of this Article are not exceeded. States Parties belonging to
the same group of States Parties shall consult in order to ensure that the
maximum levels for holdings notified pursuant to the provisions of this Article,
taken together as appropriate, do not exceed the limitations set forth in
Articles IV, V and VI.

Article VIII

1. The numerical limitations set forth in Articles IV, V and VI shall be
achieved only by means of reduction in accordance with the Protocol on
Reduction, the Protocol on Helicopter Recategorisation, the Protocol on Aircraft
Reclassification, the Footnote to Section I, paragraph 2, subparagraph (A) of
the Protocol on Existing Types and the Protocol on Inspection.

2. The categories of conventional armaments and equipment subject to
reductions are battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, artillery, combat
aircraft and attack helicopters. The specific types are listed in the Protocol
on Existing Types.

(A) Battle tanks and armoured combat vehicles shall be reduced by
destruction, conversion for non-military purposes, placement on static display,
use as ground targets, or, in the case of armoured personnel carriers,
modification in accordance with the Footnote to Section I, paragraph 2,
subparagraph (A) of the Protocol on Existing Types.

(B) Artillery shall be reduced by destruction or placement on static
display, or, in the case of self-propelled artillery, by use as ground targets.

(C) Combat aircraft shall be reduced by destruction, placement on static
display, use for ground instructional purposes, or, in the case of specific
models or versions of combat-capable trainer aircraft, reclassification into
unarmed trainer aircraft.

(D) Specialised attack helicopters shall be reduced by destruction,
placement on static display, or use for ground instructional purposes.

(E) Multi-purpose attack helicopters shall be reduced by destruction,
placement on static display, use for ground instructional purposes, or
recategorisation.

3. Conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty shall be deemed
to be reduced upon execution of the procedures set forth in the Protocols listed
in paragraph 1 of this Article and upon notification as required by these
Protocols. Armaments and equipment so reduced shall no longer be counted
against the numerical limitations set forth in Articles IV, V and VI.

4. Reductions shall be effected in three phases and completed no later than
40 months after entry into force of this Treaty, so that:

(A) by the end of the first reduction phase, that is, no later than 16
months after entry into force of this Treaty, each State Party shall have
ensured that at least 25 percent of its total reduction liability in each ofthe categories of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty has
been reduced;

(B) by the end of the second reduction phase, that is, no later than 28
months after entry into force of this Treaty, each State Party shall have
ensured that at least 60 percent of its total reduction liability in each of the
categories of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty has
been reduced;

(C) by the end of the third reduction phase, that is, no later than 40
months after entry into force of this Treaty, each State Party shall have
reduced its total reduction liability in each of the categories of conventional
armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty. States Parties carrying out
conversion for non-military purposes shall have ensured that the conversion of
all battle tanks in accordance with Section VIII of the Protocol on Reduction
shall have been completed by the end of the third reduction phase; and

(D) armoured combat vehicles deemed reduced by reason of having been
partially destroyed in accordance with Section VIII, paragraph 6 of the Protocol
on Reduction shall have been fully converted for non-military purposes, or
destroyed in accordance with Section IV of the Protocol on Reduction, no later
than 64 months after entry into force of this Treaty.

5. Conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty to be reduced
shall have been declared present within the area of application in the exchange
of information at signature of this Treaty.

6. No later than 30 days after entry into force of this Treaty, each State
Party shall provide notification to all other States Parties of its reduction
liability.

7. Except as provided for in paragraph 8 of this Article, a State Party’s
reduction liability in each category shall be no less than the difference
between its holdings notified, in accordance with the Protocol on Information
Exchange, at signature or effective upon entry into force of this Treaty,
whichever is the greater, and the maximum levels for holdings it notified
pursuant to Article VII.

