Iran joins Treaty of Amity and Cooperation for Southeast Asia (TAC)
Nourlaw-25 July 2018-According to the notice published in the Official Gazette dated 03/05/1397 (25 July 2018), Iran’s parliament, in line with Article 23 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, notified the law of Iran’s acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of Southeast Asia (TAC) to the president for implementation
The Bill of Islamic Republic of Iran’s Acceding to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of Southeast Asia, states: “The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is permitted to accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation of Southeast Asia dated 24/02/1976 (05/12/1354) and as amended by the protocols dated 15/12/1988 (24/09/1366), 25/07/1988 (03/05/1377) and 23/07/2010 (01/05/1389) shown in the appendix, consisting of 20 articles, and submit the documents of joining to the Depository of Documents.
“Note 1- With respect to the implementation of this Treaty, it is obligatory to observe the principles 77 and 139 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran.
“Note 2- With respect to implementation of this Treaty, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is obliged to observe the religious standards and the expediency of Muslims including the observance of cultural, social conditions and the manner of conduct of the contracting countries with the Muslims.”
The full text of the Treaty is as follows:
The Treaty of Amity and Corporation of Southeast Asia dated 24/02/1976 (05/12/1354) which is amended by the protocols dated 15/12/1988 (24/09/1366), 25/07/1988 (03/05/1377) and 23/07/2010 (01/05/1389)
The High Contracting Parties:
CONSCIOUS of the existing ties of history, geography and culture, which have bound their peoples together;
ANXIOUS to promote regional peace and stability through abiding respect for justice and the rule of law and enhancing regional resilience in their relations;
DESIRING to enhance peace, friendship and mutual cooperation on matters affecting Southeast Asia consistent with the spirit and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, the Ten Principles adopted by the Asian-African Conference in Bandung on 25 April 1955, the Declaration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations signed in Bangkok on 8 August 1967, and the Declaration signed in Kuala Lumpur on 27 November 1971;
CONVINCED that the settlement of differences or disputes between their countries should be regulated by rational, effective and sufficiently flexible procedures, avoiding negative attitudes which might endanger or hinder cooperation;
BELIEVING in the need for cooperation with all peace-loving nations, both within and outside Southeast Asia, in the furtherance of world peace, stability and harmony;
SOLEMNLY AGREE to enter into a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation as follows:
CHAPTER I
Purpose and Principles
Article 1
The purpose of this Treaty is to promote perpetual peace, everlasting amity and cooperation among their peoples which would contribute to their strength, solidarity and closer relationship;
Article 2
In their relations with one another, the High Contracting Parties shall be guided by the following fundamental principles:
a. Mutual respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and national identity of all nations;
b. The right of every State to lead its national existence free from external interference, subversion or coercion;
c. Non-interference in the internal affairs of one another;
d. Settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means;
e. Renunciation of the threat or use of force;
f. Effective cooperation among themselves.
CHAPTER II
Amity
Article 3
In pursuance of the purpose of this Treaty the High Contracting Parties shall endeavor to develop and strengthen the traditional, cultural and historical ties of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation which bind them together and shall fulfill in good faith the obligations assumed under this Treaty. In order to promote closer understanding among them, the High Contracting Parties shall encourage and facilitate contact and intercourse among their peoples.
CHAPTER III
Cooperation
Article 4
The High Contracting Parties shall promote active cooperation in the economic, social, technical, scientific and administrative fields as well as in matters of common ideals and aspiration of international peace and stability in the region and all other matters of common interest.
Article 5
Pursuant to Article 4 the High Contracting Parties shall exert their maximum efforts multilaterally as well as bilaterally on the basis of equality, non-discrimination and mutual benefit.
Article 6
The High Contracting Parties shall collaborate for the acceleration of the economic growth in the region in order to strengthen the foundation for a prosperous and peaceful community of nations in Southeast Asia. To this end, they shall promote the greater utilization of their agriculture and industries, the expansion of their trade and the improvement of their economic infrastructure for the mutual benefit of their peoples. In this regard, they shall continue to explore all avenues for close and beneficial cooperation with other States as well as international and regional organizations outside the region.
