Considering that the prevention of a nuclear arms race on the seabed 

 and the ocean floor serves the interests of maintaining world peace, reduces 

 international tensions, and strengthens friendly relations among States, 



Convinced that this Treaty constitutes a step towards the exclusion 

 of the seabed, the ocean floor and the subsoil thereof from the arms race, 

 and determined to continue negotiations concerning further measures lead- 

 ing to this end, 



Convinced that this Treaty constitutes a step towards a Treaty on 

 General and Complete Disarmament under strict and eflfective international 

 control, and determined to continue negotiations to this end. 



Convinced that this Treaty will further the purposes and principles 

 of the Charter of the United Nations, in a manner consistent with the prin- 

 ciples of international law and without infringing the freedoms of the high 

 seas, 



Have agreed as follows : 



Article I 



1. The States Parties to this Treaty undertake not to emplant or em- 

 place on the seabed and the ocean floor and in the subsoil thereof beyond 

 the maximum contiguous zone provided for in the 1958 Geneva Conven- 

 tion on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone any objects with 

 nuclear weapons or any other types of weapons of mass destruction, as well 

 as structures, launching installations or any other facilities specifically 

 designed for storing, testing, or using such weapons. 



2. The States Parties to this Treaty undertake not to assist, encourage 

 or induce any State to commit actions prohibited by this Treaty and not 

 to participate in any other way in such actions. 



Article II 



1. For the purpose of this Treaty the outer limit of the contiguous 

 zone referred to in Article I shall be measured in accordance with the 

 provisions of Section II of the 1958 Geneva Convention on the Territorial 

 Sea and the Contiguous Zone and in accordance with international law. 



2. Nothing in this Treaty shall be interpreted as supporting or preju- 

 dicing the position of any State Party with respect to rights or claims 

 which such State Party may assert, or with respect to recognition or non- 

 recognition of rights or claims asserted by any other State, related to waters 

 off its coasts, or to the seabed and the ocean floor. 



Article III 



1. In order to promote the objectives and ensure the observance of 

 the provisions of this Treaty, the States Parties to the Treaty shall have 

 the right to verify the activities of other States Parties to the Treaty on the 

 seabed and the ocean floor and in the subsoil thereof beyond the maximum 

 contiguous zone, referred to in Article II, if these activities raise doubts 

 concerning the fulfillment of the obligations assumed under this Treaty, 

 without interfering with such activities or otherwise infringing rights recog- 

 nized under international law, including the freedoms of the high seas. 



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