St. Joseph Church
Bristol, Connecticut

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Pastoral Minister

Protocol for the prohibition of the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of bacteriological methods of warfare (Geneva Protocol)

Signed at Geneva on 17 June 1925; entered into force on 8 February 1928.

The protocol declares that the parties agree to be bound by the prohibition, which should be universally accepted as part of international law.

Treaty for collaboration in economic social and cultural matters and for collective self-defense (Brussels Treaty)

 Signed at Brussels on 17 March 1948; entered into force on 25 August 1948.

The treaty provides for close cooperation of the parties in the military, economic and political fields ( directed toward building confidence among nations).

Convention on the prevention and punishment of the crimes of genocide (Genocide Convention)

Adopted at Paris by the UN General Assembly on 9 December 1948; entered into force on January 1951.

Under the convention any commission of acts intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national. ethnic, racial or religious group as such is declared to be a crime punishable under international law.

Geneva Convention (IV) relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war

Signed at Geneva on 12 August 1949; entered into force on 21 October 1950.

The convention establishes rules for the protection of civilians in areas covered by war and on occupied territories.

Protocols to the 1948 Brussels Treaty (Paris Agreements on the Western European Union)

Signed at Paris on 23 October 1954; entered into force on 6 May 1955.

The protocols modify the 1948 Brussels Treaty, allowing the Federal Republic of Germany and Italy to be come parties in return for controls over German armaments and force levels (annulled, except for weapons of mass destruction, in 1984). The Protocols to the Brussels Treaty are regarded as having created the Western European Union (WEU). Members of the WEU: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain UK.

Antarctic Treaty

Signed at Washington, DC, on 1 December 1959; entered into force on 23 June 1961.

Declares the Antarctic an area to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes. Prohibits any measure of a military nature in the Antarctic, such as establishment of military bases and fortifications, and the carrying out of military maneuvers or the testing of any type of weapon. The treaty bans any nuclear explosion as well as the disposal of radioactive waste material in Antarctica, subject to possible future international agreements on these subjects.

In accordance with Article IX, consultative meetings are convened at regular intervals to exchange information and hold consultations on matters pertaining to Antarctica, as well as to recommend to the governments measures in furtherance of the principles and objectives of the treaty.

The treaty is subject to ratification by the signatories and is open for accession by UN members or by other states invited to accede with the consent of all the contracting parties whose representatives are entitled to participate in the consultative meetings provided for in Article IX.

Treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water (Partial Test Ban Treaty, PTBT)

Signed at Moscow on 5 August 1963; entered into force on 10 October 1963.

Prohibits the carrying out of any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion: (a) in the atmosphere, beyond its limits, including outer space, or under water, including territorial waters or high seas; and (b) in any other environment if such explosion causes radioactive debris to be present outside the territorial limits of the state under whose jurisdiction or control the explosion is conducted.

Treaty on principles governing the activities of states in the exploration and use of outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies (Outer Space Treaty)

Signed at London, Moscow and Washington, DC, on 27 January 1967; entered into force on 10 October 1967.

Prohibits the placing into orbit around the earth of any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, the installation of such weapons on celestial bodies, or the stationing of them in outer space in any other manner. The establishment of military bases, installations and fortifications, the testing of any type of weapons and the conduct of military maneuvers on celestial bodies are also forbidden.

Treaty for the prohibition of nuclear weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)

April 1968. The treaty was amended in 1990, 1991 and 1992.

Prohibits the testing, use, manufacture, production or acquisition by any means, as well as receipt, storage, installation, deployment and any form of possession of any nuclear weapons by Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The parties should conclude agreements with the IAEA for the application of safeguards to their nuclear activities. The IAEA has the exclusive power to carry out special inspections.

Treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons (Non-Proliferation Treaty, NPT)

Prohibits the transfer by nuclear weapon states, to any recipient whatsoever, of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or of control over them, as well as the assistance, encouragement or inducement of any non-nuclear weapon state to manufacture or otherwise acquire such weapons or devices. Prohibits the receipt by non-nuclear weapons states from any transferor whatsoever, as well as the manufacture or other acquisition by those states, of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

Non-nuclear weapon states undertake to conclude safeguard agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with a view to preventing diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.

The parties undertake to facilitate the exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for the peaceful uses of nuclear explosions will made available to non-nuclear weapons parties to the treaty. They also undertake to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament.

Treaty on the prohibition of the emplacement of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction on the seabed and the ocean floor and in the subsoil thereof (Seabed Treaty)

Signed at London, Moscow, and Washington, DC, on 11 February 1971; entered into force on 18 May 1972.

Prohibits implanting or emplacing on the seabed and the ocean floor and in the subsoil thereof beyond the outer limit of a 12-mile seabed zone any nuclear weapons or any other types of weapons of mass destruction as well as structures, launching installations or any other facilities specifically designed for storing, testing or using such weapons.

