|
Washington D.C. - 4 April 1949
The
Parties to this Treaty reaffirm their faith in the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations and their desire to
live in peace with all peoples and all governments.
They are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and
civilisation of their peoples, founded on the principles of
democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. They seek to
promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area.
They are resolved to unite their efforts for collective defence and
for the preservation of peace and security. They therefore agree to
this North Atlantic Treaty:
Article 1
The Parties undertake, as set forth in
the Charter of the United Nations, to settle any international
dispute in which they may be involved by peaceful means in such a
manner that international peace and security and justice are not
endangered, and to refrain in their international relations from the
threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes
of the United Nations.
Article 2
The Parties will contribute toward the
further development of peaceful and friendly international relations
by strengthening their free institutions, by bringing about a better
understanding of the principles upon which these institutions are
founded, and by promoting conditions of stability and well-being.
They will seek to eliminate conflict in their international economic
policies and will encourage economic collaboration between any or
all of them.
Article 3
In order more effectively to achieve
the objectives of this Treaty, the Parties, separately and jointly,
by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid, will
maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to
resist armed attack.
Article 4
The Parties will consult together
whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity,
political independence or security of any of the Parties is
threatened.
Article 5
The Parties agree that an armed attack
against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be
considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree
that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of
the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by
Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the
Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and
in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems
necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain
the security of the North Atlantic area.
Any such armed attack and all measures
taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the
Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the
Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and
maintain international peace and security .
Article 6
For the purpose of Article 5, an armed
attack on one or more of the Parties is deemed to include an armed
attack:
-
on the
territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America, on
the Algerian Departments of France, on the territory of or on
the Islands under the jurisdiction of any of the Parties in the
North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer;
-
on the forces,
vessels, or aircraft of any of the Parties, when in or over
these territories or any other area in Europe in which
occupation forces of any of the Parties were stationed on the
date when the Treaty entered into force or the Mediterranean Sea
or the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer.
Article 7
This Treaty does not affect, and shall
not be interpreted as affecting in any way the rights and
obligations under the Charter of the Parties which are members of
the United Nations, or the primary responsibility of the Security
Council for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Article 8
Each Party declares that none of the
international engagements now in force between it and any other of
the Parties or any third State is in conflict with the provisions of
this Treaty, and undertakes not to enter into any international
engagement in conflict with this Treaty.
Article 9
The parties hereby establish a
Council, on which each of them shall be represented, to consider
matters concerning the implementation of this Treaty. The Council
shall be so organised as to be able to meet promptly at any time.
The Council shall set up such subsidiary bodies as may be necessary;
in particular it shall establish immediately a defence committee
which shall recommend measures for the implementation of Articles 3
and 5.
Article 10
The Parties may, by unanimous
agreement, invite any other European State in a position to further
the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of
the North Atlantic area to accede to this Treaty. Any State so
invited may become a Party to the Treaty by depositing its
instrument of accession with the Government of the United States of
America. The Government of the United States of America will inform
each of the Parties of the deposit of each such instrument of
accession.
Article 11
This Treaty shall be ratified and its
provisions carried out by the Parties in accordance with their
respective constitutional processes. The instruments of ratification
shall be deposited as soon as possible with the Government of the
United States of America, which will notify all the other
signatories of each deposit. The Treaty shall enter into force
between the States which have ratified it as soon as the
ratifications of the majority of the signatories, including the
ratifications of Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States, have been
deposited and shall come into effect with respect to other States on
the date of the deposit of their ratifications. (3)
Article 12
After the Treaty has been in force for
ten years, or at any time thereafter, the Parties shall, if any of
them so requests, consult together for the purpose of reviewing the
Treaty, having regard for the factors then affecting peace and
security in the North Atlantic area, including the development of
universal as well as regional arrangements under the Charter of the
United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and
security.
Article 13
After the Treaty has been in force for
twenty years, any Party may cease to be a Party one year after its
notice of denunciation has been given to the Government of the
United States of America, which will inform the Governments of the
other Parties of the deposit of each notice of denunciation.
Article 14
This Treaty, of which the English and
French texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited in the
archives of the Government of the United States of America. Duly
certified copies will be transmitted by that Government to the
Governments of other signatories.
  
|
