November 1973. The Soviet delega- tion did not have authorization to sign at that time, but did sign it later. Between 16. Decem- ber 1974 and 26. February 1976, the Agreement was ratified by Canada, Norway and the Soviet Union, whereby it entered into force 90 days later, i.e. on 26. May 1976. By December 1977, the Agreement had also been ratified by USA and Denmark.21 Did the polar bear Agreement prevent other nations from hunting polar bears in ice-covered international waters? With the Agreement in place, signed and in time also ratified, it was only binding for the signa- tory parties, i.e. for the Soviet Union, Norway, Denmark, Canada and USA. The Agreement would not be available for other nations to sign and ratify.22 The concerns of possible taking of polar bears by non-signatory nations beyond national land and waters, i.e. in ice-covered international waters, or concerns about such na- tion’s use of Arctic nations’ ports or territory for safari hunting and/or export of polar bear hides and other products, were therefore addressed in the Agreement’s Article VIII, which states: ”Each Contracting Party shall take action as appropri- ate to promote compliance with the provisions of this Agreement by nationals of States not party to this Agreement.” Nevertheless, the IUCN PBSG addressed its concerns over these issues at its 4th meeting in 1974. The PBSG requested in its Resolution nr. 2 from that meeting that “… IUCN, after the Agreement is in effect, to take necessary steps to contact governments whose nationals might have an interest and capability in harvesting polar bears and dealing in the trade of skins, in particular, Britain, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, Iceland, Japan, Netherlands, Portugal, and Swe- den; inform them of the Agreement; and request that they take necessary steps to ensure that their nationals abide by provisions of the Agreement relating to harvesting of polar bears and traffic and trade in polar bear skins.”23 21 See xxxx://xxxx.xxxxxx.xx/ConvAgree/agreement.htm 22 See the Soviet position on this under the box “Informal exchanges of information and views prior to the meetings,” above. 23 See minutes from the PBSG’s 4th meeting under xxxx://xxxx.xxxxxx.xx There were, however, no real reasons for concern. Other countries did not at that time have any traditions in polar bear harvesting in any form and, although lucrative safari hunting had a long tradition in Africa and elsewhere, enterprises for pol...
November 1973. The Governments of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay and the Argentine Republic, motivated by the same spirit of friendship and harmony as characterized the Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Protocol of 1910 and reaffirmed by the Joint Declaration on the Outer Limit of the Río de la Plata of 1961 and the Río de la Plata Protocol of 1964, motivated also by the common desire to remove the difficulties which might arise from any absence of precise legislation with regard to the exercise of their equal rights over the Río de la Plata and from the failure to define the limit between their respective maritime jurisdictions, and determined to lay the bases for broader co-operation between the two countries and strengthen the close bonds of traditional friendship and deep affection that join their peoples, have decided to conclude a treaty which will resolve these issues once and for all according to the special characteristics of the river and maritime territories involved and the technical requirements of their full use and exploitation, within the context of respect for the sovereignty and respective rights and interests of the two States. For this purpose they have appointed as their plenipotentiaries: the Eastern Republic of Uruguay: Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxx Blanco, Minister for Foreign Affairs; and the Argentine Republic: Xx. Xxxxxxx X. Vignes, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Worship, Who, having exchanged their full powers, found in good and due form, have agreed as follows:
November 1973. The provisions applicable on 1 April 1973 shall be applied upon the entry into force of this agreement if it enters into force after that date.
