1340-(186)

II SÉRIE-A — NÚMERO 69

tions, except to the extent that the State which they represent or the Authority, as appropriate, expressly waives this immunity in a particular case;

b) If they are not nationals of that State Party, the same exemptions from immigration restrictions, alien registration requirements and national service obligations, the same facilities as regards exchange restrictions and the same treatment in respect of travelling facilities as are accorded by that State to the representatives, officials and employees of comparable rank of other States Parties.

Article 183 Exemption from taxes and customs duties

1 — Within the scope of its official activities, the Authority, its assets and property, its income, and its operations and transactions, authorized by this Convention, shall be exempt from all direct taxation and goods imported or exported for its official use shall be exempt from all customs duties. The Authority shall not claim exemption from taxes which are no more than charges for services rendered.

2 — When purchases of goods or services of substancial value necessary for the oficial activities of the Authority are made by or on behalf of the Authority, and when the price of such goods or services includes taxes or duties, appropriate measures shall, to the extent praticable, be taken by States Parties to grant exemption from such taxes or duties or provide for their reimbursement. Goods imported or purchased under an exemption provided for in this article shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of in the territory of the State Party which granted the exemption, except under conditions agreed with that State Party.

3 — No tax shall be levied by States Parties on or in respect of salaries and emoluments paid or any other form of payment made by the Authority to the Secretary-General and staff of the Authority, as well as experts performing missions for the Authority, who are not their nationals.

SUBSECTION H

Suspension of the exercise of rights and privilegies of members

Article 184 Suspension of the exercise of voting rights

A State Party which is in arrears in the payment of its financial contributions to the Authority shall have no vote if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years. The Assembly may, nevertheless, permit such a member to vote if it is satisfied that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the member.

Article 185

Suspension of exercise of rights and privilegies of membership

1 — A State Party which has grossly and persistently violated privisions of this part may be suspended from the exercise of the rights and privilegies of membership by the Assembly upon the recommendation of the Council.

2 — No action may be taken under paragraph 1 until the Sea-Bed Disputes Chamber has found that a State Party has grossly and persistently violated the provisions of this part.

SECTION 5 Settlement of disputes and advisory opinions

Article 186

Sea-Bed Disputes Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

The establishment of the Sea-Bed Disputes Chamber and the manner in which it shall exercise its jurisdiction shall be governed by the provisions of this section, of part xv and of annex vi.

Article 187 Jurisdiction of the Sea-Bed Disputes Chamber

The Sea-Bed Disputes Chamber shall have jurisdiction under this part and the annexes relating thereto in disputes with respect to activities in the Area falling within the following categories:

a) Disputes between States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of this part and the annexes relating thereto;

b) Disputes between a State Party and the Authority concerning:

i) Acts or omissions of the Authority or of a State Party alleged to be in violation of this part or the annexes relating thereto or of rules, regulations and procedures of the Authority adopted in accordance therewith; or

it) Acts of Authority alleged to be in excess of jurisdiction or a misuse of power;

c) Disputes between parties to a contract, being States Parties, the Authority or the Enterprise, state enterprises and natural or juridical persons referred to in article 153, paragragh 2, b), concerning:

i) The interpretation or application of a relevant contract or a plan of work; or

it) Acts or omissions of a party to the contract relating to activities in the Area and directed to the other party or directly affecting its legitimate interests;

d) Disputes between the Authority and a prospective contractor who has been sponsored by a State as provided in article 153, paragraph 2, b), and has duly fulfilled the conditions referred to in annex in, article 4, paragraph 6, and article 13, paragraph 2, concerning the refusal of a contract or a legal issue arising in the negotiation of the contract;

e) Disputes between the Authority and a State Party, a state enterprise or a natural or juridical person sponsored by a State Party as provided for in article 153, paragraph 2, b), where it is

alleged that the Authority has incurred liability as provided in annex in, article 22;