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Interstellar Law and Treaties: The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, and Stockpiling of Subspace Weapons (2346)

Written by Dan Carlson

United Federation of Planets logo Klingon Empire

The States Parties to this Convention,

Determined to act with a view to achieving effective progress toward general and complete disarmament, including the prohibition and elimination of all types of weapons of mass destruction, and convinced that the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of subspace weapons and their elimination, through effective measures, will facilitate the achievement of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective control,

Recognizing the dangerous and unpredictable nature of such devices and the grave threat that widespread use represents

Desiring to contribute to the strengthening of confidence between peoples and the general improvement of the international atmosphere,

Convinced of the importance and urgency of eliminating from the arsenals of States, through effective measures, such dangerous weapons of mass destruction as those using subspace devices,

Recognizing that an agreement on the prohibition of subspace weapons represents a first possible step towards the achievement of agreement on effective measures also for the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of all weapons of mass destruction, and determined to continue negotiations to that end,

Determined, for the sake of all beings, to exclude completely the possibility of subspace devices being used as weapons,

Convinced that such use would be repugnant to the conscience of all beings and that no effort should be spared to minimize this risk,

Have agreed as follows:

Article I

Each State Party to this Convention undertakes never in any circumstance to develop, produce, stockpile or otherwise acquire or retain:

Article II

Each State Party to this Convention undertakes to destroy, as soon as possible but not later than nine months after the entry into force of the Convention, all devices, equipment and means of delivery specified in Article I of the Convention, which are in its possession or under its jurisdiction or control. In implementing the provisions of this Article all necessary safety precautions shall be observed to protect populations and the environment.

Article III

Each State Party to this Convention undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever, directly or indirectly, and not in any way to assist, encourage, or induce any State, group of States or international organizations to manufacture or otherwise acquire any of the devices, equipment or means of delivery specified in article I of the Convention.

Article IV

Each State Party to this Convention shall, in accordance with its constitutional processes, take any necessary measures to prohibit and prevent the development, production, stockpiling, acquisition or retention of the devices, equipment and means of delivery specified in Article I of the Convention, within the territory of such State, under its jurisdiction or under its control anywhere.

Article V

The States Parties to this Convention undertake to consult one another and to cooperate in solving any problems which may arise in relation to the objective of, or in the application of the provisions of, the Convention. Consultation and cooperation pursuant to this article may also be undertaken through established international procedures.

Article VI

(1) Any State Party to this Convention which finds that any other State Party is acting in breach of obligations deriving from the provisions of the Convention may lodge a complaint with the governing body of that State Party. Such a complaint should include all possible evidence confirming its validity, as well as a request for its consideration by the Security Council.

(2) Each State Party to this Convention undertakes to cooperate in carrying out any investigation, on the basis of the complaint received by the Council. The Security Council shall inform the States Parties to the Convention of the results of the investigation.

Article VII

Each State Party to this Convention undertakes to provide or support assistance to any Party to the Convention which so requests, if such Party has been exposed to danger as a result of violation of the Convention.

Article VIII

The States Parties to this Convention undertake to facilitate, and have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for the use of subspace devices for peaceful purposes. Parties to the Convention in a position to do so shall also cooperate in contributing individually or together with other States or international organizations to the further development and application of scientific discoveries in the field of subspace dynamics for more advanced methods of propulsion, communication, or for other peaceful purposes.

Article IX

Any State Party may propose amendments to this Convention. Amendments shall enter into force for each State Party accepting the amendments upon their acceptance by a majority of the States Parties to the Convention and thereafter for each remaining State Party on the date of acceptance by it.

Article X

Five years after the entry into force of this Convention, or earlier if it is requested by a majority of the Parties to the Convention by submitting a proposal to this effect to the Depositary Governments, a conference of States Parties to the Convention shall be held at Camp Khitomer, to review the operation of the Convention, with a view to assuring that the purposes of the preamble and the provisions of the Convention, including the provisions concerning negotiations on subspace weapons, are being realized. Such review shall take into account any new scientific and technological developments relevant to the Convention.

Article XI

  1. This Convention shall be of unlimited duration.
  2. Each State Party to this Convention shall in exercising its natural sovereignty have the right to withdraw from the Convention if it decides that extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of the Convention, have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country. It shall give notice of such withdrawal to all other States Parties to the Convention three months in advance. Such notice shall include a statement of the extraordinary events it regards as having jeopardized its supreme interests.

Article XII

  1. This Convention shall be open to all States for signature. Any State which does not sign the Convention before its entry into force in accordance with paragraph (3) of this Article may accede to it at any time.
  2. This Convention shall be subject to ratification by signatory States. Instruments of ratification and instruments of accession shall be deposited with the Governments of the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire, which are hereby designated the Depositary Governments.
  3. This Convention shall enter into force after the deposit of instruments of ratification by seven Governments, including the Governments designated as Depositaries of the Convention.
  4. For States whose instruments of ratification or accession are deposited subsequent to the entry into force of this Convention, it shall enter into force on the date of the deposit of their instrument of ratification or accession.
  5. The Depositary Governments shall promptly inform all signatory and acceding States of the date of each signature, the date of deposit of each instrument of ratification or of accession and the date of the entry into force of this Convention, and of the receipt of other notices.

Article XV

This Convention, the English and Klingon texts of which are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the Depositary Governments. Duly certified copies of the Convention shall be transmitted by the Depositary Governments of the signatory and acceding States.

The Convention was opened for signature on Stardate 23836.1 and came into force on Stardate 24115.7, when seven Governments had deposited their instruments of ratification.

This page was last modified on Friday, February 08, 2008.