Depositary in United States

Depositary Definition

One with whom anything is deposited (see Deposit) or lodged In trust; as depository is the place where it is put. The obligation on the part of the depositary is that he keep the thing with reasonable care, and, upon request, restore it to the depositor, or otherwise deliver it, according to the original trust. [1]

For a meaning of it, read Depositary in the Legal Dictionary here.

Practical Information

Also called Depository. Depositary applies to the person or authority entrusted with something for safekeeping. It may also be used to apply to the place where something is deposited or stored. Depository applies only to the place where something is deposited or stored. (Revised by Ann De Vries)

Multilateral Treaties for which the United States is Depositary

The United States is depositary for over 200 multilateral treaties – including, for example, the Charter of the United Nations, the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the North Atlantic Treaty. Treaties that are currently deemed active are listed below. Where status lists are currently available, the listed treaties have hyperlinks enabled and more links to status lists will be enabled as the relevant lists are made available. In carrying out its depositary responsibilities, the United States follows the rules established under the relevant treaty. With respect to depositary matters not specifically addressed in a treaty, it generally conducts itself in accordance with the rules set forth in Articles 76 and 77 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

ANTARCTICA

The Antarctic Treaty. Done at Washington December 1, 1959.

Recommendations/Measures adopted at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs) pursuant to Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty:

Recommendations I-1 – I-16 (ATCM I; Canberra, 1961)

Recommendations II-1 – II-10 (ATCM II; Buenos Aires, 1962)

Recommendations III-1 – III-11 (ATCM III; Brussels, 1964)

Recommendations IV-1 – IV-28 (ATCM IV; Santiago, 1966)

Recommendations V-1 – V-9 (ATCM V; Paris, 1968)

Recommendations VI-1 – VI-15 (ATCM VI; Tokyo, 1970)

Recommendations VII-1 – VII-9 (ATCM VII; Wellington, 1972)

Recommendations VIII-1 – VIII-14 (ATCM VIII; Oslo, 1975)

Recommendations IX-1 – IX-6 (ATCM IX; London, 1977)

Recommendations X-1 – X-9 (ATCM X; Washington, 1979)

Recommendations XI-1 – XI-3 (ATCM XI; Buenos Aires, 1981)

Recommendations XII-1 – XII-8 (ATCM XII; Canberra, 1983)

Recommendations XIII-1 – XIII-16 (ATCM XIII; Brussels, 1985)

Recommendations XIV-1 – XIV-10 (ATCM XIV; Rio de Janeiro, 1987)

Recommendations XV-1 – XV-22 (ATCM XV; Paris, 1989)

Recommendations XVI-1 – XVI-13 (ATCM XVI; Bonn, 1991)

Recommendations XVII-1 – XVII-4 (ATCM XVII; Venice, 1992)

Recommendation XVIII-1 (ATCM XVIII; Kyoto, 1994)

Measures XIX-1 – XIX-5 (ATCM XIX; Seoul, 1995)

Measures XX-1 – XX-2 (ATCM XX; Utrecht, 1996)

Measures XXI-1 – XXI-5 (ATCM XXI; Christchurch, 1997)

Measures XXII-1 – XXII-2 (ATCM XXII; Tromsø, 1998)

Measure XXIII-1 (ATCM XXIII; Lima, 1999)

Measures XII-1 – XII-2 (Special ATCM XII; The Hague, 2000)

Measures XXIV-1 – XXIV-3 (ATCM XXIV; St. Petersburg, 2001)

Measure XXV-1 (ATCM XXV; Warsaw, 2002)

Measures XXVI-1 – XXVI-3 (ATCM XXVI; Madrid, 2003)

Measures XXVII-1 – XXVII-4 (ATCM XXVII; Cape Town, 2004)

Measures XXVIII-1 – XXVIII-5 (ATCM XXVIII; Stockholm, 2005)

Measures XXIX-1 – XXIX-4 (ATCM XXIX; Edinburgh, 2006)

Measures XXX-1 – XXX-3 (ATCM XXX; New Delhi, 2007)

Measures XXXI-1 – XXXI-14 (ATCM XXXI; Kyiv, 2008)

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Done at Madrid October 4, 1991.

ATOMIC ENERGY

Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Done at New York October 26, 1956.

