CHAPTER XVIII

PENAL MATTERS12cProtocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeNew York, 31 May 2001Entry into force3 July 2005, in accordance with article 18(1) which reads as follows: "1. This Protocol shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, except that is shall not enter into force before the entry into force of the Convention. For the purpose of this paragraph, any instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of such organization. 2. For each State or regional economic integration organization ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol after the deposit of the fortieth instrument of such action, this Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit by such State or organization of the relevant instrument or on the date this Protocole enters into force pursuant to paragraph 1 of this article, whichever is the later.".Registration3 July 2005, No. 39574StatusSignatories52Parties99TextUnited Nations, <i>Treaty Series</i>, vol. 2326, p. 208; Doc. A/55/383/Add.2; depositary notification C.N.959.2002.TREATIES-24 of 6 September 2002 (Correction to the English text of the original of the Protocol); C.N.1321.2003.TREATIES-10 of 21 November 2003 (Algeria: Proposed correction to the authentic Arabic text of the Protocol and C.N.105.2004.TREATIES-2 of 12 February 2004 (Correction to the Arabic text of the original of the Protocol).The Protocol was adopted by resolution 55/255 of 31 May 2001 at the fifty-fifth session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. In accordance with its article 17, paragraphs 1 and 2, the Protocol will be open for signature by all States and by regional economic integration organizations, provided that at least one member State of such organization has signed the Protocol, from 2 July 2001 to 12 December 2002, at United Nations Headquarters in New York.

ParticipantSignatureRatification, Acceptance(A), Approval(AA), Accession(a), Succession(d)Albania 8 Feb 2008 aAlgeria25 Aug 2004 aAntigua and Barbuda27 Apr 2010 aArgentina 7 Oct 2002 18 Dec 2006 Armenia26 Jan 2012 aAustralia21 Dec 2001 Austria12 Nov 2001 Azerbaijan 3 Dec 2004 aBahamas26 Sep 2008 Barbados26 Sep 2001 Belarus 6 Oct 2004 aBelgium11 Jun 2002 24 Sep 2004 Benin17 May 2002 30 Aug 2004 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 Apr 2008 aBrazil11 Jul 2001 31 Mar 2006 Bulgaria15 Feb 2002 6 Aug 2002 Burkina Faso17 Oct 2001 15 May 2002 Burundi24 May 2012 aCambodia12 Dec 2005 aCanada20 Mar 2002 Cape Verde15 Jul 2004 aCentral African Republic 6 Oct 2006 aChile17 Jun 2010 aChina 9 Dec 2002 Costa Rica12 Nov 2001 9 Sep 2003 Croatia 7 Feb 2005 aCuba 9 Feb 2007 aCyprus14 Aug 2002 6 Aug 2003 Democratic Republic of the Congo28 Oct 2005 aDenmark27 Aug 2002 Dominica17 May 2013 aDominican Republic15 Nov 2001 7 Apr 2009 Ecuador12 Oct 2001 El Salvador15 Aug 2002 18 Mar 2004 Estonia20 Sep 2002 12 May 2004 Ethiopia22 Jun 2012 aEuropean Union16 Jan 2002 Finland23 Jan 2002 17 May 2011 AGabon22 Sep 2010 aGermany 3 Sep 2002 Greece10 Oct 2002 11 Jan 2011 Grenada21 May 2004 aGuatemala 1 Apr 2004 aGuyana 2 May 2008 aHaiti19 Apr 2011 aHonduras 1 Apr 2008 aHungary13 Jul 2011 aIceland15 Nov 2001 India12 Dec 2002 5 May 2011 Iraq23 May 2013 aItaly14 Nov 2001 2 Aug 2006 Jamaica13 Nov 2001 29 Sep 2003 Japan 9 Dec 2002 Kazakhstan31 Jul 2008 aKenya 5 Jan 2005 aKuwait30 Jul 2007 aLao People's Democratic Republic26 Sep 2003 aLatvia28 Jul 2004 aLebanon26 Sep 2002 13 Nov 2006 Lesotho24 Sep 2003 aLiberia22 Sep 2004 aLibya13 Nov 2001 18 Jun 2004 Lithuania12 Dec 2002 24 Feb 2005 Luxembourg11 Dec 2002 Madagascar13 Nov 2001 15 Sep 2005 Malawi17 Mar 2005 aMali11 Jul 2001 3 May 2002 Mauritania22 Jul 2005 aMauritius24 Sep 2003 aMexico31 Dec 2001 10 Apr 2003 Monaco24 Jun 2002 Mongolia27 Jun 2008 aMontenegro<superscript>1</superscript>23 Oct 2006 dMorocco 8 Apr 2009 aMozambique20 Sep 2006 aNauru12 Nov 2001 12 Jul 2012 Netherlands 8 Feb 2005 aNicaragua 2 Jul 2007 aNigeria13 Nov 2001 3 Mar 2006 Norway10 May 2002 23 Sep 2003 Oman13 May 2005 aPanama 5 Oct 2001 18 Aug 2004 Paraguay27 Sep 2007 aPeru23 Sep 2003 aPoland12 Dec 2002 4 Apr 2005 Portugal 3 Sep 2002 3 Jun 2011 Republic of Korea 4 Oct 2001 Republic of Moldova28 Feb 2006 aRomania16 Apr 2004 aRwanda 4 Oct 2006 aSao Tome and Principe12 Apr 2006 aSaudi Arabia11 Mar 2008 aSenegal17 Jan 2002 7 Apr 2006 Serbia20 Dec 2005 aSeychelles22 Jul 2002 Sierra Leone27 Nov 2001 Slovakia26 Aug 2002 21 Sep 2004 Slovenia15 Nov 2001 21 May 2004 South Africa14 Oct 2002 20 Feb 2004 Spain<superscript>2</superscript> 9 Feb 2007 aSt. Kitts and Nevis21 May 2004 aSt. Vincent and the Grenadines29 Oct 2010 aSwaziland24 Sep 2012 aSweden10 Jan 2002 28 Jun 2011 Switzerland29 Nov 2012 aThe former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia14 Sep 2007 aTogo17 Jul 2012 aTrinidad and Tobago 6 Nov 2007 aTunisia10 Jul 2002 10 Apr 2008 Turkey28 Jun 2002 4 May 2004 Turkmenistan28 Mar 2005 aUganda 9 Mar 2005 aUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 6 May 2002 United Republic of Tanzania24 May 2006 aUruguay 3 Apr 2008 aZambia24 Apr 2005 aAlgeriaReservation and declaration :Reservation:The Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 16, paragraph 2 of this Protocol, which provides that any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of the Protocol that cannot be settled through negotiation shall, at the request of one of those States Parties, be submitted to arbitration or to the International Court of Justice.The Government of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria considers that no dispute of such nature