2

The purpose of the Union is to:

3

(a)

To maintain and extend international cooperation between all Members of the Union for the improvement and rational use of telecommunications of all kinds;

4

(b)

Promote and provide technical assistance to developing countries in the field of telecommunications, and also promote the mobilization of the material and financial resources necessary for its implementation;

5

(c)

Encourage the development of technical means and their most effective use, with a view to increasing the performance of telecommunications services, increasing their usefulness and making their use more widely available to the public;

6

(d)

Strive to extend the benefits of new telecommunications technologies to all people on the planet;

7

(e)

Promote the use of telecommunications services in order to facilitate peaceful relations;

8

(f)

Harmonize the efforts of Members for these purposes;

9

(g)

Promote, at the international level, the adoption of a more general approach to telecommunications issues, in view of the globalisation of the economy and the information society, by working with other organisations Regional and international intergovernmental organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations involved in telecommunications.

10

2. To this end, and more specifically, the Union:

11

(a)

Performs the assignment of radio frequency bands, the allotment of radio frequencies and the recording of frequency assignments, and any associated orbital position in the orbit of the satellites Geostationary to avoid harmful interference between radio stations in different countries;

12

(b)

Coordinates efforts to eliminate harmful interference between radio stations in different countries and to improve the use of the radio frequency spectrum and the orbit of satellites Geostationary for radiocommunication services;

13

(c)

Facilitates the global standardization of telecommunications, with a satisfactory quality of service;

14

(d)

Encourages international cooperation to provide technical assistance to developing countries, as well as the creation, development and development of telecommunications facilities and networks in developing countries By all means at its disposal, including its participation in the relevant United Nations programmes and the use of its own resources, as required;

15

(e)

Coordinates efforts to harmonize the development of telecommunications facilities, including those using space technology, in order to make the best possible use of the opportunities they provide;

16

(f)

Promotes collaboration among its Members to establish tariffs at as low a level as possible, consistent with good quality service and financial management of sound and independent telecommunications;

17

(g)

Results in the adoption of measures to ensure the security of human life through the cooperation of telecommunications services;

18

(h)

Conducts studies, adopts regulations, adopts resolutions, formulates recommendations and wishes, collects and publishes information on telecommunications;

19

(i)

Works with international financing and development agencies to promote the establishment of preferential and favourable lines of credit for the development of social projects aimed at, inter alia, extending the services of Telecommunications to the most remote areas in the countries.

20

The International Telecommunication Union, having regard to the principle of universality and the interest of universal participation in the Union, consists of:

21

(a)

Any State which is a Member of the Union as a party to any International Telecommunication Convention before the entry into force of this Constitution and the Convention;

22

(b)

Any other State, Member of the United Nations, which adheres to this Constitution and to the Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article 53 of this Constitution;

23

(c)

Any other State, not a Member of the United Nations, which requests to become a Member of the Union and which, after its application has been approved by two thirds of the Members of the Union, shall accede to this Constitution and the Convention in accordance with The provisions of Article 53 of this Constitution. If such a request for admission as a Member is made during the period between two Conferences of Plenipotentiaries, the Secretary-General shall consult the Members of the Union; a Member shall be considered to have abstained if he has not No reply within four months from the date on which it was consulted.

24

The Members of the Union shall have the rights and shall be subject to the obligations laid down in this Constitution and in the Convention.

25

2. The rights of Members, with regard to their participation in the conferences, meetings and consultations of the Union, are as follows:

26

(a)

Any Member has the right to participate in conferences, is eligible for the Council and has the right to nominate candidates for the election of officials of the Union or members of the Radio Regulations Committee;

27

(b)

Any Member shall, subject to the provisions of paragraphs 169 and 210 of this Constitution, also be entitled to one vote at all Conferences of Plenipotentiaries, at all world conferences, and at all meetings of the And, if it is a member of the Council, at all sessions of the Council. At regional conferences, only Members of the region concerned have the right to vote;

28

(c)

Any Member shall, subject to the provisions of paragraphs 169 and 210 of this Constitution, also be entitled to one vote in any consultation carried out by correspondence. In the case of consultations concerning regional conferences, only Members of the region concerned shall have the right to vote.

29

The Union's instruments are:

-

The present Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union,

-

The International Telecommunication Union Convention, and

-

The By-laws.

30

2. This Constitution, the provisions of which are supplemented by those of the Convention, is the fundamental instrument of the Union.

31

(3) The provisions of this Constitution and the Convention shall be supplemented by the provisions of the Administrative Regulations, listed below, which regulate the use of telecommunications and bind all Members;

-

The International Telecommunications Regulations,

-

The Radio Regulations.

32

4. In the event of a discrepancy between a provision of this Constitution and a provision of the Convention or of the By-laws, the Constitution shall prevail. In the event of a discrepancy between a provision of the Convention and a provision of the By-laws, the Convention shall prevail.