8. Any subsequent revision of a State Party’s holdings notified pursuant to
the Protocol on Information Exchange or of its maximum levels for holdings
notified pursuant to Article VII shall be reflected by a notified adjustment to
its reduction liability. Any notification of a decrease in a State Party’s
reduction liability shall be preceded or accompanied by either a notification of
a corresponding increase in holdings not exceeding the maximum levels for
holdings notified pursuant to Article VII by one or more States Parties
belonging to the same group of States Parties, or a notification of a
corresponding increase in the reduction liability of one or more such States
Parties.

9. Upon entry into force of this Treaty, each State Party shall notify all
other States Parties, in accordance with the Protocol on Information Exchange,
of the locations of its reduction sites, including those where the final
conversion of battle tanks and armoured combat vehicles for non-military
purposes will be carried out.
10. Each State Party shall have the right to designate as many reduction
sites as it wishes, to revise without restriction its designation of such sites
and to carry out reduction and final conversion simultaneously at a maximum of
20 sites. States Parties shall have the right to share or co-locate reduction
sites by mutual agreement.

11. Notwithstanding paragraph 10 of this Article, during the baseline
validation period, that is, the interval between entry into force of this Treaty
and 120 days after entry into force of this Treaty, reduction shall be carried
out simultaneously at no more than two reduction sites for each State Party.

12. Reduction of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty
shall be carried out at reduction sites, unless otherwise specified in the
Protocols listed in paragraph 1 of this Article, within the area of application.

13. The reduction process, including the results of the conversion of
conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty for non-military
purposes both during the reduction period and in the 24 months following the
reduction period, shall be subject to inspection, without right of refusal, in
accordance with the Protocol on Inspection.

Article IX

1. Other than removal from service in accordance with the provisions of
Article VIII, battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, artillery, combat aircraft
and attack helicopters within the area of application shall be removed from
service only by decommissioning, provided that:

(A) such conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty are
decommissioned and awaiting disposal at no more than eight sites which shall be
notified as declared sites in accordance with the Protocol on Information
Exchange and shall be identified in such notifications as holding areas for
decommissioned conventional armaments and equipment limited by the
Treaty. If sites containing conventional armaments and equipment limited by the
Treaty decommissioned from service also contain any other conventional armaments
and equipment subject to the Treaty, the decommissioned conventional armaments
and equipment limited by the Treaty shall be separately distinguishable; and

(B) the numbers of such decommissioned conventional armaments and equipment
limited by the Treaty do not exceed, in the case of any individual State Party,
one percent of its notified holdings of conventional armaments and equipment
limited by the Treaty, or a total of 250, whichever is greater, of which no more
than 200 shall be battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles and pieces of
artillery, and no more than 50 shall be attack helicopters and combat aircraft.

2. Notification of decommissioning shall include the number and type of
conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty decommissioned and
the location of decommissioning and shall be provided to all other States
Parties in accordance with Section IX, paragraph 1, subparagraph (B) of the
Protocol on Information Exchange.

Article X

1. Designated permanent storage sites shall be notified in accordance with
the Protocol on Information Exchange to all other States Parties by the StateParty to which the conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty
contained at designated permanent storage sites belong. The notification shall
include the designation and location, including geographic coordinates, of
designated permanent storage sites and the numbers by type of each category of
its conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty at each such
storage site.

2. Designated permanent storage sites shall contain only facilities
appropriate for the storage and maintenance of armaments and equipment (e.g.,
warehouses, garages, workshops and associated stores as well as other support
accommodation). Designated permanent storage sites shall not contain firing
ranges or training areas associated with conventional armaments and equipment
limited by the Treaty. Designated permanent storage sites shall contain only
armaments and equipment belonging to the conventional armed forces of a State
Party.

3. Each designated permanent storage site shall have a clearly defined
physical boundary that shall consist of a continuous perimeter fence at least
1.5 metres in height. The perimeter fence shall have no more than three gates
providing the sole means of entrance and exit for armaments and equipment.

4. Conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty located within
designated permanent storage sites shall be counted as conventional armaments
and equipment limited by the Treaty not in active units, including when they are
temporarily removed in accordance with paragraphs 7, 8, 9 and 10 of this
Article. Conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty in storage
other than in designated permanent storage sites shall be counted as
conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty in active units.

