Decreto-Lei n.º 124/72 — Aprova, para ratificação, o Acordo Relativo à Organização Internacional de Telecomunicações por Satélites (Intelsat)…

If the Meeting of Signatories, pursuant to subparagraph b) - ii) or paragraph c) of this article, decides not to approve the recommendation of the Board of Governors that the Signatory be deemed to have withdrawn from Intelsat, as of the date of that decision the suspension shall be lifted and the Signatory shall thereafter have all rights under this Agreement and the Operating Agreement, provided that where a Signatory is suspended pursuant to paragraph c) of this article the suspension shall not be lifted until the Signatory has paid the amounts due from it pursuant to paragraph a) of article 4 of the Operating Agreement.

If the Meeting of Signatories approves the recommendation of the Board of Governors pursuant to subparagraph b) - ii) or paragraph c) of this article that a Signatory be deemed to have withdrawn from Intelsat, that Signatory shall incur no obligation or liability after such approval, except that the Signatory, unless the Board of Governors decides otherwise pursuant to paragraph d) of article 21 of the Operating Agreement, shall be responsible for contributing its share of the capital contributions necessary to meet both contractual commitments specifically authorized before such approval and liabilities arising from acts or omissions before such approval.

If the Assembly of parties decides pursuant to subparagraph b) - i) of this article that a party be deemed to have withdrawn from Intelsat, the party in its capacity as Signatory or its designated Signatory, as the case may be, shall incur no obligation or liability after such decision, except that the party in its capacity as Signatory or its designated Signatory, as the case may be, unless the Board of Governors decides otherwise pursuant to paragraph d) of article 21 of the Operating Agreement, shall be responsible for contributing its share of the capital contributions necessary to meet both contractual commitments specifically authorized before such decision and liabilities arising from acts or omissions before such decision.

Settlement between Intelsat and a Signatory for which this Agreement and the Operating Agreement have ceased to be in force, other than in the case of substitution pursuant to paragraph f) of this article, shall be accomplished as provided in article 21 of the Operating Agreement.

• i) Notification of the decision of a Party to withdraw pursuant to subparagraph a) - i) of this article shall be transmitted by the Depositary to all Parties and to the executive organ, and the latter shall transmit the notification to all Signatories;

The substitution of a Signatory pursuant to paragraph f) of this article shall be notified by the Depositary to all Parties and to the executive organ, and the latter shall transmit the notification to all Signatories.

No Party or its designated Signatory shall be required to withdraw from Intelsat as a direct result of any change in the status of that Party with regard to the International Telecommunication Union.

Any Party may propose amendments to this Agreement. Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the executive organ, which shall distribute them promptly to all Parties and Signatories.

The Assembly of Parties shall consider each proposed amendment at its first ordinary meeting following its distribution by the executive organ, or at an earlier extraordinary meeting convened in accordance with the provisions of article VII of this Agreement, provided that the proposed amendment has been distributed by the executive organ at least ninety days before the opening date of the meeting. The Assembly of Parties shall consider any views and recommendations which it receives from the Meeting of Signatories or the Board of Governors with respect to a proposed amendment.

The Assembly of Parties shall take decisions on each proposed amendments in accordance with the provisions relating to quorum and voting contained in article VII of this Agreement. It may modify any proposed amendment, distributed in accordance with paragraph b) of this article, and may also take decisions on any amendment not so distributed but directly consequential to a proposed or modified amendment.

An amendment which has been approved by the Assembly of Parties shall enter into force in accordance with paragraph e) of this article after the Depositary has received notice of approval, acceptance or ratification of the amendment from either;

Two-thirds of the States which were Parties as of the date upon which the amendment was approved by the Assembly of Parties, provided that such two-thirds include Parties which then held, or whose designated Signatories then held, at least two-thirds of the total investment shares; or

The Depositary shall notify all the Parties as soon as it has received the acceptances, approvals or ratifications, required by paragraph d) of this article for the entry into force of an amendment. Ninety days after the date of issue of this notification, the amendment shall enter into force for all Parties, including those that have not yet accepted, approved, or ratified it and have not withdrawn from Intelsat.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs d) and e) of this article, an amendment shall not enter into force less than eight months or more than eighteen months after the date it has been approved by the Assembly of Parties.

All legal disputes arising in connection with the rights and obligations under this Agreement or in connection with obligations undertaken by Parties pursuant to paragraph c) of article 14 or paragraph c) of article 15 of the Operating Agreement, between Parties with respect to each other, or between Intelsat and one or more Parties, if not otherwise settled within a reasonable time, shall be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Annex C to this Agreement. Any legal dispute arising in connection with the rights and obligations under this Agreement or the Operating Agreement between one or more Parties and one or more Signatories may be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Annex C to this Agreement, provided that the Party or Parties and the Signatory or Signatories involved agree to such arbitration.