33

Has less conflict with context:

34

(a)

The terms used in this Constitution and defined in its Annex, which is an integral part of this Constitution, have the meaning assigned to them in that Annex;

35

(b)

The terms-other than those defined in the Annex to this Constitution-used in the Convention and defined in the Annex to that Convention, which forms an integral part of the Convention, have the meaning assigned to them in that Annex;

36

(c)

The other terms defined in the By-laws have the meaning assigned to them in these Regulations.

37

Members shall be required to comply with the provisions of this Constitution, the Convention and the By-Laws in all offices and in all telecommunication stations established or operated by them and shall ensure that International services or which may cause harmful interference to the radiocommunication services of other countries, except in respect of services beyond those obligations under the provisions of Article 48 of the Present Constitution.

38

2. Members shall also be required to take the necessary measures to enforce compliance with the provisions of this Constitution, the Convention and the By-Laws to the operations authorized by them to establish and operate Telecommunications services that provide international services or operate stations that may cause harmful interference to radiocommunication services in other countries.

39

The Union shall comprise:

40

(a)

The Conference of Plenipotentiaries, the supreme body of the Union;

41

(b)

The Council, acting as the representative of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries;

42

(c)

Global international telecommunications conferences;

43

(d)

The Radiocommunication Sector, including the world and regional radio communications conferences, the Radiocommunication Assemblies and the Radio Regulations Committee,

44

(e)

The Telecommunication Standardization Sector, including global telecommunications standards conferences;

45

(f)

The Telecommunications Development Sector, including global and regional telecommunications development conferences;

46

(g)

The General Secretariat.

47

The Conference of Plenipotentiaries shall be composed of delegations representing Members. It is convened every four years.

48

2. The Plenipotentiary Conference:

49

(a)

Determines the general principles for satisfying the object of the Union set out in Article 1 of this Constitution;

50

(b) ¹

After consideration of the reports prepared by the Council on the activities of the Union since the last Conference of Plenipotentiaries, as well as the strategic policy and planning recommended for the Union, shall adopt any decisions it considers Appropriate;

51

(c)

Establishes the basis of the Union's budget and establishes, taking into account the decisions taken on the basis of the reports referred to in paragraph 50 above, the ceiling of its expenditure for the period up to the next Plenipotentiary Conference, after Have examined all relevant aspects of the activities of the Union during this period;

52

(d)

Formulates all general directives concerning the Union's workforce and establishes, as appropriate, basic salaries, salary ranges and the system of allowances and pensions of all EU officials;

53

(e)

Examines the Union's accounts and approves them definitively where appropriate;

54

(f)

Elects the members of the Union to call the Council;

55

(g)

Elects the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and the Directors of the Sectors in their capacity as elected officials of the Union;

56

(h)

Elects the members of the Radio Regulations Committee;

57

(i) ²

Consider and adopt, where appropriate, the proposed amendments to this Constitution and the Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article 55 of this Constitution and the relevant provisions of the Convention, respectively;

58

(j)

Shall conclude or revise, where appropriate, the agreements between the Union and other international organisations, examine any provisional agreement concluded by the Council on behalf of the Union with such organisations and give it the further action it deems appropriate;

59

(k) ³

Addresses all other telecommunications issues deemed necessary.

---

60

1. In the elections referred to in paragraphs 54 to 56 of this Constitution, the Plenipotentiary Conference shall ensure that:

61

(a)

Members of the Council shall be elected with due regard to the need for a fair distribution of Council seats between all regions of the world;

62

(b) ¹

The Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General, the Directors of the Bureaux and the members of the Radio Regulations Committee shall be all nationals of different Members and, at the time of their election, shall be duly taken into account Equitable geographical distribution between regions of the world; in the case of elected officials, due consideration should also be given to the principles set out in paragraph 154 of this Constitution;

63

(c) ²

The members of the Radio Regulations Committee shall be elected, on an individual basis, from among the candidates proposed by the Members of the Union; each Member may propose only one candidate who must be one of its nationals.

64

2. The procedures for these elections shall be established by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries. The provisions on entry into office, on vacancies and on re-eligibility are set out in the Convention.

---

65

1.

(1) The Council shall be composed of Members of the Union elected by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 61 of this Constitution.

66

(2)

Each Member of the Council shall appoint to the Council a person who may be assisted by one or more assessors.

67

2. The Council shall draw up its own rules of procedure.

68

3. In the interval between the Conferences of Plenipotentiaries, the Council, in its capacity as the governing body of the Union, shall act as the representative of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries within the limits of the powers delegated by it.

69

4.

(1) The Council shall take all measures to facilitate the implementation by Members of the provisions of this Constitution, of the Convention, of the Administrative Regulations, of the decisions of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries and, where appropriate, decisions of other conferences and meetings of the Union, as well as to carry out all other tasks assigned to it by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries.

70

(2)

It examines the major telecommunications policy issues in accordance with the general guidelines of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries in order to ensure that the Union's policy guidelines and strategy are perfectly adapted to developments Of the telecommunications environment.

71

(3)

It ensures effective coordination of the Union's activities and exercises effective financial control over the Secretariat-General and the three Sectors.