5. Active units or formations shall not be located within designated
permanent storage sites, except as provided for in paragraph 6 of this Article.

6. Only personnel associated with the security or operation of designated
permanent storage sites, or the maintenance of the armaments and equipment
stored therein, shall be located within the designated permanent storage sites.

7. For the purpose of maintenance, repair or modification of conventional
armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty located within designated
permanent storage sites, each State Party shall have the right, without prior
notification, to remove from and retain outside designated permanent storage
sites simultaneously up to 10 percent, rounded up to the nearest even whole
number, of the notified holdings of each category of conventional armaments and
equipment limited by the Treaty in each designated permanent storage site, or 10
items of the conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty in each
category in each designated permanent storage site, whichever is less.

8. Except as provided for in paragraph 7 of this Article, no State
Party shall remove conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty
from designated permanent storage sites unless notification has been provided to
all other States Parties at least 42 days in advance of such removal.
Notification shall be given by the State Party to which the conventional
armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty belong. Such notification shall
specify:

(A) the location of the designated permanent storage site from whichconventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty are to be removed and
the numbers by type of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the
Treaty of each category to be removed;

(B) the dates of removal and return of conventional armaments and equipment
limited by the Treaty; and

(C) the intended location and use of conventional armaments and equipment
limited by the Treaty while outside the designated permanent storage site.

9. Except as provided for in paragraph 7 of this Article, the aggregate
numbers of conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty removed
from and retained outside designated permanent storage sites by States Parties
belonging to the same group of States Parties shall at no time exceed the
following levels:

(A) 550 battle tanks;

(B) 1,000 armoured combat vehicles; and

(C) 300 pieces of artillery.

10. Conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty removed from
designated permanent storage sites pursuant to paragraphs 8 and 9 of this
Article shall be returned to designated permanent storage sites no later than 42
days after their removal, except for those items of conventional armaments and
equipment limited by the Treaty removed for industrial rebuild. Such items
shall be returned to designated permanent storage sites immediately on
completion of the rebuild.

11. Each State Party shall have the right to replace conventional armaments
and equipment limited by the Treaty located in designated permanent storage
sites. Each State Party shall notify all other States Parties, at the beginning
of replacement, of the number, location, type and disposition of conventional
armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty being replaced.

Article XI

1. Each State Party shall limit its armoured vehicle launched bridges so
that, 40 months after entry into force of this Treaty and thereafter, for the
group of States Parties to which it belongs the aggregate number of armoured
vehicle launched bridges in active units within the area of application does not
exceed 740.

2. All armoured vehicle launched bridges within the area of application in
excess of the aggregate number specified in paragraph 1 of this Article for each
group of States Parties shall be placed in designated permanent storage sites,
as defined in Article II. When armoured vehicle launched bridges are placed in
a designated permanent storage site, either on their own or together with
conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty, Article X,
paragraphs 1 to 6 shall apply to armoured vehicle launched bridges as well as to
conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty. Armoured vehicle
launched bridges placed in designated permanent storage sites shall not be
considered as being in active units.
3. Except as provided for in paragraph 6 of this Article, armoured vehicle
launched bridges may be removed, subject to the provisions of paragraphs 4 and 5
of this Article, from designated permanent storage sites only after notification
has been provided to all other States Parties at least 42 days prior to such
removal. This notification shall specify:

(A) the locations of the designated permanent storage sites from
which armoured vehicle launched bridges are to be removed and the numbers of
armoured vehicle launched bridges to be removed from each such site;

(B) the dates of removal of armoured vehicle launched bridges from and
return to designated permanent storage sites; and

(C) the intended use of armoured vehicle launched bridges during the period
of their removal from designated permanent storage sites.

4. Except as provided for in paragraph 6 of this Article, armoured vehicle
launched bridges removed from designated permanent storage sites shall be
returned to them no later than 42 days after the actual date of removal.

