25 March 1996
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Poland I hereby declare that the Republic of Poland withdraws its consent to the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice communicated on 25 September 1990 in light of Article 36, par. 2 of the Statute of the Court. At the same time, I hereby declare that the Republic of Poland shall recognize with the effect as of 25 September 1996, in accordance with the provisions of the aforementioned article, as compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any other State accepting the same obligation and subject to the sole condition of reciprocity, the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in all legal disputes other than:
a) disputes prior to 25 September 1990 or disputes arisen out of facts or situations prior to the same date,
b) disputes with regard to the territory and State boundaries,
c) disputes with regard to environmental protection,
d) disputes with regard to foreign liabilities or debts,
e) disputes with regard to any State which has made a declaration accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice less than twelve months prior to the filing of the application bringing the dispute before the Court,
f) disputes in respect whereof the parties have agreed or shall agree to have recourse to other method of peaceful settlement,
g) disputes relating to matters which, by international law, fall exclusively within the domestic jurisdiction of the Republic of Poland.
The Government of the Republic of Poland reserves its right to withdraw or modify the present Declaration at any time and by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, taking effect after six months from the moment whereof.
25 March 1996.
(Signed) Dariusz ROSATI,
Minister for Foreign Affairs.