All legal disputes arising in connection with the rights and obligations under this Agreement, or in connection with the obligations undertaken by Parties pursuant to paragraph c) of article 14 or paragraph c) of article 15 of the Operating Agreement, between a Party and a State which has ceased to be a Party or between Intelsat and a State which has ceased to be a Party, and which arise after the State ceased to be a Party, if not otherwise settled within a reasonable time, shall be submitted to arbitration. Such arbitration shall be in accordance with the provisions of Annex C to this Agreement, provided that the State which has ceased to be a Party so agrees. If a State ceases to be a Party, or if a State or a telecommunications entity ceases to be a Signatory, after a dispute in which it is a disputant has been submitted to arbitration pursuant to paragraph a) of this article the arbitration shall be continued and concluded.

All legal disputes arising as a result of agreements between Intelsat and any Party shall be subject to the provisions on settlement of disputes contained in such agreements. In the absence of such provisions, such disputes, if not otherwise settled, may be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Annex C to this Agreement if the disputants so agree.

This Agreement shall be open for signature at Washington from August 20, 1971 until it enters into force, or until a period of nine months has elapsed, whichever occurs first:

By the Government of any State party to the Interim Agreement;

Any Government signing this Agreement may do so without its signature being subject to ratification, acceptance or approval or with declaration accompanying its signature that it is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval.

Any State referred to in paragraph a) of this article may accede to this Agreement after it is closed for signature.

No reservation may be made to this Agreement.

This Agreement shall enter into force sixty days after the date on which it has been signed not subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, or has been ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to, by two-thirds of the States which were parties to the Interim Agreement as of the date upon which this Agreement is opened for signature, provided that:

Such two-thirds include parties to the Interim Agreement which then held, or whose signatories to the Special Agreement then held, at least two-thirds of the quotas under the Special Agreement; and

For a State whose instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession is deposited after the date this Agreement enters into force pursuant to paragraph a) of this article, this Agreement shall enter into force on the date of such deposit;

Upon entry into force of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph a) of this article, it may be applied provisionally with respect to any State whose Government signed it subject to ratification, acceptance or approval if that Government so requests at the time of signature or at any time thereafter prior to the entry into force of this Agreement. Provisional application shall terminate:

Upon deposit of an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of this Agreement by that Government;

Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, this Agreement shall neither enter into force for any State nor be applied provisionally with respect to any State until the Government of that State or the telecommunications entity designated pursuant to this Agreement shall have signed the Operating Agreement.

Upon entry into force, this Agreement shall replace and terminate the Interim Agreement.

The official and working languages of Intelsat shall be English, French and Spanish.

Internal regulations for the executive organ shall provide for the prompt distribution to all Parties and Signatories of copies of any Intelsat document in accordance with their requests.

Consistent with the provisions of Resolution 1721 (XVI) of the General Assembly of the United Nations, the executive organ shall send to the secretary general of the United Nations, and to the Specialized Agencies concerned, for their information, an annual report on the activities of Intelsat.

The Government of the United States of America shall be the Depositary for this Agreement, with which shall be deposited declarations made pursuant to paragraph b) of article XIX of this Agreement, instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, requests for provisional application, and notifications of ratification, acceptance or approval of amendments, of decisio s to withdraw fom Intelsat, or of termination of the provisional application of this Agreement.

This Agreement, of which the English, French and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited on the archives of the Depositary. The Depositary shall transmit certified copies of the text of this Agreement to all Governments that have signed it or deposited instruments of accession to it, and to the International Telecommunication Union, and shall notify those Governments, and the International Telecommunication Union, of signatures, of declarations made pursuant to paragraph b) of article XIX of this Agreement, of the deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, of requests for provisional application of commencement of the sixty-day period referred to in paragraph a) of article XX of this Agreement, of the entry into force of this Agreement, of notifications of ratification, acceptance or approval of amendments, of the entry into force of amendments, of decisions to withdraw from Intelsat, of withdrawals and of terminations of provisional application of this Agreement. Notice of the commencement of the sixty-day period shall be issued on the first day of that period.