5. The aggregate number of armoured vehicle launched bridges removed from and
retained outside of designated permanent storage sites by each group of States
Parties shall not exceed 50 at any one time.

6. States Parties shall have the right, for the purpose of maintenance or
modification, to remove and have outside of designated permanent storage sites
simultaneously up to 10 percent, rounded up to the nearest even whole number, of
their notified holdings of armoured vehicle launched bridges in each designated
permanent storage site, or 10 armoured vehicle launched bridges from each
designated permanent storage site, whichever is less.

7. In the event of natural disasters involving flooding or damage to
permanent bridges, States Parties shall have the right to withdraw armoured
vehicle launched bridges from designated permanent storage sites. Notification
to all other States Parties of such withdrawals shall be given at the time of
withdrawal.

Article XII

1. Armoured infantry fighting vehicles held by organisations of a State Party
designed and structured to perform in peacetime internal security functions,
which are not structured and organised for ground combat against an external
enemy, are not limited by this Treaty. The foregoing notwithstanding, in order
to enhance the implementation of this Treaty and to provide assurance that the
number of such armaments held by such organisations shall not be used to
circumvent the provisions of this Treaty, any such armaments in excess of 1,000
armoured infantry fighting vehicles assigned by a State Party to organisations
designed and structured to perform in peacetime internal security functions
shall constitute a portion of the permitted levels specified in Articles IV, V
and VI. No more than 600 such armoured infantry fighting vehicles of a State
Party, assigned to such organisations, may be located in that part of the area
of application described in Article V, paragraph 1, subparagraph (A). Each
State Party shall further ensure that such organisations refrain from the
acquisition of combat capabilities in excess of those necessary for meeting
internal security requirements.
2. A State Party that intends to reassign battle tanks, armoured infantry
fighting vehicles, artillery, combat aircraft, attack helicopters and armoured
vehicle launched bridges in service with its conventional armed forces to any
organisation of that State Party not a part of its conventional armed forces
shall notify all other States Parties no later than the date such reassignment
takes effect. Such notification shall specify the effective date of the
reassignment, the date such equipment is physically transferred, as well as the
numbers, by type, of the conventional armaments and equipment limited by the
Treaty being reassigned.

Article XIII

1. For the purpose of ensuring verification of compliance with the provisions
of this Treaty, each State Party shall provide notifications and exchange
information pertaining to its conventional armaments and equipment in accordance
with the Protocol on Information Exchange.

2. Such notifications and exchange of information shall be provided
in accordance with Article XVII.

3. Each State Party shall be responsible for its own information; receipt of
such information and of notifications shall not imply validation or acceptance
of the information provided.

Article XIV

1. For the purpose of ensuring verification of compliance with the provisions
of this Treaty, each State Party shall have the right to conduct, and the
obligation to accept, within the area of application, inspections in accordance
with the provisions of the Protocol on Inspection.

2. The purpose of such inspections shall be:

(A) to verify, on the basis of the information provided pursuant to the
Protocol on Information Exchange, the compliance of States Parties with the
numerical limitations set forth in Articles IV, V and VI;

(B) to monitor the process of reduction of battle tanks, armoured combat
vehicles, artillery, combat aircraft and attack helicopters carried out at
reduction sites in accordance with Article VIII and the Protocol on Reduction;
and

(C) to monitor the certification of recategorised multi-purpose attack
helicopters and reclassified combat-capable trainer aircraft carried out in
accordance with the Protocol on Helicopter Recategorisation and the Protocol on
Aircraft Reclassification, respectively.

3. No State Party shall exercise the rights set forth in paragraphs 1 and 2
of this Article in respect of States Parties which belong to the group of States
Parties to which it belongs in order to elude the objectives of the verification
regime.

4. In the case of an inspection conducted jointly by more than one State
Party, one of them shall be responsible for the execution of the provisions of
this Treaty.

5. The number of inspections pursuant to Sections VII and VIII of the
Protocol on Inspection which each State Party shall have the right to conduct
and the obligation to accept during each specified time period shall be
determined in accordance with the provisions of Section II of that Protocol.