72

(4)

It shall contribute, in accordance with the object of the Union, to the development of telecommunications in developing countries by all means at its disposal, including through the participation of the Union in the appropriate programmes of the United Nations.

73

1.

(1) The General Secretariat shall be headed by a Secretary-General assisted by a Deputy Secretary-General.

74

(2)

The Secretary-General, with the assistance of the Coordination Committee, develops the Union's strategic policies and plans and coordinates its activities.

75

(3)

The Secretary-General shall take all necessary measures to ensure that the Union's resources are used with economy and is accountable to the Council for all administrative and financial aspects of the activities of the The Union.

76

(4)

The Secretary-General shall act as the Union's legal representative.

77

2. The Deputy Secretary-General shall be accountable to the Secretary-General; he shall assist the Secretary-General in the performance of his duties and shall undertake the special tasks entrusted to him by the Secretary-General. It shall exercise the functions of the Secretary-General in the absence of the Secretary-General.

78

1.

(1) The functions of the Radiocommunication Sector are to respond to the subject matter of the Union in respect of radiocommunications, as set out in Article 1 of this Constitution,

-

Ensuring the rational, equitable, efficient and economical use of the radio frequency spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including those using the geostationary orbit, subject to the Provisions of Article 44 of this Constitution, and

-

Conducting studies without limiting the frequency range, and adopting radio communications recommendations.

79

(2)

The specific responsibilities of the Radiocommunication Sector and the Telecommunication Standardization Sector should be reviewed on an ongoing basis, in close collaboration, with respect to issues of concern to both Sectors, In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention. Close coordination must be ensured between the radiocommunications sectors, the standardisation of telecommunications, and the development of telecommunications.

80

2. The operation of the Radiocommunication Sector is ensured by:

81

(a)

Global and regional radio communications conferences;

82

(b)

The Radio Regulations Committee;

83

(c)

Radiocommunication Assemblies, which are associated with world radio communications conferences;

84

(d)

Boards of study;

85

(e)

The Radiocommunications Bureau headed by an elected director.

86

3. The Radiocommunication Sector has the following members:

87

(a)

Law, the administrations of all the Members of the Union,

88

(b)

Any entity or organization approved in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention.

89

1. A World Radiocommunication Conference may conduct a partial or, exceptionally, total revision of the Radio Regulations and deal with any other matter of a global nature falling within its jurisdiction and Relating to its agenda. The other functions of this conference are set out in the Convention.

90

2. World Radiocommunication Conferences shall normally be convened every two years; however, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, such a conference may not be convened or an additional conference may be convened Be called.

91

3. The Radiocommunication Assemblies are normally convened every two years and are associated in place and dates at the World Radiocommunication Conferences in order to improve the efficiency and productivity of the Sector Radio communications. The Radiocommunication Assemblies shall establish the necessary technical bases for the work of the World Radiocommunication Conferences and shall follow up all the requests for such conferences; their functions shall be set out in the Convention.

92

The decisions of the World Radiocommunication Conferences, the Radiocommunication Assemblies and the Regional Radiocommunication Conferences shall, in all cases, be in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and The Convention. Decisions of the Radiocommunication Assemblies or Regional Radiocommunication Conferences shall also, in all cases, be in accordance with the provisions of the Radio Regulations. When adopting resolutions and decisions, conferences must take account of foreseeable financial implications and should avoid adopting resolutions and decisions likely to result in exceeding the upper limits The appropriations set by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries.

93

1. The Radio Regulations Committee shall consist of elected members who are fully qualified in the field of radiocommunications and have practical experience in the assignment and use of frequencies. Each member must be aware of the geographic, economic and demographic conditions of a particular region of the world. Members shall serve in the service of the Union independently and on a part-time basis.

94

2. The functions of the Radio Regulations Committee consist of:

95

(a)

Approval of procedural rules, which include technical criteria, in accordance with the Radio Regulations and the decisions of the relevant radio communications conferences. These rules of procedure are used by the Director and the Bureau in the application of the Radio Regulations to record the frequency assignments made by Members. These rules may be the subject of comments by administrations and, in the event of persistent disagreement, the matter is subject to a forthcoming World Radiocommunication Conference;

96

(b)

To examine any other problems which cannot be solved by the application of the aforementioned procedural rules;

97

(c)

Perform all additional tasks relating to the assignment and use of the frequencies, as set out in paragraph 78 of this Constitution, in accordance with the procedures set out in the Radio Regulations, prescribed By a competent conference or by the Council with the consent of the majority of the Members of the Union for the preparation of such a conference or in accordance with its decisions.

98

3.

(1) The members of the Radio Regulations Committee, in carrying out their duties in the Committee, shall not represent their Member State or region, but shall be entrusted with an international public office. In particular, each member of the Committee shall refrain from participating in decisions relating directly to his or her administration.

99

(2)

No member of the Committee shall, in respect of the performance of his or her duties in the service of the Union, request or receive instructions from any Government or from any member of any government or from any organization or public person Or private. Members shall refrain from taking any action or associate themselves with any decision which may be incompatible with their status as defined in paragraph 98 above.