Convention on the prohibition of the development, production and stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and on their destruction (Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, BTWC)

Prohibits the development, production, stockpiling or acquisition by other means or retention of microbial or other biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no justification of prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes, as well as weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict. The destruction of the agents, toxins, weapons, equipment and means of delivery in the possession of the parties, or their diversion to peaceful purposes, should be effected not later than nine months after the entry into force of the convention. 

Convention on the prohibition of military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques (Enmod Convention)

Signed at Geneva on 18 May 1977; entered into force on 5 October 1978.

Prohibits military or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques having widespread, long-lasting or severe effects as the means of destruction, damage or injury to states party to the convention. The term "environmental modification techniques"refers to any technique for changing--through the deliberate manipulation of natural processes--the dynamics, composition or structure of the Earth, including the biota, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, or of outer space. The understandings reached during the negotiations, but not written into the convention, define the terms "widespread", "long-lasting" and "severe".

Protocol (I) additional to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflict.

Signed at Bern 12 December 1977; entered into force on 7 December 1978.

The protocol confirms that the right of the parties to an international armed conflict to choose methods or means of warfare is not unlimited and that it is prohibited to use weapons or means of warfare which cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering.

Convention on the physical protection of nuclear material

The convention obliges the parties to protect nuclear material for peaceful purposes during transport across their territory or on ships or aircraft under their jurisdiction.

Convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects (CCW Convention, "Inhumane Weapons" Convention)

The convention is an "umbrella treaty", under which specific agreements can be concluded in the form of protocols.

Protocol I prohibits the use of weapons intended to injure by fragments which are not detectable in the human body by X-rays.

Protocol II prohibits or restricts the use of mines, booby-traps and other devices; amended in 1996; amendments adopted on 3 May 1997. Not in force.

Protocol III restricts the use of incendiary weapons.

Protocol IV, adopted in Vienna on 12 October 1995, prohibits the employment of laser weapons specifically designed to cause permanent blindness unenhanced vision. Not in force.

The amended Protocol II and Protocol IV will enter into force six months after the date of the deposit of the 20th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

South Pacific nuclear free zone treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga)

Signed at Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on 6 August 1985; entered into force on 11 December 1986

Prohibits the manufacture or acquisitions by other means of any nuclear explosive device, as well as possession or control over such device by the parties anywhere inside or outside the zone area described in an annex. The parties also undertake not to supply nuclear material or equipment, unless subject to IAEA safeguards, and to prevent in their territories that stationing as well as the testing of any nuclear explosive device and undertake not to dump, and to prevent the dumping of, radioactive wastes and other radioactive matter at sea anywhere within the zone. Each party remains free to allow visits, as well as transit, by foreign ships and aircraft.

The treaty is open for signature by members of the South Pacific Forum.  Under Protocol I, France, the UK and the USA undertake to apply the treaty prohibitions relating to the manufacture, stationing and testing of nuclear explosive devices in the territories situated within the zone, for which they are internationally responsible.

Under Protocol II, China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA undertake not to use or threaten a nuclear explosive device against the parties to the treaty or against any territory within the zone for which a party to Protocol 1 is internationally responsible.

Under Protocol III, China, France, the UK, the USA and Russia undertake not to test  any nuclear explosive device  anywhere within the zone.

Treaty on conventional armed forces in Europe (CFE Treaty)

Signed at Vienna on 19 November 1990: entered into force on 9 November 1992.

The treaty sets ceilings on five categories of military equipment (battle tanks, armored combat vehicles, artillery pieces, combat aircraft and attack helicopters) in an area stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural Mountains (ATTU zone).

The treaty was negotiated and signed by the member states of the Warsaw Treaty Organization (WTO) and NATO within the framework of the CSCE ( from January 1 1995 the OSCE).

In January 1997 negotiations started to adapt the treaty to the new security environment in Europe.

Treaty of open skies

Signed at Helsinki on 24 March 1992; not into force as of 1 January 1997.

The treaty obliges the parties to submit their territories to short-notice unarmed surveillance flights. The area of application stretches from Vancouver, Canada, eastwards to Vladivostock, Russia.

The Open Skies Treaty was negotiated between the member states of the Warsaw Treaty Organization (WTO) and NATO. It is also open for signature by the former Soviet republics. For six months after entry into force of the treaty, any other OSCE member state may apply for accession. The treaty will enter into force when 20 states have ratified it, including all parties with more than eight "passive quotas" (Belarus, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, USA).

Convention on the prohibition of the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and on their destruction (Chemical Weapons Convention, CWC)

Opened for signature at Paris on 13 January 1993; entered into force on 29 April 1997.

The convention prohibits not only the use of chemical weapons (prohibited by the 1925 Geneva Protocol) but also the development, production, acquisition, transfer and stockpiling of chemical weapons. Each party undertakes to destroy its chemical weapons and production facilities.

Treaty on the Southeast Asia nuclear weapon-free zone (Treaty of Bangkok)

Opened for signature at Bangkok on 15 December 1995; not in force as of 1 January 1997.