6. Upon completion of the 120-day residual level validation period, each
State Party shall have the right to conduct, and each State Party with territory
within the area of application shall have the obligation to accept, an agreed
number of aerial inspections within the area of application. Such agreed
numbers and other applicable provisions shall be developed during negotiations
referred to in Article XVIII.

Article XV

1. For the purpose of ensuring verification of compliance with the provisions
of this Treaty, a State Party shall have the right to use, in addition to the
procedures referred to in Article XIV, national or multinational technical means
of verification at its disposal in a manner consistent with generally recognised
principles of international law.

2. A State Party shall not interfere with national or multinational technical
means of verification of another State Party operating in accordance with
paragraph 1 of this Article.

3. A State Party shall not use concealment measures that impede verification
of compliance with the provisions of this Treaty by national or multinational
technical means of verification of another State Party operating in accordance
with paragraph 1 of this Article. This obligation does not apply to cover or
concealment practices associated with normal personnel training, maintenance or
operations involving conventional armaments and equipment limited by the Treaty.

Article XVI

1. To promote the objectives and implementation of the provisions of this
Treaty, the States Parties hereby establish a Joint Consultative Group.

2. Within the framework of the Joint Consultative Group, the States Parties
shall:

(A) address questions relating to compliance with or possible circumvention
of the provisions of this Treaty;

(B) seek to resolve ambiguities and differences of interpretation that may
become apparent in the way this Treaty is implemented;

(C) consider and, if possible, agree on measures to enhance the viability
and effectiveness of this Treaty;

(D) update the lists contained in the Protocol on Existing Types, as
required by Article II, paragraph 2;

(E) resolve technical questions in order to seek common practices among the
States Parties in the way this Treaty is implemented;
(F) work out or revise, as necessary, rules of procedure, working methods,
the scale of distribution of expenses of the Joint Consultative Group and of
conferences convened under this Treaty and the distribution of costs of
inspections between or among States Parties;

(G) consider and work out appropriate measures to ensure that information
obtained through exchanges of information among the States Parties or as a
result of inspections pursuant to this Treaty is used solely for the purposes of
this Treaty, taking into account the particular requirements of each State Party
in respect of safeguarding information which that State Party specifies as being
sensitive;

(H) consider, upon the request of any State Party, any matter that a State
Party wishes to propose for examination by any conference to be convened in
accordance with Article XXI; such consideration shall not prejudice the right of
any State Party to resort to the procedures set forth in Article XXI; and

(I) consider matters of dispute arising out of the implementation of this
Treaty.

3. Each State Party shall have the right to raise before the Joint
Consultative Group, and have placed on its agenda, any issue relating to this
Treaty.

4. The Joint Consultative Group shall take decisions or make recommendations
by consensus. Consensus shall be understood to mean the absence of any
objection by any representative of a State Party to the taking of a decision or
the making of a recommendation.

5. The Joint Consultative Group may propose amendments to this Treaty for
consideration and confirmation in accordance with Article XX. The Joint
Consultative Group may also agree on improvements to the viability and
effectiveness of this Treaty, consistent with its provisions. Unless such
improvements relate only to minor matters of an administrative or technical
nature, they shall be subject to consideration and confirmation in accordance
with Article XX before they can take effect.

6. Nothing in this Article shall be deemed to prohibit or restrict any State
Party from requesting information from or undertaking consultations with other
States Parties on matters relating to this Treaty and its implementation in
channels or fora other than the Joint Consultative Group.

7. The Joint Consultative Group shall follow the procedures set forth in the
Protocol on the Joint Consultative Group.

Article XVII

The States Parties shall transmit information and notifications required by this
Treaty in written form. They shall use diplomatic channels or other official
channels designated by them, including in particular a communications network to
be established by a separate arrangement.

Article XVIII 1. The States Parties, after signature of this Treaty, shall continue the
negotiations on conventional armed forces with the same Mandate and with the
goal of building on this Treaty.

