28 May 2004
On behalf of the Slovak Republic I have the honour to declare that the Slovak Republic recognizes as compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any other State accepting the same obligation, that is on condition of reciprocity, the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in conformity with Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the Court over all legal disputes arising after the date of signature of the present declaration with regard to situations or facts subsequent to the same date.
This declaration does not apply to disputes:
(1) Which the parties have agreed to settle by some other method of peaceful settlement;
(2) in respect of which any other Party to the dispute has accepted the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice only in relation to or for the purpose of the dispute; or when the declaration recognizing the jurisdiction of the Court on behalf of any other Party to the dispute was deposited less than twelve months prior to the filing of the unilateral application bringing the dispute before the Court;
(3) with regard to the protection of environment;
(4) with regard to questions which by international law fall exclusively within the domestic jurisdiction of the Slovak Republic.
The Slovak republic reserves the right at any time, by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and with effect as from the date of a receipt of such notification, to amend or withdraw this declaration.
Done at Bratislava on 11 May 2004.
(Signed) Rudolf SCHUSTER
President of the Slovak Republic.