may be submitted to arbitration or to the International Court of Justice without the consent of all the parties to the dispute.Declaration:The ratification of this Protocol by the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria does not in any way signify recognition of Israel.The present ratification may not be interpreted as leading to the establishment of relations of any kind with Israel.ArgentinaUpon signature:Declaration:The Argentine Republic declares that, in relation to article 2, the provisions of the Protocol shall be without prejudice to the right of the Argentine Republic to adopt, at the domestic level, stricter provisions designed to fulfil the objectives of the Protocol of preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and components and ammunition.AzerbaijanDeclaration and reservation:"The Republic of Azerbaijan declares that it will be unable to guarantee compliance with the provisions of this Protocol in its territories occupied by the Republic of Armenia until these territories are liberated from that occupation...""With regard to Article 16, paragraph 3, of the Protocol, the Republic of Azerbaijan does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of Article 16."BahamasReservation:“In accordance with Article 16 paragraph 3, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas enters a specific reservation to the procedure established under Article 16 paragraph 2 of the Protocol on the basis that referral of a dispute concerning the application or interpretation of the provisions of the Protocol to arbitration or to the International Court of Justice must be by consent of all the parties to the dispute.”BelgiumReservation:The Government of Belgium makes the following reservation concerning article 4, paragraph 2 of the Additional Protocol: the activities of armed forces during a period of armed conflict, in the sense given these terms under international humanitarian law, which are governed by this law, are not governed by the present Protocol.CubaReservation :In accordance with the provisions of article 16, paragraph 3, of the Protocol, [Cuba] declares that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of said article, which refers to the settlement of disputes between two or more States Parties.El SalvadorUpon signature:Reservation:The Government of the Republic of El Salvador does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of article 16, inasmuch as it does not recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.Upon ratification:Reservation:With regard to article 16, paragraph 3, of the Protocol, the Government of the Republic of El Salvador does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2 of this article, inasmuch as it does not recognize the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.Interpretative declaration:Article 3 a)The Republic of El Salvador, in accordance with its domestic law (Act on Control and Monitoring of Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Similar Articles and their Regulation) interprets the following as collector's weapons: weapons of war which have been deactivated; and antique and obsolete weapons and those of historical value which shall not be utilized, subject to technical review by the Ministry of National Defence which shall so certify them; weapons of war: pistols, rifles and carbines with automatic firing action as well as those classified as light and heavy, mines, grenades and military explosives; antique weapons are those which are no longer manufactured and may be registered only for purposes of collection, in accordance with technical certification and prior authorization of the Ministry of National Defence; deactivated weapons: any weapon of war that, for purposes of collection, has been deactivated for its original use, with prior authorization by the Ministry of National Defence; firearm: weapons that, by the use of rimfire or centerfire percussion cartridges, expel projectiles through a smooth or rifled barrel, by means of the expansion of gases produced by the combustion of explosive solids or powder or other flammable material contained in the cartridge; furthermore, for identification purposes, pistols and revolvers shall be marked on the weapon and for rifles, carbines and shotguns, the serial number shall appear on the case of the mechanism; explosives are the combination of various substances and mixtures that produce an exothermic reaction when ignited. Any substance or material which, when struck, subjected to friction, heated or subjected to the effect of a small detonation or a chemical reaction, reacts violently, producing gases at high temperature and pressure that impact anything found in their vicinity; articles similar to firearms or ammunition: any articles or objects made by hand that have similar characteristics or can be used for the same purposes.EthiopiaReservation:Ethiopia does not accept the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice which is provided under Article 16(2) of the said Protocol.FinlandDeclaration:“Pursuant to Article 13 (2) of the Protocol, the Republic of Finland declares that a national body to act as liaison between it and other States Parties on matters relating to the Protocol is the National Police Board.”GuatemalaDeclaration:The Republic of Guatemala shall provide the information referred to in article 12 of the Protocol in the case of information disclosed by individuals on a confidential basis only in the context of a request for judicial assistance.Lao People's Democratic RepublicReservation:"In