2. The objective for these negotiations shall be to conclude an agreement on
additional measures aimed at further strengthening security and stability in
Europe, and pursuant to the Mandate, including measures to limit the personnel
strength of their conventional armed forces within the area of application.

3. The States Parties shall seek to conclude these negotiations no later than
the follow-up meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to
be held in Helsinki in 1992.

Article XIX

1. This Treaty shall be of unlimited duration. It may be supplemented by a
further treaty.

2. Each State Party shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the
right to withdraw from this Treaty if it decides that extraordinary events
related to the subject matter of this Treaty have jeopardised its supreme
interests. A State Party intending to withdraw shall give notice of its
decision to do so to the Depositary and to all other States Parties. Such
notice shall be given at least 150 days prior to the intended withdrawal from
this Treaty. It shall include a statement of the extraordinary events the State
Party regards as having jeopardised its supreme interests.

3. Each State Party shall, in particular, in exercising its national
sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from this Treaty if another State Party
increases its holdings in battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, artillery,
combat aircraft or attack helicopters, as defined in Article II, which are
outside the scope of the limitations of this Treaty, in such proportions as to
pose an obvious threat to the balance of forces within the area of application.

Article XX

1. Any State Party may propose amendments to this Treaty. The text of a
proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Depositary, which shall circulate
it to all the States Parties.

2. If an amendment is approved by all the States Parties, it shall enter into
force in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article XXII governing the
entry into force of this Treaty.

Article XXI

1. Forty-six months after entry into force of this Treaty, and at five-year
intervals thereafter, the Depositary shall convene a conference of the States
Parties to conduct a review of the operation of this Treaty.

2. The Depositary shall convene an extraordinary conference of the States
Parties, if requested to do so by any State Party which considers that
exceptional circumstances relating to this Treaty have arisen, in particular, in
the event that a State Party has announced its intention to leave its group of
States Parties or to join the other group of States Parties, as defined inArticle II, paragraph 1, subparagraph (A). In order to enable the other States
Parties to prepare for this conference, the request shall include the reason why
that State Party deems an [*23] extraordinary conference to be necessary.
The conference shall consider the circumstances set forth in the request and
their effect on the operation of this Treaty. The conference shall open no
later than 15 days after receipt of the request and, unless it decides
otherwise, shall last no longer than three weeks.

3. The Depositary shall convene a conference of the States Parties to
consider an amendment proposed pursuant to Article XX, if requested to do so by
three or more States Parties. Such a conference shall open no later than 21
days after receipt of the necessary requests.

4. In the event that a State Party gives notice of its decision to withdraw
from this Treaty pursuant to Article XIX, the Depositary shall convene a
conference of the States Parties which shall open no later than 21 days after
receipt of the notice of withdrawal in order to consider questions relating to
the withdrawal from this Treaty.

Article XXII

1. This Treaty shall be subject to ratification by each State Party in
accordance with its constitutional procedures. Instruments of ratification
shall be deposited with the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, hereby
designated the Depositary.

2. This Treaty shall enter into force 10 days after instruments of
ratification have been deposited by all States Parties listed in the Preamble.

3. The Depositary shall promptly inform all States Parties of:

(A) the deposit of each instrument of ratification;

(B) the entry into force of this Treaty;

(C) any withdrawal in accordance with Article XIX and its effective date;

(D) the text of any amendment proposed in accordance with Article XX;

(E) the entry into force of any amendment to this Treaty;

(F) any request to convene a conference in accordance with Article XXI;

(G) the convening of a conference pursuant to Article XXI; and

(H) any other matter of which the Depositary is required by this Treaty to
inform the States Parties.

4. This Treaty shall be registered by the Depositary pursuant to Article 102
of the Charter of the United Nations .

Article XXIII

The original of this Treaty, of which the English, French, German, Italian,
Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in thearchives of the Depositary. Duly certified copies of this Treaty shall be
transmitted by the Depositary to all the States Parties.

 

Author: international

Mentioned in these Entries

Charter of the United Nations, Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe.