This Convention shall enter into force 60 days after the date of deposit with the depository of the fourth instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval. For a State acceding to this Convention in accordance with Article XXVIII, the Convention shall enter into force 60 days after the deposit of its instrument of accession.

DENUNCIATION

Article XXX

After the expiry of five years from the date of entry into force of this Convention, any Contracting Party may, by written notification addressed to the depository, denounce this Convention. The denunciation shall take effect on the thirty-first day of December of the year which follows the year in which the depository was notified of the denunciation.

AMENDMENTS

Article XX. Adoption of amendments to the Convention and/or to the Protocols

1. Any Contracting Party may propose amendments to the articles of this Convention.

2. Any Contracting Party to this Convention may propose amendments to any Protocol.

3. Any such proposed amendment shall be transmitted to the depository and communicated by it through diplomatic channels to all the Contracting Parties and to the Commission.

4. Amendments to this Convention and to any Protocol shall be adopted by consensus at a Diplomatic Conference of the Contracting Parties to be convened within 90 days after the circulation of the proposed amendment by the depository.

5. The amendments shall enter into force 30 days after the depository has received notifications of acceptance of these amendments from all Contracting Parties.

Article XXI. Annexes and amendments to Annexes

1. Annexes to this Convention or to any Protocol shall form an intergral part of the Convention or such Protocol, as the case may be.

2. Any Contracting Party may propose amendments to the Annexes to this Convention or to the Annexes of any Protocol through its Representative in the Commission. Such amendments shall be adopted by the Commission on the basis of consensus. The depository, duly informed by the Chairman of the Commission of its decision, shall without delay communicate the amendments so adopted to all the Contracting Parties. Such amendments shall enter into force 30 days after the depository has received notifications of acceptance from all Contracting Parties.

3. The provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article shall apply to the adoption and entry into force of a new Annex to this Convention or to any Protocol.

Article XXII. Notification of entry into force of amendments

The depository shall inform, through diplomatic channels, the Contracting Parties of the date on which amendments adopted under Articles XX and XXI enter into force.

RELATION TO OTHER INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

Article XXIV

Nothing in this Convention shall affect in any way the sovereignty of States over their territorial sea, established in accordance with international law, and the sovereign rights and the jurisdiction which States have in their exclusive economic zones and their continental shelf in accordance with international law, and the exercise by ships and aircraft of navigational rights and freedoms as provided for in international law and as reflected in relevant international instruments.

RESERVATIONS

Article XXVII

No reservation may be made to this Convention.