Upon entry into force of this Agreement, the Depositary shall register it with the Secretariat of the United Nations in accordance with article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Recommend to the Board of Governors research and development programs directly related to the purposes of Intelsat;

As authorized by the Board of Governors:

Conduct studies and research and development, directly or under contract with other entities or persons;

Advise the Board of Governors on the need to procure space segment facilities for the Intelsat space segment;

As authorized by the Board of Governors, prepare and distribute requests for proposals, including specifications, for procurement of space segment facilities;

Evaluate all proposals submitted in response to requests for proposals and make recommendations to the Bord of Governors on such proposals;

Pursuant to procurement regulations and in accordance with decisions of the Board of Governors;

Negotiate, place, amend and administer all contracts on behalf of Intelsat for space segments;

Provide or arrange for the provision of services for monitoring satellite performance characteristics, outages, and effectiveness, and the satellite power and frequencies used by the earth stations, including coordination of the efforts of Signatories and other owners of earth stations participating in the provision of these services;

Recommend to the Board of Governors frequencies for use by the Intelsat space segment and location plans for telecommunications satellites;

Operate the Intelsat Operations Center and the Spacecraft Technical Control Center;

Recommend to the Board of Governors standard earth station performance characteristics, both mandatory and non-mandatory;

Evaluate applications for access to the Intelsat space segment by non-standard earth stations;

Allot units of Intelsat space segment capacity, as determined by the Board of Governors;

Prepare and coordinate system operations plans (including network configuration studies and contingency plans), procedures, guides, practices and standards, for adoption by the Board of Governors;

Prepare, coordinate and distribute frequency plans for assignment to earth stations having access to the Intelsat space segment;

Prepare and distribute system status reports, to include actual and projected system utilization;

Distribute information to Signatories and other users on new telecommunications services and methods;

For the purpose of paragraph d) of article XIV of this Agreement, analyze and report to the Board of Governors on the estimated technical and operational effect on Intelsat of any proposed space segment facilities separate from the Intelsat space segment facilities, including the effect on the frequency and location plans of Intelsat;

Provide the secretary general with the information necessary for the performance of his responsibility to the Board of Governors pursuant to paragraph 24 of Annex A to this Agreement;

Make recommendations relating to the acquisition, disclosure, distribution and protection of rights in inventions and technical information in accordance with article 17 of the Operating Agreement;

Pursuant to decisions of the Board of Governors, arrange to make available to Signatories and others the rights of Intelsat in inventions and technical information in accordance with article 17 of the Operating Agreement, and enter into licensing agreements on behalf of Intelsat; and

Take all operational, technical, financial, procurement, administrative and supporting actions necessary to carry out the above listed functions.

Reimbursement by Intelsat in US dollars of all direct and indirect costs documented and identified, properly incurred by the management services contractor under the contract;

Payment to the management services contractor of a fixed fee at an annual rate in US dollars to be negotiated between the Board of Governors and the contractor;

Periodic review by the Board of Governors in consultation with the management services contractor of the costs under subparagraph a) of this paragraph;

Compliance with procurement policies and procedures of Intelsat, consistent with the relevant provisions of this Agreement and the Operating Agreement, in the solicitation and negotiation of contracts on behalf of Intelsat;

Provisions with respect to inventions and technical information which are consistent with article 17 of the Operating Agreement;

Technical personnel selected by the Board of Governors, with the concurrence of the management services contractor, from among persons nominated by Signatories, to participate in the assessment of designs and of specifications for equipment for the space segment;

Disputes or disagreements between Intelsat and the management services contractor which may arise under the management services contract to be settled in accordance with the Rules of Conciliation and Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce; and

The furnishing by the management services contractor to the Board of Governors of such information as may be required by any governor to enable him to discharge his responsibilities as a governor.

Not later than sixty days before the operating date of the first and each subsequent ordinary meeting of the Assembly of Parties, each Party may submit to the executive organ the names of not more than two legal experts who will be available for the period from the end of such meeting until the end of the next ordinary meeting of the Assembly of Parties to serve as presidents or members of tribunals constituted in accordance with this Annex. From such nominees the executive organ shall prepare a list of all the persons thus nominated and shall attach to this list any biographical particulars submitted by the nominating Party, and shall distribute such list to all Parties not later than thirty days before the opening date of the meeting in question. If for any reason a nominee becomes unavailable for selection to the panel during the sixty-day period before the opening date of the meeting of the Assembly of Parties, the nominating Party may, not later than fourteen days before the opening date of the meeting of the Assembly of Parties, substitute the name of another legal expert.

From the list mentioned in paragraph a) of this article, the Assembly of Parties shall select eleven persons to be members of a panel from which presidents of tribunals shall be selected, and shall select an alternate for each such member. Members and alternates shall serve for the period prescribed in paragraph a) of this article. If a member becomes unavailable to serve on the panel, he shall be replaced by his alternate.