Prohibits the development, manufacture, acquisition or testing of nuclear weapons inside or outside the zone area as well as the stationing and transport of nuclear weapons in or through the zone. Each state party may decide for itself whether to allow visits and transit by foreign ships and aircraft. The parties undertake not to dump at sea or discharge into the atmosphere anywhere within the zone any radioactive material wastes or dispose of radioactive material on land. The parties should conclude an agreement with the IAEA for the application of full-scope safeguards to their peaceful nuclear activities.

The zone includes not only the territories but also the continental shelves and exclusive economic zones of the state parties.

The treaty is open for signature by all states in South-East Asia; Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Under a Protocol to the treaty China, France, Russia, the UK and the USA are to undertake not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against any state party to the treaty or within the Southeast Asia nuclear weapon-free zone.

The treaty will enter into force on the date of the deposit of the 7th instrument of ratification. The protocol will enter into force for each state party on the date of its deposit of the instrument of ratification.

African nuclear-weapon-free zone treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba)

Opened for signature at Cairo on 11 April 1996; not in force as of 1 January 1997.

Prohibits the research, development, manufacture and acquisition of nuclear explosive devices and the testing or stationing of any nuclear explosive device. Each party remains free to allow visits, as well as transit by foreign ships and aircraft. The treaty also prohibits any attack against nuclear installations. The parties undertake not to dump or permit the dumping of radioactive wastes and other radioactive matter anywhere within the zone. The parties should conclude an agreement with the IAEA for the application of comprehensive safeguards to their peaceful activities.

"African nuclear-weapon-free zone" means the territory of the continent of Africa, islands states members of the OAU and all islands considered by the OAU to be part of Africa.

Comprehensive nuclear test-ban treaty (CTBT)

Opened for signature at New York on 24 September 1996; not in force as of 1 January 1997.

Prohibits the carrying out of any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion, and urges each party to prevent any such nuclear explosion at any place under its jurisdiction or control and refrain from causing, encouraging, or in any way participating in the carrying out of any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion. A Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization is to ensure treaty implementation.

The treaty will enter into force 180 days after the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification of the 44 states listed in an annexe to the treaty, but in no case earlier than two years after its opening for signature. All the 44 states posses nuclear power reactors and/or nuclear research reactors.

II. Summaries and status of the major U.S.-Soviet/Russian agreements, as of 1 January 1997

Treaty on the limitation of anti-ballistic missile systems (ABM Treaty)

Signed by the USA and the USSR at Moscow on 26 May 1972; entered into force on 3 October 1972.

The treaty obligates the parties not to undertake to build a nation-wide defense system against strategic ballistic missile attack and limits the development and deployment of permitted missile defenses.

A protocol to the ABM Treaty, introducing further numerical restrictions on permitted ballistic missile defenses, was signed in 1974.

Treaty on the limitation of underground nuclear weapons tests (Threshold Test Ban Treaty,TTBT)

Signed by the USA and he USSR at Moscow on 3 July 1974; entered into force on 11 December 1990.

The parties undertake not to carry out any individual underground nuclear weapon test having a yields exceeding 150 kilotons.

Treaty on underground nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes (Peaceful Nuclear Explosions Treaty, PNET)

Signed by the USA and the USSR at Moscow and Washington, DC on 28 May 1976; entered into force on 11 December 1990.

The parties undertake not to carry out any underground nuclear explosions for the peaceful purposes having a yield exceeding 150 kilotons or any group explosion having an aggregate yield exceeding 150 kilotons.

Treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles (INF Treaty)

Signed by the USA and the USSR at Washington, DC, on 8 December 1987; entered into force on 1 June 1988.

The treaty obliges the parties to destroy all land-based missiles with a range of 500-3500 km(intermediate-range, 100-5500 km; and shorter range, 500-100 km) and their launchers by 1 June 1991. The INF treaty was implemented before this date.

Treaty on the reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms (START I Treaty)

Signed by the USA and the USSR at Moscow on 31 July 1991; entered into force on 5 December 1994.

The treaty requires the USA and Russia to make phased reductions in their offensive strategic nuclear forces over a seven-year period. It sets numerical limits on deployed strategic nuclear delivery vehicles (SNVDs)--ICBMs, SLBMs and heavy bombers--and the nuclear warheads they carry. In the May 1992 Protocol to Facilitate the Implementation of the START Treaty (Lisbon Protocol), Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine also assumed the obligations of the former USSR under the treaty. They pledged to eliminate all the former Soviet strategic weapons on their territories within the seven-year reduction period and to join the NPT as non-nuclear weapon states in the shortest possible time.

Treaty on further reduction and limitation of strategic offensive arms (START II Treaty)

Signed by the USA and Russia to eliminate their MIRVed ICBMs and sharply reduce the number of their deployed strategic nuclear warheads to no more than 3000-3500 each (of which no more than 1750 may be deployed on SLBMs) by 1 January 2003 or no later than 31 December 2000 if the USA and Russia reach a formal agreement committing the USA to help finance
the elimination of strategic nuclear weapons in Russia.

* SIPRI Yearbook 1997: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security. Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York, 1997, pp. 528-546.

Compiled by Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Created 8/14/1998