Amendment of Article VI of the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Done at Vienna October 4, 1961.

Amendment of Article VI of the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, as amended. Done at Vienna September 28, 1970.

Amendment of Article VI of the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, as amended. Done at Vienna September 27, 1984.

Amendments of Article VI and Article XIV.A of the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency, as amended. Done at Vienna October 1, 1999.

AVIATION (CIVIL)

Convention on International Civil Aviation. Done at Chicago December 7, 1944.

International Air Services Transit Agreement. Done at Chicago December 7, 1944.

International Air Transport Agreement. Done at Chicago December 7, 1944.

Protocol on the Authentic Trilingual Text of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Done at Buenos Aires September 24, 1968.

Protocol on the Authentic Quadrilingual Text of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944). Done at Montreal September 30, 1977.

Protocol on the Authentic Quinquelingual Text of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944). Done at Montreal September 29, 1995.

Protocol on the Authentic Six-language Text of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944). Done at Montreal October 1, 1998.

Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft [Hijacking Convention]. Done at The Hague December 16, 1970.

Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation [Sabotage Convention]. Done at Montreal September 23, 1971.

Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports serving International Civil Aviation supplementary to the Convention of September 23, 1971 for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation. Done at Montreal February 24, 1988.

BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS

Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction. Done at Washington, London and Moscow April 10, 1972.

FINANCE

Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund. Opened for signature at Washington December 27, 1945.

Articles of Agreement of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Opened for signature at Washington December 27, 1945.

FISHERIES

International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Done at Washington December 2, 1946.

Protocol to the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. Done at Washington November 19, 1956.

Convention for the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. Done at Washington May 31, 1949.

Protocol to Amend the 1949 Convention on the Establishment of an Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. Done at Guayaquil, Ecuador June 11, 1999.

Convention on the Conservation and Management of Pollock Resources in the Central Bering Sea. Done at Washington June 16, 1994.

Agreement on the International Dolphin Conservation Program. Done at Washington May 21, 1998.

Convention for the Strengthening of the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission Established by the 1949 Convention between the United States of America and the Republic of Costa Rica (“Antigua Convention”). Done at Washington November 14, 2003.

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY

North Atlantic Treaty. Done at Washington April 4, 1949.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of Greece and Turkey. Done at London October 17, 1951.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Federal Republic of Germany. Done at Paris October 23, 1954.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of Spain. Done at Brussels December 10, 1981.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Czech Republic. Done at Brussels December 16, 1997.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Hungary. Done at Brussels December 16, 1997.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Poland. Done at Brussels December 16, 1997.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Bulgaria. Done at Brussels March 26, 2003.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Estonia. Done at Brussels March 26, 2003.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Latvia. Done at Brussels March 26, 2003.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Lithuania. Done at Brussels March 26, 2003.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of Romania. Done at Brussels March 26, 2003.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Slovak Republic. Done at Brussels March 26, 2003.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Slovenia. Done at Brussels March 26, 2003.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Albania. Done at Brussels July 9, 2008.

Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Croatia. Done at Brussels July 9, 2008.

Agreement between the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the status of their forces. Done at London June 19, 1951.

Agreement on the Status of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization National Representatives and International Staff. Done at Ottawa September 20, 1951.

Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters Set Up Pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty. Done at Paris August 28, 1952.

Agreement to Supplement the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces with respect to Foreign Forces stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany and Protocol of Signature. Done at Bonn August 3, 1959.

Agreement to implement Paragraph 5 of Article 45 of the Agreement to Supplement the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces with respect to Foreign Forces stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany. Done at Bonn August 3, 1959.

Agreement to amend the Agreement of 3 August 1959 to Supplement the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces with respect to Foreign Forces stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany. Done at Bonn October 21, 1971.

Agreement to amend the Protocol of Signature to the Agreement of 3 August 1959 to Supplement the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces with respect to Foreign Forces stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany, as amended by the Agreement of 21 October 1971. Done at Bonn May 18, 1981.

Agreement to amend the Agreement of 3 August 1959, as amended by the Agreements of 21 October 1971 and 18 May 1981, to Supplement the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces with respect to Foreign Forces stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany. Done at Bonn March 18, 1993.