100

(3)

Each Member shall respect the exclusively international character of the functions of the members of the Committee and shall refrain from seeking to influence them in the performance of their duties in the Committee.

101

(4)

The working methods of the Radio Regulations Committee are defined in the Convention.

102

The functions of the Radio Communications Commissions are set out in the Convention.

103

The functions of the Director of the Radio Communications Office are set out in the Convention.

104

1.

(1) The functions of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector shall consist of fully responding to the object of the Union concerning the standardization of telecommunications, as set out in Article 1 of this Constitution, by Studies on technical, operational and pricing issues and by adopting recommendations for the standardization of telecommunications on a global scale.

105

(2)

The specific responsibilities of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector and the Radiocommunication Sector should be reviewed on an ongoing basis, in close collaboration, with respect to issues of interest to both Sectors, In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention. Close coordination must be ensured between the radiocommunications sectors, the standardisation of telecommunications and the development of telecommunications.

106

2. The operation of the Telecommunication Standardization Sector shall be ensured by:

107

(a)

Global telecommunications standardization conferences;

108

(b)

Telecommunications Standardisation Study Commissions;

109

(c)

The Bureau of Telecommunication Standardization, headed by an elected director.

110

3. The Telecommunication Standardization Sector has the following members:

111

(a)

The law, the administrations of all Members of the Union;

112

(b)

Any entity or organization approved in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention.

113

The role of the global telecommunications standards conferences is defined in the Convention.

114

2. World Telecommunication Standardization Conferences shall be convened every four years; however, an additional conference may be convened in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention.

115

(3) Decisions of the world conferences on the standardization of telecommunications shall, in all cases, be in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, the Convention and the Administrative Regulations. When adopting resolutions and decisions, conferences must take account of foreseeable financial implications and should avoid adopting resolutions and decisions likely to result in exceeding the upper limits The appropriations set by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries.

116

The functions of the Telecommunication Standardization Study Commissions are set out in the Convention.

117

The functions of the Director of the Bureau of Standardization of Telecommunications are set out in the Convention.

118

1.

(1) The functions of the Telecommunications Development Sector shall consist of responding to the object of the Union as set out in Article 1 of this Constitution and in carrying out, within the limits of its sphere of specific competence, the Dual responsibility of the Union as a specialized agency of the United Nations and executing agency for the implementation of projects within the framework of the United Nations development system or other arrangements of Funding to facilitate and improve the development of telecommunications by offering, Organizing and coordinating technical cooperation and assistance activities,

119

(2)

The activities of the Radiocommunications, Telecommunication Standardization and Telecommunication Development Sectors are the subject of close cooperation with respect to development issues in accordance with the Relevant provisions of this Constitution.

120

2. In the above framework, the specific functions of the Telecommunications Development Sector are:

121

(a)

Increase policy-makers' awareness of the important role of telecommunications in national economic and social development programs, and provide information and advice on policy options General and structure;

122

(b)

To encourage the development, expansion and exploitation of telecommunications networks and services, particularly in developing countries, taking into account the activities of the other bodies concerned, by strengthening the means of development of the Human resources, planning, management, resource mobilization, and research and development;

123

(c)

Stimulate the growth of telecommunications through cooperation with regional telecommunications organisations and with the global and regional development finance institutions, following the progress of the projects selected In its development programme, in order to ensure their proper implementation,

124

(d)

Promote the mobilization of resources to provide assistance to developing countries in the field of telecommunications, by encouraging the establishment of preferential and favourable lines of credit and by cooperating with agencies International and regional financing and development;

125

(e)

Promote and coordinate programmes to accelerate the transfer of appropriate technologies to developing countries, taking into account developments and changes in the networks of developed countries;

126

(f)

Encourage industry participation in the development of telecommunications in developing countries, and provide advice on the choice and transfer of appropriate technologies;

127

(g)

Provide advice, conduct or sponsor studies, where appropriate, on technical, economic, financial, management, regulatory and policy issues, including studies on specific projects in the Telecommunications domain;

128

(h)

To work with other sectors, the General Secretariat and other relevant bodies to develop a comprehensive plan for international and regional telecommunications networks, in order to facilitate the coordination of their development by The provision of telecommunications services;

129

(i)

Special attention should be paid to the needs of the least developed countries in the performance of the above functions.

130

3. The operation of the Telecommunications Development Sector is ensured by:

131

(a)

Global and regional telecommunications development conferences;

132

(b)

Telecommunications development study commissions;

133

(c)

The Communications Development Office, led by an elected director.

134

4. The Telecommunications Development Sector has the following members:

135

(a)

The law, the administrations of all Members of the Union;

136

(b)

Any entity or organization approved in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention.

137

1. The telecommunications development conferences provide a framework for discussion of issues, projects and programmes relevant to the development of telecommunications and where guidance is provided to the Bureau of Development of telecommunications.

138

2. Telecommunications development conferences include:

139

(a)

Global telecommunications development conferences;

140

(b)

Regional telecommunications development conferences.

141

3. It is held between two Conferences of Plenipotentiaries, a global conference on the development of telecommunications and, according to resources and priorities, regional conferences on the development of telecommunications.

142

4. Telecommunication development conferences do not develop Final Acts. Their conclusions take the form of resolutions, decisions, recommendations or reports. Such conclusions shall, in all cases, be in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution, the Convention and the By-Laws. When adopting resolutions and decisions, conferences must take account of foreseeable financial implications and should avoid adopting resolutions and decisions likely to result in exceeding the upper limits The appropriations set by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries.

143

5. The role of telecommunications development conferences is defined in the Convention.

144

The functions of the Telecommunication Development Study Commissions are set out in the Convention.

145

The functions of the Director of the Communications Development Office are set out in the Convention.

146

1. A global conference on international telecommunications may conduct a partial, or exceptionally complete, review of the International Telecommunications Regulations and deal with any other matter of a global nature falling within the scope of Its competence or relating to its agenda.

147

2. Decisions of world international telecommunications conferences shall, in all cases, be in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and the Convention. In the adoption of resolutions and decisions, conferences must take account of foreseeable financial implications and should avoid adopting such resolutions and decisions that may result in exceeding the upper limits of Credits fixed by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries.

148

The Coordination Committee shall consist of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General and the Directors of the three Bureaux. It is chaired by the Secretary-General and, in his absence, by the Deputy Secretary-General.

149

2. The Coordination Committee shall assume the functions of an internal management team that advises the Secretary-General and provides practical assistance to the Secretary-General on all matters relating to administration, finance, information systems and Technical cooperation which is not exclusively within the competence of a given sector or of the Secretariat-General, as well as in the fields of external relations and public information. In considering these issues, the Committee takes full account of the provisions of this Constitution, the Convention, the decisions of the Council and the interests of the Union as a whole.

150

1.

(1) In the performance of their duties, the elected officials and the staff of the Union shall not seek or accept instructions from any government or from any authority outside the Union. They must refrain from any action incompatible with their position as international civil servants.

151

(2)

Each Member must respect the exclusively international nature of the functions of these elected officials and of the staff of the Union, and refrain from seeking to influence them in the performance of their duties.

152

(3)

In addition to their duties, elected officials, as well as the staff of the Union, shall not have any financial interests or interests whatsoever in any undertaking concerned with telecommunications. However, the term "financial interest" should not be construed as an opposition to the continuation of pension payments due to previous employment or services.

153

(4)

In order to ensure the effective functioning of the Union, any Member whose national has been elected Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, or Director of a Bureau shall, to the extent possible, refrain from recalling that national between two Plenipotentiary Conferences.

154

2. The dominant consideration in the recruitment and establishment of the conditions of employment of staff must be the need to provide the Union with the services of people with the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. The importance of recruitment carried out on as wide a geographical basis as possible must be duly taken into account.

155

1. The expenses of the Union shall include the costs of:

156

(a)

The Council;

157

(b)

The General Secretariat and the Sectors of the Union;

158

(c)

To the Plenipotentiary Conferences and to the world conferences on international telecommunications.

159

2. The expenses of the Union shall be covered by the contributions of its Members and the entities and organizations admitted to participate in the activities of the Union in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention. Such contributions shall be determined on the basis of the number of units corresponding to the class of contribution chosen by each Member and by any authorized entity or organization, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention.

160

3.

(1) Members shall freely choose the class of contributions according to which they intend to participate in Union expenditure.

161

(2)

This choice shall be made within six months of the end of a Conference of Plenipotentiaries in accordance with the scale of the contribution classes specified in the Convention.

162

(3)

If a Conference of Plenipotentiaries adopts an amendment to the scale of the contribution classes contained in the Convention, the Secretary-General shall inform each Member of the date of entry into force of the amendment. Each Member shall inform the Secretary-General, within six months of the date of such communication, of the class of contribution that it has chosen in accordance with the amended scale in force.

163

(4) ¹

The contribution class chosen by each Member, in accordance with paragraph 161 or 162 above, shall apply only from 1 ^Er January following a period of one year from the expiration of the six-month period referred to in number 161 or 162 above.

164

4. Members who have not made known their decision within the time limit specified in 161 and 162 above shall retain the class of contribution they had previously chosen.

165

5. The contribution class chosen by a Member may be reduced only in accordance with paragraphs 161, 162 and 163 above. However, in exceptional circumstances, such as natural disasters requiring the launching of international aid programmes, the Council may authorise a reduction in the number of contribution units where a Member makes such a reduction. Request and provide evidence that it can no longer maintain its contribution in the class originally chosen.

166

Similarly, Members may, with the approval of the Council, choose a lower contribution class than they have chosen in accordance with paragraph 161 above, if their relative position of contribution, from the date fixed at the number 163 above for a new contribution period is significantly less than their previous previous position.

