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Full Text (PDF format) | Signatories and Ratifications
THE STATES PARTIES,
BEARING IN MIND their commitments to the United Nations and the
Organization of American States to contribute more fully to openness and
transparency by exchanging information on weapon systems covered by the
United Nations Register of Conventional Arms;
REITERATING the importance of annual reporting to the United Nations
Register of Conventional Arms of information on imports, exports,
military holdings, and procurement through national production of major
weapon systems;
BUILDING UPON AND REAFFIRMING the declarations of Santiago (1995) and
San Salvador (1998) on confidence- and security-building measures, which
recommend the application of such measures in the most appropriate
manner;
RECOGNIZING that in accordance with the Charter of the Organization of
American States and the Charter of the United Nations, Member States
have the inherent right of individual or collective self-defense;
RECOGNIZING that the commitments made in this Convention are an
important step towards achieving one of the essential purposes
established in the Charter of the Organization of American States, which
is "to achieve an effective limitation of conventional weapons that will
make it possible to devote the largest amount of resources to the
economic and social development of the Member States";
RECOGNIZING that it is important for the international community to
contribute to the objective of this Convention; and
EXPRESSING their intention to continue consideration of appropriate
steps to advance the effective limitation and control of conventional
weapons in the region,
HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Convention,
a. "Conventional weapons" means those systems set forth in Annex I to
this Convention. Annex I is an integral part of this Convention.
b. "Acquisition" means the obtaining of conventional weapons through
purchase, lease, procurement, donation, loan, or any other method,
whether from foreign sources or through national production.
"Acquisition" does not include the obtaining of prototypes,
developmental items, and equipment in research, development, test, and
evaluation, to the extent that such prototypes, items, or equipment are
not incorporated into the inventory of the armed forces.
c. "Incorporation into the inventory of the armed forces" means entry of
the conventional weapon into service, even for a limited period of time.
ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this Convention is to contribute more fully to regional
openness and transparency in the acquisition of conventional weapons by
exchanging information regarding such acquisitions, for the purpose of
promoting confidence among States in the Americas.
ARTICLE III
ANNUAL REPORTS ON IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
OF CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS
1. States Parties shall report annually to the depositary on their
imports and exports of conventional weapons during the preceding
calendar year, providing information, with respect to imports, on the
exporting State, and the quantity and type of conventional weapons
imported; and information, with respect to exports, on the importing
State, and the quantity and type of conventional weapons exported. Any
State Party may supplement its submission with any additional
information it considers relevant, such as the designation and model of
the conventional weapons.
2. Information to be submitted pursuant to this article shall be
provided to the depositary as soon as possible, but no later than June
15 of each year.
3. Reporting pursuant to this article shall be in the format of Annex II
(A) and (B).
ARTICLE IV
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION ON ACQUISITIONS
OF CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS
In addition to providing the annual reports specified in Article III,
States Parties shall notify the depositary of acquisitions of
conventional weapons as follows:
a. Notification of acquisition through imports. These notifications to
the depositary shall be made no later than 90 days after incorporation
of imported conventional weapons into the inventory of the armed forces.
Notifications shall indicate the exporting State, as well as the
quantity and type of imported conventional weapons. Any State Party may
supplement its submission with any additional information it considers
relevant, such as the designation and model of the conventional weapons.
Reporting pursuant to this paragraph shall be in the format of Annex II
(C).
b. Notification of acquisition through national production. These
notifications to the depositary shall be made no later than 90 days
after incorporation of the conventional weapons acquired through
national production into the inventory of the armed forces.
Notifications shall indicate the quantity and type of conventional
weapons. Any State Party may supplement its submission with any
additional information it considers relevant, such as the designation
and model of the conventional weapons. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Convention, States Parties may also supplement such
notifications with information on reconfiguration or modification of
conventional weapons. To encourage further transparency in acquisitions
through national production, the obligation of each State Party to
notify under this paragraph may be fulfilled, in accordance with its
domestic legislation, through notice to the depositary of a national
funding commitment for conventional weapons to be incorporated into that
State's inventory during the upcoming budget year. Reporting pursuant to
this paragraph shall be in the format of Annex II (D).
c. Notification of no activity. States Parties with no imports or
acquisitions of conventional weapons through national production during
the preceding calendar year shall so report to the depositary as soon as
possible, but no later than June 15. Reporting pursuant to this
paragraph shall be in the format of Annex II (A) and (B).
ARTICLE V
INFORMATION FROM OTHER STATES
Any State that is not a member of the Organization of American States
may contribute to the objective of this Convention by providing
information annually to the depositary on its exports of conventional
weapons to the States Parties to this Convention. Such information may
identify the importing State, and the quantity and type of any
conventional weapons exported, and may also include any additional
pertinent information, such as designation and model of the conventional
weapons.
ARTICLE VI
CONSULTATIONS
States Parties may consult on information provided pursuant to this
Convention.
ARTICLE VII
APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION
Any disagreement that may arise with respect to the application or
interpretation of this Convention shall be resolved by any means of
peaceful settlement decided upon by the States Parties involved, which
undertake to cooperate to this end.
ARTICLE VIII
CONFERENCES OF THE STATES PARTIES
After seven years from the date of entry into force of this Convention,
and upon the proposal by a majority of the States Parties, the
depositary shall convene a conference of the States Parties. The purpose
of such conference, and of any subsequent conferences, would be to
examine the functioning and application of this Convention, and to
consider further transparency measures consistent with the objective of
this Convention, including modifications, pursuant to Article XI, to the
categories of conventional weapons in Annex I.
ARTICLE IX
SIGNATURE
This Convention is open for signature by all Member States of the
Organization of American States.
ARTICLE X
ENTRY INTO FORCE
This Convention shall enter into force on the 30th day following the
date of deposit with the General Secretariat of the Organization of
American States of the sixth instrument of ratification, acceptance,
approval, or accession by a member state of the Organization of American
States. Thereafter, the Convention shall enter into force for any other
Member State of the Organization of American States on the 30th day
following the date of deposit by such State of an instrument of
ratification, acceptance, approval, or accession.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
Any State Party may submit to the depositary a proposal to amend this
Convention. The depositary shall circulate any such proposal to all
States Parties. Upon the request of a majority of the States Parties,
the depositary shall, no sooner than 60 days from the date of such
request, convene a conference of the States Parties to consider the
proposed amendment. An amendment shall be adopted upon approval by two
thirds of the States Parties present at the conference. Any amendment so
adopted shall enter into force for the States ratifying, accepting,
approving, or acceding to it 30 days after two thirds of the States
Parties have deposited their respective instruments of ratification,
acceptance, or approval of the amendment, or of accession thereto.
Thereafter, such an amendment shall enter into force for any other State
Party on the 30th day after that State Party deposits its instrument of
ratification, acceptance, or approval of the amendment, or of accession
thereto.
ARTICLE XII
DURATION AND DENUNCIATION
This Convention shall remain in force indefinitely, but any State Party
may denounce it. The instrument of denunciation shall be deposited with
the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States. After 12
months from the date of deposit of the instrument of denunciation, the
Convention shall no longer be in force for the denouncing State, but
shall remain in force for the other States Parties.
ARTICLE XIII
RESERVATIONS
States Parties may, at the time of adoption, signature, ratification,
acceptance, approval, or accession, make reservations to this
Convention, provided that such reservations are not incompatible with
the object and purpose of the Convention and that they concern one or
more specific provisions thereof.
ARTICLE XIV
DEPOSITARY
1. The depositary of this Convention is the General Secretariat of the
Organization of American States.
2. Upon receipt of information provided by a State Party pursuant to
Article III or IV of this Convention, the depositary shall promptly
transmit such information to all States Parties.
3. The depositary shall provide to States Parties a consolidated annual
report of the information provided pursuant to this Convention.
4. The depositary shall notify the States Parties of any proposals
received for convening a conference of the States Parties pursuant to
Article VIII.
5. The depositary shall receive and distribute to the States Parties any
information submitted pursuant to Article V.
ARTICLE XV
DEPOSIT OF THE CONVENTION
The original instrument of this Convention, the English, French,
Portuguese, and Spanish texts of which are equally authentic, shall be
deposited with the depositary, which shall forward an authenticated copy
of its text to the Secretariat of the United Nations for registration
and publication, in accordance with Article 102 of the United Nations
Charter. The depositary shall notify the Member States of the
Organization of American States of signatures, of deposits of
instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval, accession, or
denunciation, and of reservations, if any.
ANNEX I
The list of conventional weapons covered by this Convention is set forth
below. Such list is based on the United Nations Register of Conventional
Arms.
In accordance with the Article I, this annex is an integral part of this
Convention. Any changes to this Annex shall be adopted in conformity
with the amendment procedure stipulated in Article XI.
I. Battle tanks
Tracked or wheeled self-propelled armored fighting vehicles with high
cross-country mobility and a high level of self-protection, weighing at
least 16.5 metric tons unladen weight, with a high muzzle velocity
direct fire main gun of at least 75 millimeters caliber.
II. Armored combat vehicles
Tracked, semi-tracked, or wheeled self-propelled vehicles, with armored
protection and cross-country capability, either: (A) designed and
equipped to transport a squad of four or more infantrymen, or (B) armed
with an integral or organic weapon of at least 12.5 millimeters caliber
or a missile launcher.
III. Large caliber artillery systems
Guns, howitzers, artillery pieces combining the characteristics of a gun
or a howitzer, mortars, or multiple-launch rocket systems, capable of
engaging surface targets by delivering primarily indirect fire, with a
caliber of 100 millimeters and above.
IV. Combat aircraft
Fixed-wing or variable-geometry wing aircraft designed, equipped, or
modified to engage targets by employing guided missiles, unguided
rockets, bombs, guns, cannons, or other weapons of destruction,
including versions of these aircraft which perform specialized
electronic warfare, suppression of air defense, or reconnaissance
missions. The term "combat aircraft" does not include primary trainer
aircraft, unless designed, equipped, or modified as described above.
V. Attack helicopters
Rotary-wing aircraft designed, equipped, or modified to engage targets
by employing guided or unguided anti-armor, air-to-surface,
air-to-subsurface, or air-to-air weapons and equipped with an integrated
fire control and aiming system for these weapons, including versions of
these aircraft which perform specialized reconnaissance or electronic
warfare missions.
VI. Warships
Vessels or submarines armed and equipped for military use with a
standard displacement of 750 metric tons or above, and those with a
standard displacement of less than 750 metric tons, equipped for
launching missiles with a range of at least 25 kilometers or torpedoes
with similar range.
VII. Missiles and missile launchers
Guided or unguided rockets, ballistic or cruise missiles capable of
delivering a warhead or weapon of destruction to a range of at least 25
kilometers, and means designed or modified specifically for launching
such missiles or rockets, if not covered by categories I through VI.
This category:
a. Also includes remotely-piloted vehicles with the characteristics for
missiles as defined above;
b. Does not include ground-to-air missiles.
INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON TRANSPARENCY IN CONVENTIONAL
WEAPONS ACQUISITIONS
ARTICLE III – ANNUAL IMPORT NOTIFICATION
REPORTING COUNTRY ____________________ CALENDAR YEAR ____________________
A. CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS |
B. QUANTITY |
C. TYPE |
D. EXPORTING STATE |
E. Additional information1/ |
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Bold items are mandatory.
ANNEX II (B)
INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON TRANSPARENCY IN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS
ACQUISITIONS
ARTICLE III – ANNUAL EXPORT NOTIFICATION
REPORTING COUNTRY _____________________ CALENDAR YEAR ______________
A. CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS |
B. QUANTITY |
C. TYPE |
D. IMPORTING STATE |
E. Additional information2/ |
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Bold items are mandatory.
ANNEX II (C)
INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON TRANSPARENCY IN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS
ACQUISITIONS
ARTICLE IV – NOTIFICATION OF ACQUISITION THROUGH IMPORTS
REPORTING COUNTRY ____________________ DATE ____________________
A. CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS |
B. QUANTITY |
C. TYPE |
D. EXPORTING STATE |
E. Additional information3/ |
CATEGORIES I – VII. |
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Bold items are mandatory.
ANNEX II (D)
INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION ON TRANSPARENCY IN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS
ACQUISITIONS
ARTICLE IV – NOTIFICATION OF ACQUISITION THROUGH NATIONAL PRODUCTION
REPORTING COUNTRY ____________________________ DATE____________________
A. CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS |
B. QUANTITY |
C. TYPE |
D. Additional information4/ |
CATEGORIES I – VII. |
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Bold items are mandatory.