24 DE JULHO DE 1997

1256-(37)

6) Develope the policy of the institute based oh the overall direction given by the Council;

c) Appoint the Secretary General of the Institute;

d) Approve the Institute's annual work programs and budget;

e) Recommend new members of the Institute for approval by the Council;

f) Recommend the suspension of members and associate members deemed to be failing to adhere to article n, paragraph 3, above;

g) Comment on the audited financial statements;

h) Perform all other functions necessary to carry out the powers delegated to the Board.

Article X The Secretary General and the Secretariat

1 — The Institute shall be headed by a Secretary General who shall be appointed by the Board for a term of five years, subject to renewal.

2 — The Secretary General shall appoint such professional and general services staff as may be required to carry out the objectives of the Institute in accordance with personnel policies approved by the Board.

3 — The Secretary General shallbe responsible to the Board.

Article XI

Rights, privileges and immunities

The Institute and its staff shall, in the country of its headquarters, enjoy such rights, privileges and immunities as shall be stipulated in a headquarters Agreement. Other countries may grant comparable rights, privileges and immunities in support of the Institute's activities in such countries.

Article XII External auditor

A full financial audit of the operations of the Institute shall be conducted on an annual basis by an independent international accounting firm selected by the Council after recommendation by the Nominating Committee. The result of such audits shall be made available to the Board and the Council.

Article XIII Depositary

J — The Secretary General of the Institute shall be the depositary of this Agreement.

2 — The depositary shall communicate all notifications relating to the Agreement to all members and associate members.

Article XIV Dissolution

1 — The Institute may be dissolved, if a four-fifths majority of all members and associate members determines that the Institute is no longer required or that it will no longer be able to function effectively.

2 — In case of dissolution, any assets of the Institute which remain after payment of its legal obligations shall

be distributed to institutions having objectives similar to those of the Institute as decided by the Council in consultation with the Board.

Article XV

Amendments

1 — This Agreement may be amended bay a two-thirds majority vote of all the Parties to it. A proposal for such an amendment shall be circulated at least eight weeks in advance.

2 — The amendment will enter into force thirty days after the date on which two-thirds of the Parties have notified the depositary that they have fulfilled the formalities required by national legislation with respect to the amendment. It shall then be binding on all members and associate members.

Article XVI Withdrawal

1 — Any Party to this Agreement may withdraw from it. Such withdrawal shall become effective three months after the date on which this has been notified to the depositary.

2 — Any associate member may withdraw its membership from thelnstitute. Such withdrawal shall become effective the day on which this has been notified to the depositary.

Article XVII

Entry into force

1 — This Agreement shall be open for signature by States participating in the Founding Conference, held in Stockholm on the 27th of February 1995, until the date of the second Council meeting.

2 — This Agreement shall enter into force on the day upon which at least three States have signed it and provided each other with notification that the formalities required by their national legislation have been completed.

3 — For those States which can not provide such notification on the day of its entry into force, the Agreement shall enter into force thirty days after receipt by the depositary of notification that the formalities required by national legislation have been completed.

Article XVIII

Accession

Any State or intergovernmental organization may at any time notify the Secretary General of its request to accede to this Agreement. If the request is approved by the Council the Agreement will enter into force for that State or intergovernmental organization thirty days after the date of the deposit of its instrument of accession.

In witness whereof, the undersigned being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Agreement in a single original in the English language, which shall be deposited