For the purpose of designating a chairman, the panel shall be convened to meet by the executive organ as soon as possible after the panel has been selected. The quorum for a meeting of the panel shall be nine of the eleven members. The panel shall designate one of its members as its chairman by a decision taken by the affirmative votes of at least six members, cast in one or, if necessary, more than one secret ballot. The chairman so designated shall hold office as chairman for the rest of his period of office as a member of the panel. The cost of the meeting of the panel shall be regarded as an administrative cost of Intelsat for the purpose of article 8 of the Operating Agreement.

If both a member of the panel and alternate for that member become unavailable to serve, the Assembly of Parties shall fill the vacancies thus created from the list referred to in paragraph a) of this article. If, however, the Assembly of Parties does not meet within ninety days subsequent to the occurrence of the vacancies, they shall be filled by selection by the Board of Governors from the list referred to in paragraph a) of this article, with each governor having one vote. A person selected to replace a member or alternate whose term of office has not expired shall hold office for the remainder of the term of his predecessor. Vacancies in the office of the chairman of the panel shall be filled by the panel by designation of one of its members in accordance with the procedure prescribed in paragraph c) of this article.

In selecting the members of the panel and the alternates in accordance with paragraph b) or d) of this article, the Assembly of Parties or the Board of Governors shall seek to ensure that the composition of the panel will always be able to reflect an adequate geographical representation, as well as the principal legal systems as they are represented among the Parties.

Any panel member or alternate serving on an arbitral tribunal at the expiration of his term shall continue to serve until the conclusion of any arbitral proceeding pending before such tribunal.

If, during the period between the date of entry into force of this Agreement and the establishment of the first panel and alternates pursuant to the provisions of paragraph b) of this article, a legal dispute arises between the disputants mentioned in article 1 of this Annex, the panel as constituted in accordance with paragraph b) of article 3 of the Supplementary Agreement on Arbitration dated June 4, 1965, shall be the panel for use in connection with the settlement of that dispute. That panel shall act in accordance with the provisions of this Annex for the purposes of article XVIII of this Agreement, and article 20 of, and the Annex to, the Operating Agreement.

Any petitioner wishing to submit a legal dispute to arbitration shall provide each respondent and the executive organ with a document which contains:

A statement which fully describes the dispute being submitted for arbitration, the reasons why each respondent is required to participate in the arbitration, and the relief being requested;

The name of the person designated by the petitioner to serve as a member of the tribunal.

The executive organ shall promptly distribute to each Party and Signatory, and to the chairman of the panel, a copy of the document provided pursuant to paragraph a) of this article.

Within sixty days from the date copies of the document described in paragraph a) of article 4 of this Annex have been received by all the respondents, the side of the respondents shall designate an individual to serve as a member of the tribunal. Within that period, the respondents may, jointly or individually, provide each disputant and the executive organ with a document stating their responses to the document referred to in paragraph a) of article 4 of this Annex and including any counter-claims arising out of the subject matter of the dispute. The executive organ shall promptly furnish the chairman of the panel with a copy of any such document.

In the event of a failure by the side of the respondents to make such a designation within the period allowed, the chairman of the panel shall make a designation from among the experts whose names were submitted to the executive organ pursuant to paragraph a) of article 3 of this Annex.

Within thirty days after the designation of the two members of the tribunal, they shall agree on a third person selected from the panel constituted in accordance with article 3 of this Annex, who shall serve as the president of the tribunal. In the event of failure to reach agreement within such period of time, either of the two members designated may inform the chairman of the panel, who, within ten days, shall designate a member of the panel other than himself to serve as president of the tribunal.

The tribunal is constituted as soon as the president is selected.

If a vacancy occurs in the tribunal for reasons which the president or the remaining members of the tribunal decide are beyond the control of the disputants, or are compatible with the proper conduct of the arbitration proceedings, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the following provisions:

If the vacancy occurs as a result of the withdrawal of a member appointed by a side to the dispute, then that side shall select a replacement within ten days after the vacancy occurs;

If a vacancy occurs in the tribunal for any reason other than as described in paragraph a) of this article, or if a vacancy occurring pursuant to that paragraph is not filled, the remainder of the tribunal shall have the power, notwithstanding the provisions of article 2 of this Annex, upon the request of one side, to continue the proceedings and give the final decision of the tribunal.

The tribunal shall decide the date and place of its sittings.

The proceedings shall be held in private and all material presented to the tribunal shall be confidential, except that Intelsat and the Parties whose designated Signatories and the Signatories whose designating Parties are disputants in the proceedings shall have the right to be present and shall have access to the material presented. When Intelsat is a disputant in the proceedings, all Parties and all Signatories shall have the right to be present and shall have access to the material presented.