Agreement to implement Paragraph 1 of Article 45 of the Agreement of 3 August 1959, as amended by the Agreements of 21 October 1971, 18 May 1981 and 18 March 1993, to Supplement the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces with respect to Foreign Forces stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany. Done at Bonn March 18, 1993.

Administrative Agreement to implement Article 60 of the Agreement of 3 August 1959, as amended by the Agreements of 21 October 1971, 18 May 1981 and 18 March 1993, to Supplement the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces with respect to Foreign Forces stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany. Done at Bonn March 18, 1993.

Agreement to Amend the Protocol of Signature to the Agreement of 3 August 1959, as amended by the Agreements of 21 October 1971 and 18 May 1981, to Supplement the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of their Forces with respect to Foreign Forces stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany. Done at Bonn May 16, 1994.

Agreement for the Mutual Safeguarding of Secrecy of Inventions relating to Defence and for which Applications for Patents have been made. Done at Paris September 21, 1960.

Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty for Cooperation Regarding Atomic Information, with annexes. Done at Paris June 18, 1964.

Protocol Amending the Security Annex to the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty for Cooperation Regarding Atomic Information. Done at Brussels June 2, 1998.

NATO Agreement on the Communication of Technical Information for Defence Purposes. Done at Brussels October 19, 1970. (Status List)

Agreement among the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the Other States Participating in the Partnership for Peace Regarding the Status of their Forces. Done at Brussels June 19, 1995. (Status List)

Additional Protocol to the Agreement among the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the Other States Participating in the Partnership for Peace regarding the Status of their Forces. Done at Brussels June 19, 1995.

Further Additional Protocol to the Agreement among the States Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty and the Other States Participating in the Partnership for Peace regarding the Status of their Forces. Done at Brussels December 19, 1997.

Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty for the Security of Information. Done at Brussels March 6, 1997.

NUCLEAR

Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water. Done at Moscow August 5, 1963.

Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Done at Washington, London and Moscow July 1, 1968.

Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement of Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Seabed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof. Done at Washington, London and Moscow February 11, 1971.

PEACE

Treaty of Peace with Japan and Protocol. Done at San Francisco September 8, 1951.

Agreement for the Settlement of Disputes arising under Article 15(a) of the Treaty of Peace with Japan. Done at Washington June 12, 1952.

POLLUTION

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter. Done at Washington, London, Mexico City and Moscow December 29, 1972.

SAFETY AT SEA

Agreement regarding financial support of the North Atlantic Ice Patrol. Done at Washington January 4, 1956.

SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT). Done at Washington August 20, 1971.

Amendment of Article XVII(f) of the Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT). Done at Copenhagen August 31, 1995.

Amendment of the Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) to implement multiple signatory arrangements. Done at Copenhagen August 31, 1995.

Amendments of the Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT). Done at Washington November 17, 2000.

Amendment of the Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. Done at Paris March 23, 2007.

Operating Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT). Done at Washington August 20, 1971.

Amendment of Article 6 and Article 22 of the Operating Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT). Done at Singapore April 4, 1995.

Amendment of the Operating Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT) to implement multiple signatory arrangements. Done at Washington April 16, 1996.

Amendment of Article 23 of the Operating Agreement relating to the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT). Done at Washington November 10, 2000.

SPACE

Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies. Done at Washington, London and Moscow January 27, 1967.

Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts, and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space. Done at Washington, London and Moscow April 22, 1968.

Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects. Done at Washington, London and Moscow March 29, 1972.

International Space Station Agreement. Done at Washington January 29, 1998.

TAXATION

Agreement on state and local taxation of foreign employees of public international organizations. Done at Washington April 21, 1992.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Inter-American Radio Agreement. Done at Washington July 9, 1949.

UNITED NATIONS

Charter of the United Nations. Signed at San Francisco June 26, 1945.

WILLS

Convention Providing a Uniform Law on the Form of an International Will. Done at Washington October 26, 1973.

WINE

Agreement on Mutual Acceptance of Oenological Practices, with Annex. Done at Toronto December 18, 2001.

WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (WMO)

Convention of the World Meteorological Organization. Done at Washington October 11, 1947.

Resources

Notes

This definition of Depositary is based on the The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary .