Slovakia accedes to the Aarhus Convention

Having deposited its instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the 5 December 2005, Slovakia became the first country to accede to the Convention. Slovakia will become the 38th Party to the Aarhus Convention on 5 March 2006. The Convention was opened for accession to any Member State of the United Nations on 28 December 1998, under article 19. Article 20 of the Convention states that the Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of a State’s instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.