Article 7
The High Contracting Parties, in order to achieve social justice and to raise the standards of living of the peoples of the region, shall intensify economic cooperation. For this purpose, they shall adopt appropriate regional strategies for economic development and mutual assistance.
Article 8
The High Contracting Parties shall strive to achieve the closest cooperation on the widest scale and shall seek to provide assistance to one another in the form of training and research facilities in the social, cultural, technical, scientific and administrative fields.
Article 9
The High Contracting Parties shall endeavor to foster cooperation in the furtherance of the cause of peace, harmony, and stability in the region. To this end, the High Contracting Parties shall maintain regular contacts and consultations with one another on international and regional matters with a view to coordinating their views, actions and policies.
Article 10
Each High Contracting Parties shall not in any manner of form participate in any activity which shall constitute a threat to the political and economic stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of another High Contracting Party.
Article 11
The High Contracting Parties shall endeavor to strengthen their respective national resilience in their political, economic, sociocultural as well as security fields in conformity with their respective ideals and aspirations, free from external interference as well as internal subversive activities in order to preserve their respective national identities.
Article 12
The High Contracting Parties in their efforts to achieve regional prosperity and security, shall endeavor to cooperate in all fields for the promotion of regional resilience, based on the principles of self-confidence, self-reliance, mutual respect, cooperation of solidarity which will constitute the foundation for a strong and viable community of nations in Southeast Asia.
CHAPTER IV
Pacific Settlement of Disputes
Article 13
The High Contracting Parties shall have the determination and good faith to prevent disputes from arising. In case disputes on matters directly affecting them should arise, especially disputes likely to disturb regional peace and harmony, they shall refrain from the threat or use of force and shall at all times settle such disputes among themselves through friendly negotiations.
Article 14
To settle disputes through regional processes, the High Contracting Parties shall constitute, as a continuing body, a High Council comprising a Representative at ministerial level from each of the High Contracting Parties to take cognizance of the existence of disputes or situations likely to disturb regional peace and harmony.
However, this article shall apply to any of the States outside Southeast Asia which have acceded to the Treaty only in cases where that State is directly involved in the dispute to be settled through the regional processes.
Article 15
In the event no solution is reached through direct negotiations, the High Council shall take cognizance of the dispute or the situation and shall recommend to the parties in dispute appropriate means of settlement such as good offices, mediation, inquiry or conciliation. The High Council may however offer its good offices, or upon agreement of the parties in dispute, constitute itself into a committee of mediation, inquiry or conciliation. When deemed necessary, the High Council shall recommend appropriate measures for the prevention of a deterioration of the dispute or the situation.
Article 16
The foregoing provision of this Chapter shall not apply to a dispute unless all the parties to the dispute agree to their application to that dispute. However, this shall not preclude the other High Contracting Parties not party to the dispute from offering all possible assistance to settle the said dispute. Parties to the dispute should be well disposed towards such offers of assistance.
Article 17
Nothing in this Treaty shall preclude recourse to the modes of peaceful settlement contained in Article 33(l) of the Charter of the United Nations. The High Contracting Parties which are parties to a dispute should be encouraged to take initiatives to solve it by friendly negotiations before resorting to the other procedures provided for in the Charter of the United Nations.
CHAPTER V
General Provision
Article 18
This Treaty shall be signed by the Republic of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore and the Kingdom of Thailand. It shall be ratified in accordance with the constitutional procedures of each signatory State.
It shall be open for accession by other States in Southeast Asia.
States outside Southeast Asia may also accede to this Treaty with the consent of all the States in Southeast Asia, namely, Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Article 19
This Treaty shall enter into force on the date of the deposit of t’e fifth instrument of ratification with the Governments of the signatory States which are designated Depositories of this Treaty and the instruments of ratification or accession.
Article 20
This Treaty is drawn up in the official languages of the High Contracting Parties, all of which are equally authoritative. There shall be an agreed common translation of the texts in the English language. Any divergent interpretation of the common text shall be settled by negotiation.
IN FAITH THEREOF the High Contracting Parties have signed the Treaty and have hereto affixed their Seals.
DONE at Denpasar, Bali, this twenty-fourth day of February in the year one thousand nine hundred and seventy-six.