The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is a global agreement to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the chemicals that deplete it. This phase-out plan includes both the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. The landmark agreement was signed in 1987 and entered into force in 1989.

The parties to the Protocol meet once a year to make decisions aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the agreement. These include adjusting or amending the Protocol, which has been done six times since its creation. The most recent amendment, the Kigali Amendment, called for the phase-down of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in 2016. These HFCs were used as replacements for a batch of ozone-depleting substances eliminated by the original Montreal Protocol. Although they do not deplete the ozone layer, they are known to be powerful greenhouse gases and, thus, contributors to climate change.

The Montreal Protocol provided a set of practical, actionable tasks that were universally agreed on. The Protocol has successfully met its objectives thus far and continues to safeguard the ozone layer today. Thanks to the collaborative effort of nations around the world, the ozone layer is well on its way to recovery.

Question of Yugoslavia (1992)

Source(s)
Annex XVI: Statement on the question of Yugoslavia - Fourth Meeting of the Parties

Statement by the representative of the United Kingdom on behalf of the European Community *

"As we have already made clear on a number of occasions, the European Community and its member States do not accept that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is the automatic continuation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

"In this context, we take note of General Assembly resolution 47/1, adopted on 22 September 1992, in which the Assembly considered that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) cannot continue automatically the membership of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the United Nations, and decided that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) should therefore apply to join the United Nations and shall not participate in the work of the General Assembly.

"The European Community and its member States have also noted the United Nations Legal Counsel's advice on the applicability of the General Assembly resolution to other United Nations bodies. We regard General Assembly resolution 47/1 as a model for action in the specialized agencies and other United Nations bodies in due course, as appropriate.

"We do not accept that representatives of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) may validly represent Yugoslavia in this meeting. The presence of the representative in question is without prejudice to future action which the Community and its member States may take."

Statement by the representative of Yugoslavia

"We are sorry about the statements of some countries raising the question of the status of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. We would like to stress that this approach as well as the imposed sanctions against Yugoslavia are essentially contrary to the basic premises of both the Vienna Convention and the Montreal Protocol.

"This conference is devoted to the protection of the ozone layer, a question of global character and raising political issues does not help in reaching the goals of this meeting.

"Yugoslavia respects the resolutions of the United Nations. Yugoslavia does not participate, we hope temporarily, in the meetings of the General Assembly, but Yugoslavia is not expelled from the United Nations and its bodies and works intensively to fulfil their goals.

"At the same time we would like to give our positive contribution to the work of this conference, aware of the fact that it is of global and our own interest."

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* This statement was supported by the representatives of Australia, Austria, Hungary, Malaysia, Switzerland, Turkey and the United State of America