In the event of a dispute over the competence of the tribunal, the tribunal shall deal with this question first, and shall give its decision as soon as possible.

The proceedings shall be conducted in writing, and each side shall have the right to submit written evidence in support of its allegations of fact and law. However, oral arguments and testimony may be given if the tribunal considers it appropriate.

The proceedings shall commence with the presentation of the case of the petitioner containing its arguments, related facts supported by evidence and the principles of law relied upon. The case of the petitioner shall be followed by the counter-case of the respondent. The petitioner may submit a reply to the counter-case of the respondent. Additional pleadings shall be submitted only if the tribunal determines they are necessary.

The tribunal may hear and determine counter-claims arising directly out of the subject matter of the dispute, provided the counter-claims are within its competence as defined in article XVIII of this Agreement, and article 20 of, and the Annex to, the Operating Agreement.

If the disputants reach an agreement during the proceedings, the agreement shall be recorded in the form of a decision of the tribunal given by consent of the disputants.

At any time during the proceedings, the tribunal may terminate the proceedings if it decides the dispute is beyond its competence as defined in article XVIII of the Agreement, and article 20 of, and the Annex to, the Operating Agreement.

The deliberations of the tribunal shall be secret.

The decisions of the tribunal shall be presented in writing and shall be supported by a written opinion. Its rulings and decisions must be supported by at least two members. A member dissenting from the decision may submit a separate written opinion.

The tribunal shall forward its decision to the executive organ, which shall distribute it to all Parties and Signatories.

The tribunal may adopt additional rules of procedure, consistent with those established by this Annex, which are necessary for the proceedings.

Any Party whose designated Signatory is a disputant in a case shall have the right to intervene and become an additional disputant in the case. Intervention shall be made by giving notice thereof in writing to the tribunal and to the other disputants.

Any other Party, any Signatory or Intelsat, if it considers that it has a substantial interest in the decision of the case, may petition the tribunal for permission to intervene and become an additional disputant in the case. If the tribunal determines that the petitioner has a substantial interest in the decision of the case, it shall grant the petition.

The decision of the tribunal shall be based on

This Agreement and the Operating Agreement; and

The decision of the tribunal, including any reached by agreement of the disputants pursuant to paragraph g) of article 7 of this Annex, shall be binding on all the disputants and shall be carried out by them in good faith. In a case in which Intelsat is a disputant, and the tribunal decides that a decision of one of its organs is null and void as not being authorized by or in compliance with this Agreement and the Operating Agreement, the decision of the tribunal shall be binding on all Parties and Signatories.

In the event of a dispute as to the meaning or scope of its decision, the tribunal shall construe it at the request of any disputant.

The Board of Governors determines that the executive organ is ready to assume responsibility for performance of all or certain of the functions of the executive organ pursuant to article XII of this Agreement, at which time the Communications Satellite Corporation shall be relieved of its responsibility for performance of each such function as it is assumed by the executive organ; and

«Acordo» significa o presente Acordo, incluindo os seus Anexos, mas excluindo todos os títulos dos artigos, aberto à assinatura dos Governos em Washington em 20 de Agosto de 1971, pelo qual se estabelece à Organização Internacional de Telecomunicações por Satélites (Intelsat);

Acordo de Exploração» significa o Acordo, incluindo os seus Anexos, mas excluindo todos os títulos dos artigos, aberto para assinatura em Washington em 20 de Agosto de 1971, pelos Governos ou entidades de telecomunicações designadas pelos Governos consoante as disposições do presente Acordo;

«Acordo Provisório» significa o Acordo Que Estabelece Um Regime Provisório Aplicável a Um Sistema Mundial Comercial de Telecomunicações por Satélites, assinado pelos Governos em Washington em 20 de Agosto de 1964;

«Acordo Especial» significa o Acordo assinado em 20 de Agosto de 1964 pelos Governos ou pelas entidades de telecomunicações designadas pelos Governos, o qual se concluiu consoante as disposições do Acordo Provisório;

«Comissão Provisória de Telecomunicações por Satélites» significa a Comissão estabelecida pelo artigo IV do Acordo Provisório;

«Parte» significa um Estado em relação ao qual o Acordo entrou em vigor ou se lhe aplica provisòriamente;

«Signatário» significa uma Parte, ou a entidade de telecomunicações designada por uma Parte, que assinou o Acordo de Exploração e em relação ao qual este último entrou em vigor ou se lhe aplica provisòriamente;

«Segmento espacial» significa os satélites de telecomunicações e as instalações e o equipamento de seguimento, telemedida, telecomando, contrôle e vigilância, bem como outras instalações e equipamentos associados necessários ao funcionamento dos referidos satélites;

