CL 37/2018

Dear Hydrographer, Please find attached herewith : CL 37/2018 : SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC - SUSPENSION OF RIGHTS OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE IHO. Kind regards Lorene Chavagnas Office Assistant International Hydrographic Organization BP 445, 98011 Monaco Tel : 00377 93 10 81 00 E-mail: [email protected] IHO File No. S1/3046 CIRCULAR LETTER 37/2018 27 June 2018 SYRIAN ARAB REPUBLIC - SUSPENSION OF RIGHTS OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE IHO References: A. Financial Regulations of the IHO - Article 16 - Suspension of rights of a Member B. Convention on the IHO as amended - Article XV Dear Hydrographer, 1. I am writing to inform you that, despite repeated attempts to make contact with the nominated representative of the Syrian Arab Republic and, most recently, with the Government of Syria through the Government of the Principality of Monaco, the IHO Secretariat has been unable to obtain payment of the annual contributions to the IHO. The last payment of contributions from the Syrian Arab Republic was for the year 2015. This means that the Syrian Arab Republic is now two years in arrears with its payments. 2. According to Article 16 of the Financial Regulations of the IHO, “If a Member State is in arrears in its contributions for two years, having been advised of its outstanding arrears, and fails to make payment in full or fails to agree to a schedule of payments, the Member State shall be suspended with effect from the next 1stof January”. 3. Under the circumstances, the Syrian Arab Republic must now be considered as suspended from membership of the IHO. According to Article XV of the Convention on the IHO this means that the Syrian Arab Republic “shall be denied all voting rights and benefits conferred on Member States by the Convention and the Regulations until such time as the outstanding contributions have been paid”. 4. The Secretariat has informed the Government of the Principality of Monaco as the Depositary and Host State of the IHO and has asked that the Government of Syria be formally informed of the situation and the fact that it has been suspended as a Member State of the IHO. Yours sincerely, Dr Mathias JONAS Secretary-General Bathymetry – the foundation for sustainable seas, oceans and waterways