167

7. The expenses of the regional conferences referred to in paragraph 43 of this Constitution shall be borne by all Members of the region concerned, according to the class of contribution of the latter and, on the same basis, those of the Members of others Regions which, where appropriate, have participated in such conferences.

168

8. The Members and the entities and organizations referred to in 159 above shall pay in advance their share of the annual contribution, calculated on the basis of the biennial budget adopted by the Council and taking into account the adjustments that the latter may adopt.

169

A Member who is late in payments to the Union shall lose his right to vote as set out in paragraphs 27 and 28 of this Constitution when the amount of his arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions to be paid by that Member for both Previous years.

170

10. The specific provisions governing the financial contributions of the entities and organizations referred to in paragraph 159 above and other international organizations are included in the Convention.

---

171

1.

(1) The Union shall have official languages and working languages: English, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, French and Russian.

172

(2)

These languages shall be used, in accordance with the relevant decisions of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries, for the establishment and publication of documents and texts of the Union, in versions equivalent to their form and content, as well as For mutual interpretation during conferences and meetings of the Union.

173

(3)

In the event of any disagreement or disagreement, the French text shall be authentic.

174

2. When all participants in a conference or meeting agree to this procedure, the debates may take place in a number of languages lower than that mentioned above.

175

The Union is based in Geneva.

176

The Union shall enjoy within the territory of each of its Members the legal capacity necessary for the Union to carry out its functions and achieve its objectives.

177

For the organisation of their work and the conduct of their debates, the conferences and meetings of the Union shall apply the rules of procedure set out in the Convention.

178

2. Conferences and the Council may adopt the rules which they consider to be indispensable in addition to those of the Rules of Procedure. However, these additional rules must be compatible with the provisions of this Constitution and the Convention; if they are supplementary rules adopted by conferences, they shall be published as documents of the latter.

179

Members shall recognize the right of the public to correspond with the international public correspondence service. The services, taxes and guarantees are the same for all users, in each category of correspondence, without any priority or preference.

180

1. Members reserve the right to stop the transmission of any private telegram which would appear to be dangerous for the security of the State or contrary to its laws, public order or good morals, to immediately notify the office of origin The total termination of the telegram or any part thereof, except where such notification would appear to be dangerous for the security of the State.

181

2. Members also reserve the right to interrupt any other private telecommunications which may appear dangerous for the safety of the State or contrary to its laws, public order or morality.

182

Each Member reserves the right to suspend the international telecommunication service, either in general or only for certain relations or for certain types of departure, arrival or transit correspondence, to be borne by He shall immediately notify each of the other Members through the Secretary-General.

183

Members shall not accept any liability for users of international telecommunications services, in particular in respect of claims for damages.

184

1. Members undertake to take all possible measures, consistent with the telecommunications system employed, to ensure the secrecy of international correspondence.

185

2. However, they reserve the right to communicate such correspondence to the competent authorities, in order to ensure the application of their national legislation or the implementation of the international conventions to which they are parties.

186

Members shall take appropriate measures to establish, under the best technical conditions, the routes and facilities necessary to ensure the rapid and uninterrupted exchange of international telecommunications.

187

2. Wherever possible, these routes and facilities shall be operated in accordance with the methods and procedures that the practical experience of the operation has proven to be the best, maintained in good condition and maintained at the level of progress Scientific and technical.

188

3. Members shall ensure that these routes and installations are safeguarded within the limits of their jurisdiction.

189

4. Except for specific arrangements setting out other conditions, all Members shall take appropriate measures to ensure the maintenance of those sections of international telecommunication circuits which are within the limits of their Control.

190

In order to facilitate the implementation of the provisions of article 6 of this Constitution, Members undertake to inform each other about contraventions of the provisions of this Constitution, the Convention and the Regulations Administrative.

191

International telecommunications services must give absolute priority to all telecommunications relating to the safety of human life at sea, on land, in the air and in outer space, as well as to Emergency Epidemiological Telecommunications of the World Health Organization.

192

Subject to the provisions of Articles 40 and 46 of this Constitution, State telecommunications (see Annex to this Constitution, number 1014) shall have a right of priority over other telecommunications, to the extent of Where the request is made specifically by the person concerned.

193

Members shall, for themselves, reserve for the operations recognized by them and for other holdings duly authorized to that effect, the ability to enter into special arrangements on telecommunications issues of interest to them Not all Members. However, such arrangements shall not be contrary to the provisions of this Constitution, the Convention or the By-law, with regard to harmful interference that may result from their implementation To cause to the radiocommunication services of other Members, and in general, the technical prejudice that this implementation may cause to the operation of other telecommunications services of other Members.

194

Members reserve the right to hold regional conferences, to conclude regional arrangements and to establish regional organizations, with a view to resolving telecommunications issues that may be dealt with on a regional basis. Regional arrangements shall not conflict with this Constitution or the Convention.

195

Members shall endeavour to limit the number of frequencies and the extent of the spectrum used to the minimum necessary to ensure the satisfactory operation of the necessary services. To this end, they shall endeavour to apply the latest developments in the field of technology as soon as possible.