«Segmento espacial Intelsat» significa o segmento espacial que pertence à Intelsat;

«Telecomunicações» significa qualquer transmissão, emissão ou recepção de símbolos, sinais, escritos, imagens e sons ou informações de qualquer natureza por fio, radioelectricidade, meios ópticos ou outros sistemas electromagnéticos;

«Serviços públicos de telecomunicações» significa os serviços de telecomunicações fixos ou móveis que podem ser fornecidos por satélite e postos à disposição do público, tais como a telefonia, a telegrafia, o telex, a fototelegrafia, a transmissão de dados, a transmissão de programas de rádio e de televisão entre estações terrenas aprovadas para acesso ao segmento espacial Intelsat destinados a ulterior transmissão ao público, e circuitos alugados para qualquer daqueles fins, mas com exclusão dos serviços móveis de um tipo que não haja sido fornecido em conformidade com o Acordo Provisório e o Acordo Especial antes da abertura para assinatura do presente Acordo, que sejam fornecidos através de estações móveis que operem directamente com um satélite que for concebido, no todo ou em parte, para fornecer serviços relativos à segurança ou contrôle de voo de aeronaves ou de radionavegação aérea e marítima;

«Serviços especializados de telecomunicações» significa os serviços de telecomunicações que podem ser fornecidos por satélites, distintos dos definidos no parágrafo k) deste artigo, incluindo, sem que isso seja limitativo, os serviços de radionavegação, de radiodifusão por satélite destinados a serem recebidos directamente pelo público, de investigação espacial, de meteorologia e os relativos aos recursos terrestres;

«Bens» abrange qualquer elemento, seja de que natureza for, sobre o qual um direito de propriedade pode ser exercido, incluindo direitos contratuais;

«Concepção» e «desenvolvimento» abrangem a investigação directamente relacionada com os objectivos da Intelsat.

Tendo em atenção os princípios enunciados no preâmbulo do presente Acordo, as Partes estabelecem pelo mesmo a Organização Internacional de Telecomunicações por Satélites (Intelsat), cuja finalidade principal consiste em continuar e aperfeiçoar, numa base definitiva, a concepção, desenvolvimento, construção, estabelecimento, exploração e conservação do segmento espacial do sistema comercial mundial de telecomunicações por satélites estabelecido consoante as disposições do Acordo Provisório e do Acordo Especial.

Cada Estado Parte assinará ou designará uma entidade de telecomunicações, pública ou privada, para o efeito de assinar o Acordo de Exploração, que será concluído em conformidade com as disposições do presente Acordo e que deverá ficar aberto à assinatura ao mesmo tempo que o presente Acordo. As relações entre qualquer entidade de telecomunicações que actue na sua qualidade de Signatário e a Parte que a tiver designado reger-se-ão pela legislação nacional aplicável.

As administrações e entidades de telecomunicações, sob reserva da sua legislação nacional aplicável, podem negociar e concluir directamente os acordos de tráfego apropriados relativamente à utilização dos circuitos de telecomunicações fornecidos nos termos do presente Acordo e do Acordo de Exploração, bem como os serviços abertos ao público, instalações, partilha de receitas e as correspondentes disposições comerciais.

Para continuar a melhorar, em bases definitivas, as actividades relativas ao segmento espacial do sistema comercial mundial de telecomunicações por satélite referidas no parágrafo a) do artigo II do presente Acordo, a Intelsat terá como objectivo principal o fornecimento, numa base comercial, do segmento espacial necessário aos serviços públicos de telecomunicações internacionais de alta qualidade e de grande fiabilidade, sem discriminação, a todas as regiões do Mundo.

Serão considerados nas mesmas bases dos serviços públicos de telecomunicações internacionais:

Os serviços públicos de telecomunicações nacionais entre regiões separadas por regiões que não estejam sob a jurisdição do Estado interessado ou entre regiões separadas pelo alto mar; e

O segmento espacial da Intelsat, estabelecido para realizar o seu objectivo principal, deve igualmente ser posto à disposição de outros serviços públicos de telecomunicações nacionais, sem discriminação, na medida em que não seja prejudicada a capacidade da Intelsat de atingir o seu objectivo principal.

