25 February 2005
On behalf of the Portuguese Republic, I declare and give notice that Portugal, continuing to accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, amends its declaration made on 19 December 1955, replacing its terms by the following:
1. Under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, the Portuguese Republic recognizes the jurisdiction of the Court as compulsory ipso facto and without special agreement, in relation to any other State accepting the same obligation (and to the extent it accepts it), until such time as notice may be given to terminate the acceptance, in all legal disputes other than:
(i) any dispute which Portugal has agreed or shall agree with the other party or parties thereto to settle by some other method of peaceful settlement;
(ii) any dispute with any State that has deposited or ratified the acceptance of the Court’s compulsory jurisdiction or an amendment thereto so that the dispute became included in its scope less than twelve months prior to the filing of the application bringing the dispute before the Court;
(iii) any dispute, unless it refers to territorial titles or rights or to sovereign rights or jurisdiction, arising before 26 April 1974 or concerning situations or facts prior to that date;
(iv) any dispute with a party or parties to a treaty regarding which the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice has, under the applicable rules, been explicitly excluded, irrespective of whether the scope of the dispute refers to the interpretation and application of the treaty provisions or to other sources of international law.
2. The Portuguese Republic also 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 moment of such notification, either to add to, amend or withdraw any of the foregoing reservations, or any that may hereafter be added,”
Lisbon, 18 February 2005.
(Signed) Antonio Victor Martins MONTEIRO,
Minister For Foreign Affairs.