196

2. In the use of frequency bands for radiocommunications, Members shall take into account the fact that the frequencies and orbit of geostationary satellites are limited natural resources which must be used in a manner that is Rational, efficient and economical, in accordance with the provisions of the Radio Regulations, in order to allow equitable access to that orbit and its frequencies to different countries, or groups of countries, taking into account the special needs of the Developing countries and the geographical situation of some countries.

197

1. All stations, regardless of their purpose, shall be established and operated so as not to cause interference to the radio communications or services of other Members, recognized holdings and others Operations duly authorized to provide a radiocommunication service, and which operate in accordance with the provisions of the Radio Regulations.

198

(2) Each Member shall undertake to require the observance of the requirements of paragraph 197 above, of the holdings recognised by it and of other holdings duly authorised for that purpose.

199

3. In addition, Members recognize the need to take practically possible measures to prevent the operation of electrical apparatus and installations of all kinds from causing harmful interference to communications or Radio services referred to in 197 above.

200

Radiocommunication stations are obliged to accept, as a matter of priority, distress calls and messages, regardless of where they come from, to respond to these messages and to immediately follow them up as required.

201

Members undertake to take appropriate measures to suppress the transmission or distribution of distress, urgency, security or false or misleading identification signals, and to collaborate with a view to locating and identifying Stations under their jurisdiction that emit such signals.

202

1. Members shall retain full freedom in respect of military radio installations.

203

2. However, such installations shall, as far as possible, observe the regulations concerning relief to be provided in the event of distress and the measures to be taken to prevent harmful interference, as well as the requirements of Administrative regulations for the types of programs and frequencies to be used, depending on the nature of the service they provide.

204

In addition, where such facilities participate in the service of public correspondence or other services governed by the By-laws, they shall, in general, comply with the regulatory requirements applicable to such services.

205

The relationship between the United Nations and the International Telecommunication Union is defined in the Agreement between the two organizations.

206

In order to assist in the achievement of full international coordination in the field of telecommunications, the Union works with international organisations which have related interests and activities.

207

All Members, for themselves and for recognised holdings, reserve the right to lay down the conditions under which they admit the telecommunications exchanged with a Member State which is not a Member of the Union. If a telecommunication originating in such a State is accepted by a Member, it shall be transmitted and, as long as it borrows the telecommunications channels of a Member, the mandatory provisions of this Constitution, of the The Convention and the Administrative Regulations and the normal fees are applied to it.

208

1. This Constitution and the Convention shall be ratified, accepted or approved simultaneously by any Signatory Member, in accordance with its constitutional rules, in the form of a single instrument. This instrument shall be deposited, as soon as possible, with the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General shall inform the Members of the deposit of each instrument.

209

2.

(1) For a period of two years from the date of entry into force of this Constitution and the Convention, every Signatory Member shall enjoy the rights conferred on Members of the Union in paragraphs 25 to 28 of this Constitution, even If it has not deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval under paragraph 208 above.

210

(2)

At the expiration of a period of two years from the date of entry into force of this Constitution and the Convention, a Signatory Member who has not deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval under the number 208 above shall no longer be entitled to vote at any conference of the Union, at any session of the Council, at any meeting of the sectors of the Union, or in any consultation by correspondence carried out in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and the Convention, as long as the said instrument has not been deposited. The rights of this Member, other than voting rights, are not affected.

211

3. After the entry into force of this Constitution and the Convention in accordance with Article 58 of this Constitution, an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval shall take effect on the date of filing with the Secretary-General.

212

1. A Member who has not signed this Constitution and the Convention or, subject to the provisions of Article 2 of this Constitution, any other State referred to in that Article, may accede at any time to this Constitution and to The Convention. This accession takes place simultaneously in the form of a single instrument covering both the Constitution and the Convention.

213

2. The instrument of accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General, who shall notify the Members of the deposit of each instrument of accession, as soon as he receives it, and shall transmit to each of them an authenticated copy thereof.

214

3. After the entry into force of this Constitution and the Convention in accordance with Article 58 of this Constitution, an instrument of accession shall take effect on the date of filing with the Secretary-General, unless the instrument of accession Provides otherwise.

215

Administrative regulations, as specified in Article 4 of this Constitution, shall be binding international instruments and shall be in conformity with the provisions of this Constitution and the Convention.

216

2. The ratification, acceptance or approval of this Constitution and of the Convention or accession to such instruments, in accordance with Articles 52 and 53 of this Constitution, also implies consent to be bound by the Administrative regulations adopted by the relevant world conferences before the date of signature of this Constitution and the Convention. Such consent shall be understood in the light of any reservation made at the time of signature of the said Regulations or any revision thereof and to the extent that it is maintained at the time of deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance, Approval or accession.

217

(3) The revisions to the By-Laws, Partial or Total, adopted after the above date, shall apply provisionally, in respect of all Members who have signed such revisions, to the extent permitted by their national law. This provisional application shall take effect on the date or dates referred to therein, taking into account any reservations that have been made at the time of signature of those revisions.