O segmento espacial da Intelsat pode também, a pedido e segundo termos e condições apropriados, ser utilizado para as necessidades de serviços especializados de telecomunicações, internacionais ou nacionais, não destinados a fins militares, desde que:

O fornecimento dos serviços públicos de telecomunicações não seja desfavoràvelmente afectado; e

A Intelsat pode, a pedido e segundo termos e condições apropriados, fornecer satélites ou instalações associadas distintas do segmento espacial da Intelsat para:

Serviços públicos de telecomunicações nacionais no interior de territórios sob a jurisdição de uma ou mais Partes;

A utilização do segmento espacial da Intelsat para serviços especializados de telecomunicações, segundo o parágrafo d) do presente artigo, assim como o fornecimento de satélites ou de instalações associadas distintas do segmento espacial da Intelsat, segundo o parágrafo e) do presente artigo, serão objecto de contratos concluídos entre a Intelsat e os peticionários interessados. A utilização das instalações do segmento espacial da Intelsat para serviços especializados de telecomunicações, prevista no parágrafo d) do presente artigo, e o fornecimento de satélites ou de instalações associadas distintas do segmento espacial Intelsat para serviços especializados de telecomunicações, previsto na alínea iii) do parágrafo e) do presente artigo, devem estar em conformidade com as autorizações apropriadas, na fase de planificação, da Assembleia de Partes, nos termos da alínea iv) do parágrafo c) do artigo VII do presente Acordo. Quando a utilização de instalações do segmento espacial da Intelsat para serviços especializados de telecomunicações envolva encargos adicionais que resultem de modificações requeridas nas instalações existentes ou projectadas do segmento espacial da Intelsat, ou quando se preveja o fornecimento de satélites ou de instalações associadas separadas do segmento espacial da Intelsat para serviços especializados de telecomunicações em conformidade com a alínea iii) do parágrafo e) deste artigo, a autorização prevista na alínea iv) do parágrafo c) do artigo VII do presente Acordo deve ser obtida da Assembleia de Partes logo que o Conselho de Governadores esteja em condições de informar a Assembleia de Partes em pormenor sobre o encargo estimado da proposta, os benefícios dela resultantes, os problemas técnicos ou outros que lhe respeitem e os efeitos prováveis sobre os serviços presentes ou previsíveis da Intelsat. Esta autorização deve ser obtida antes de se iniciar o processo de aquisição da instalação ou instalações respectivas. Antes de conceder tais autorizações a Assembleia de Partes, em casos apropriados, realizará consultas ou certificar-se-á de que houve consultas por parte da Intelsat às agências especializadas das Nações Unidas que tenham competência directa quanto ao fornecimento dos serviços especializados de telecomunicações em questão.

A Intelsat gozará de personalidade jurídica. Terá a plena capacidade necessária para o exercício das suas funções e a realização dos seus objectivos, incluindo a capacidade para:

Concluir acordos com Estados ou organizações internacionais;

Cada Parte tomará todas as medidas necessárias, dentro da sua jurisdição, a fim de produzirem efeito, nos termos da sua própria legislação, as disposições do presente artigo.

A Intelsat é a proprietária do segmento espacial da Intelsat e de todos os outros bens adquiridos pela Intelsat. A participação financeira na Intelsat de cada Signatário é igual ao montante obtido mediante a aplicação da sua quota-parte de investimento na avaliação efectuada nos termos do artigo 7 do Acordo de Exploração.

Cada Signatário terá uma quota-parte de investimento correspondente à sua percentagem da utilização total do segmento espacial da Intelsat por todos os Signatários, determinada consoante as disposições do Acordo de Exploração. Contudo, nenhum Signatário, mesmo quando a sua utilização do segmento espacial Intelsat seja nula, deverá ter uma quota-parte de investimento inferior a um mínimo fixado no Acordo de Exploração.

Cada Signatário contribuirá para as necessidades em capital da Intelsat e receberá o reembolso do capital e a remuneração pela utilização do capital consoante as disposições do Acordo de Exploração.

Todos os utilizadores do segmento espacial da Intelsat pagarão os encargos de utilização determinados em conformidade com as disposições do presente Acordo e do Acordo de Exploração. As taxas dos encargos de utilização do segmento espacial correspondentes a cada tipo de utilização serão as mesmas para todos os que solicitarem a capacidade do segmento espacial para o referido tipo de utilização.

Os satélites separados e as instalações associadas referidas no parágrafo e) do artigo III do presente Acordo podem ser financiados pela Intelsat e constituírem propriedade sua como parte do segmento espacial da Intelsat mediante aprovação unânime de todos os Signatários. Se esta aprovação não for concedida serão considerados como distintos do segmento espacial da Intelsat e serão financiados por quem os requereu, constituindo propriedade destes últimos. Neste caso, os termos e as condições financeiras fixadas pela Intelsat deverão ser de modo a cobrir integralmente os encargos directamente resultantes da concepção, desenvolvimento, construção e fornecimento de tais satélites separados e instalações associadas, assim como de uma parte adequada das despesas gerais e administrativas da Intelsat.

