Status of the Watercourse Convention

as of 9 January 2008

Article 36(1) of the Convention provides that "The present Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date of deposit of the thirty-fifth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations."

The Convention was open for signature from 21 May 1997 until 21 May 2000. States, however, may continue to ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Convention indefinitely. As of 3 July 2007, there were 16 signatories and 15 Parties to the Convention.

PARTICIPANT Signature (S) Ratification (R) Acceptance (A) Accession (a) Approval (AA)
           
Côte d'Ivoire 25 Sep 1998        
Finland 31 Oct 1997   23 Jan 1998    
Germany 13 Aug 1998 15 Jan 2007      
Hungary 20 July 1999       26 Jan 2000
Iraq       9 July 2001  
Jordan 17 Apr 199 22 June 1999      
Lebanon       25 May 1999  
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya       14 June 2005  
Luxembourg 14 Oct 1997        
Namibia 19 May 2000 29 Aug 2001      
Netherlands 9 Mar 2000   9 Jan 2001    
Norway 30 Sep 1998 30 Sep 1998      
Paraguay 25 Aug 1998        
Portugal 11 Nov 1997 22 June 2005      
Qatar       28 Feb 2002  
South Africa 13 Aug 1997 26 Oct 1998      
Sweden       15 June 2000  
Syrian Arab Republic 11 Aug 1997 2 Apr 1998      
Tunisia 19 May 2000        
Uzbekistan       4 Sep 2007  
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 22 Sep 1997        
Yemen 17 May 2000        

 

DECLARATIONS AND RESERVATIONS  (Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made upon ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.)

Hungary - Declaration:

" The Government of the Republic of Hungary declares itself bound by either of the two means for the settlement of disputes (International Court of Justice, arbitration), reserving its right to agree on the competent body of jurisdiction, as the case may be."

Syrian Arab Republic - Reservation:

The acceptance by the Syrian Arab Republic of this Convention and its ratification by the Government shall not under any circumstances be taken to imply recognition of Israel and shall not lead to its entering into relations therewith that are governed by its provisions.

OBJECTIONS  (Unless otherwise indicated, the objections were made upon ratification, acceptance approval or accession.)

Israel - 15 July 1998

In regard to the reservation made by the Syrian Arab Republic upon ratification:

"In view of the Government of the State of Israel such reservation, which is explicitly of a political nature, is incompatible with the purposes and objectives of this Convention and cannot in any way affect whatever obligations are binding upon the Syrian Arab Republic under general international treaty law or under particular conventions. The Government of the State of Israel will, in so far as concerns the substance of the matter, adopt towards the Syrian Arab Republic an attitude of complete reciprocity."