218

4. This provisional application continues:

219

(a)

Until the Member notifies the Secretary-General of his consent to be bound by such revision and shall indicate, if necessary, the extent to which he maintains any reservation made in connection with that revision upon signature of the revision; or

220

(b)

For sixty days after receipt by the Secretary-General of the Member's notification that he does not agree to be bound by such a review.

221

(5) If the Secretary-General has received, under paragraphs 219 or 220 above, no notification by a Member who has signed such a revision, before the expiration of thirty-six months from the date or dates specified therein, The commencement of the provisional application, that Member shall be deemed to have consented to be bound by the revision, taking into account any reservations that may have been made in connection with the revision, upon signature of the revision.

222

6. Any Member of the Union who has not signed such a revision of the By-Laws, partial or total, adopted after the date stipulated in 216 above, shall endeavour to notify the Secretary-General promptly of his consent to be bound By this revision. If no notification has been received by the Secretary-General from that Member prior to the expiration of the period specified in 221 above, that Member shall be deemed to have consented to be bound by such revision.

223

The Secretary-General shall promptly inform Members of any notification received under this Article.

224

1. Any Member of the Union may propose any amendment to this Constitution. Such a proposal must, in order to be transmitted to all Members of the Union and be considered by them in good time, reach the Secretary-General no later than eight months before the date of the opening of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries. The Secretary-General shall transmit, as soon as possible, and no later than six months before the latter date, such a proposal to all Members of the Union.

225

(2) Any proposal to amend an amendment proposed in accordance with paragraph 224 above may, however, be submitted at any time by a Member of the Union or by his delegation to the Conference of Plenipotentiaries.

226

The quorum required at any plenary meeting of the Conference of Plenipotentiaries for the consideration of any proposal to amend this Constitution or of any amendment of such a proposal shall be constituted by more than half of the delegations Accredited to the Conference of Plenipotentiaries.

227

4. To be adopted, any proposal to amend a proposed amendment, as well as the proposed amendment in its entirety, as amended or not, must be approved at a plenary meeting by at least two-thirds of the delegations Accredited to the Conference of Plenipotentiaries and entitled to vote.

228

(5) The general provisions concerning conferences and rules of procedure for conferences and other meetings contained in the Convention shall apply, unless the preceding paragraphs of this article shall prevail Otherwise.

229

6. All amendments to this Constitution adopted by a Conference of Plenipotentiaries shall enter into force, on a date fixed by the Conference, in their entirety and in the form of a single amendment instrument, between the Members who Have deposited before that date their instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to this Constitution and the instrument of amendment. Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to only part of this instrument of amendment is excluded.

230

The Secretary-General shall notify all Members of the deposit of each instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

231

8. After the entry into force of any instrument of amendment, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, in accordance with Articles 52 and 53 of this Constitution, shall apply to the amended Constitution.

232

9. After the entry into force of such an amending instrument, the Secretary-General shall register it with the Secretariat of the United Nations, in accordance with the provisions of Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations ¹ Article 241 of this Constitution shall also apply to any instrument of amendment.

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233

1. Members may settle their disputes over matters relating to the interpretation or application of this Constitution, the Convention or the By-Laws, through negotiation, through diplomatic channels, or by Procedures established by bilateral or multilateral treaties between them for the settlement of international disputes, or by any other method that may be agreed upon by them.

234

2. In the event that none of these means of settlement are adopted, any Member, in a dispute, may resort to arbitration, in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Convention.

235

(3) The Optional Protocol on the Mandatory Settlement of Disputes under this Constitution, the Convention and the Administrative Regulations shall be applicable between the Members party to this Protocol.

236

1. Any Member who has ratified, accepted or approved this Constitution and the Convention, or acceded to it, has the right to denounce them. In such a case, this Constitution and the Convention shall be denounced simultaneously in the form of a single instrument by a notification addressed to the Secretary-General. Upon receipt of such notification, the Secretary-General shall notify the other Members.

237

(2) Such denunciation shall have effect at the expiration of a period of one year from the date on which the Secretary-General has received notification thereof.

238

1. This Constitution and the Convention shall enter into force on 1 ^Er July 1994 between Members who have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession before that date.

239

2. On the date of entry into force specified in 238 above, this Constitution and the Convention shall repeal and replace, between the parties, the International Telecommunication Convention of Nairobi (1982) ¹ .

240

3. In accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations ² , the Secretary-General of the Union shall register this Constitution and the Convention with the Secretariat of the United Nations.

241

4. The original of this Constitution and of the Convention, established in the Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Russian languages, shall remain deposited in the archives of the Union. The Secretary-General shall send, in the requested languages, a certified copy to each of the signatory Members.

242

5. In the event of any discrepancy between the texts of this Constitution and the Convention in the different languages, the French text shall be authentic.

In witness whereof, The undersigned Plenipotentiaries have signed the original Constitution of the International Telecommunication Union and the original of the Convention of the International Telecommunication Union.

Done at Geneva on 22 December 1992.

(Suivent signatures)

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