A Intelsat terá os seguintes órgãos:

A Assembleia de Partes;

Excepto nos casos em que o presente Acordo ou o Acordo de Exploração expressamente determinem o contrário, nenhum órgão tomará decisões ou de qualquer modo actuará por forma a alterar, anular, diferir ou de qualquer outra maneira interferir no exercício de uma atribuição, de uma responsabilidade ou de uma função atribuída a um outro órgão pelo presente Acordo ou pelo Acordo de Exploração.

Sob reserva do parágrafo b) do presente artigo, a Assembleia de Partes, a Reunião de Signatários e o Conselho de Governadores, cada um por si, tomarão nota e terão na devida e adequada consideração qualquer resolução ou recomendação adoptada ou opinião expressa por qualquer dos outros órgãos actuando no exercício das responsabilidades e funções a eles atribuídas pelo presente Acordo ou pelo Acordo de Exploração.

A Assembleia de Partes será constituída por todas as Partes e será o órgão principal da Intelsat.

A Assembleia de Partes tomará em consideração aqueles aspectos da Intelsat que são de interesse primordial para as Partes como Estados soberanos. Terá a competência para considerar a política geral e os objectivos a longo prazo da Intelsat compatíveis com os princípios, os fins e o domínio das actividades da Intelsat consoante o estabelecido no presente Acordo. Em conformidade com os parágrafos b) e c) do artigo VI do presente Acordo, a Assembleia de Partes deve tomar na devida e adequada consideração as resoluções, recomendações e opiniões que lhe sejam endereçadas pela Reunião de Signatários ou pelo Conselho de Governadores.

A Assembleia de Partes terá as seguintes funções e poderes:

No exercício da sua competência, de considerar a política geral e os objectivos a longo prazo da Intelsat, formular opiniões ou fazer recomendações, conforme considere apropriado, aos outros órgãos da Intelsat;

Rever, a fim de assegurar a aplicação do princípio da não discriminação, as normas gerais estabelecidas nos termos da alínea v) do parágrafo b) do artigo VIII do presente Acordo;

Considerar as reclamações que lhe sejam submetidas pelas Partes;

A primeira reunião ordinária da Assembleia de Partes será convocada pelo secretário-geral no prazo de um ano, a partir da data da entrada em vigor do presente Acordo. As reuniões ordinárias celebrar-se-ão, a seguir, de dois em dois anos. A Assembleia de Partes poderá, contudo, decidir de outro modo em cada reunião.

• i) Além das reuniões ordinárias previstas no parágrafo d) deste artigo, a Assembleia de Partes pode promover reuniões extraordinárias, as quais podem ser convocadas quer a pedido do Conselho de Governadores, actuando em conformidade com as disposições dos artigos XIV ou XVI do presente Acordo, quer a pedido de uma ou mais Partes, desde que tal pedido seja apoiado pelo menos por um terço das Partes, incluindo a Parte ou as Partes que tenham apresentado o pedido;

O quórum para qualquer reunião da Assembleia de Partes será constituído por representantes de uma maioria das Partes. Cada Parte terá direito a um voto. As decisões sobre questões de fundo serão tomadas por um voto favorável de pelo menos dois terços das Partes cujos representantes estejam presentes e sejam votantes. As decisões sobre questões processuais serão aprovadas por um voto favorável emitido por uma maioria simples das Partes cujos representantes estejam presentes e sejam votantes. Os litígios sobre se uma questão específica é processual ou de fundo serão decididos por um voto emitido por uma maioria simples das Partes cujos representantes estejam presentes e sejam votantes.

A Assembleia de Partes adoptará o seu próprio regulamento, o qual incluirá disposições para a eleição do presidente e dos outros cargos.

Cada Parte suportará as suas próprias despesas de representação nas reuniões da Assembleia de Partes. As despesas relativas às reuniões da Assembleia de Partes serão consideradas como despesas administrativas da Intelsat para o efeito de aplicação do artigo 8 do Acordo de Exploração.

A Reunião de Signatários será constituída por todos os Signatários. Em conformidade com os parágrafos b) e c) do artigo VI do presente Acordo, a Reunião de Signatários dará a devida e adequada consideração às resoluções, recomendações e opiniões que lhe sejam dirigidas pela Assembleia de Partes ou pelo Conselho de Governadores.

A Reunião de Signatários terá as seguintes funções e poderes:

Considerar e exprimir as suas opiniões ao Conselho de Governadores sobre o relatório anual e os estados financeiros anuais que lhe forem submetidos pelo Conselho de Governadores;