accordance with paragraph 3, Article 16 of the Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, Supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, the Lao People's Democratic Republic does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2, Article 16 of the present Protocol. The Lao People's Democratic Republic declares that to refer a dispute relating to interpretation and application of the present Protocol to arbitration or the International Court of Justice, the agreement of all parties concerned in the dispute is necessary."LithuaniaDeclaration:".....in accordance with Article 16 (3) of the Protocol, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania declares that the Republic of Lithuania does not consider itself bound by paragraph 2, Article 16 of the Protocol providing the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation and application of this Protocol at the International Court of Justice."MalawiDeclarations:"The Government of the Republic of Malawi in its efforts to curb and stamp out offences related to trafficking in persons especially women and children has embarked upon various social and legal reforms to incorporate obligations emanating from this Protocol (Article 17 (4));Further, expressly declares its acceptance of Article 16 (2) on settlement of disputes concerning interpretation and application of this Protocol in consonant with Article 16 (3).”Republic of MoldovaDeclaration:Until the full re-establishment of the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova, the provisions of the Protocol shall be applied only on the territory controlled effectively by the authorities of the Republic of Moldova.Saudi ArabiaReservation:“The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not consider itself obligated under paragraph 2 of Article 16 of this Protocol, concerning the settlement of disputes.”South AfricaReservation:"AND WHEREAS pending a decision by the Government of the Republic of South Africa on the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, the Government of the Republic does not consider itself bound by the terms of Article 16 (2) of the Protocol which provided for the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in differences arising out of the interpretation or application of the Protocol. The Republic will adhere to the position that, for the submission of a particular dispute for settlement by the International Court, the consent of all the parties to the dispute is required in every individual case."SpainDeclaration:1. Spain is not opposed to the application of the principle of self-determination in the process of decolonization but wishes to emphasize that the application of the principle of self-determination must be compatible with the principle of the territorial integrity of States. This is particularly relevant in those cases in which a sovereignty dispute exists concerning the territory in question, as is the case with Gibraltar.2. This position taken by Spain is based on the doctrine established by the United Nations on this point, to be found in General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV), 2353 (XXII), 2429 (XXIII) and 2625 (XXV), among others.SwitzerlandReservations:Reservation with regard to article 10 (2) b):In the absence of objection to the transit within 30 days from the date of the written request of non-objection to transit, the requested transit State shall be deemed not to have objected and to have tacitly agreed to the transit.Reservation with regard to article 10 (3):Information on transit States shall not be systematically mentioned in the authorizations for export from and import into Swiss territory, or in the corresponding accompanying documentation, in accordance with Swiss law, which does not always require such mention.TunisiaReservation made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:... with a reservation to article 16 (2).Upon signature:Reservation:.... With a reservation to article 16 (2).Armenia“<i>Objection of the Republic of Armenia against the Declaration made by the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime</i>Given that the Republic of Azerbaijan made a declaration to the Protocol Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime the Republic of Armenia declares:The Republic of Azerbaijan deliberately misrepresents the essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, with respect to cause and effect of the conflict. The conflict arose due to the policy of ethnic cleansing by the Republic of Azerbaijan followed by the massive military aggression against the self-determined Nagorno-Karabakh Republic – with the aim to repress the free will of the Nagorno-Karabakh population. As a result, the Republic of Azerbaijan has occupied several territories of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic.”Azerbaijan<right>27 January 2005</right>"... designated the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan as the national body.”Belarus.....in accordance with article 13, paragraph 2 of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Belarus has been designated as the national authority to maintain contacts between the Republic of Belarus and other States Parties on matters relating to the Protocol.BelgiumPursuant to article 13 (2) of the Additional Protocol, the Federal Ministry of Justice, Department of Legislation, Fundamental Rights and Liberties, 115 Boulevard de Waterloo, 1000 Brussels, is designated as the sole contact point.Cambodia<right>3 February 2006</right>"Police Brigadier Gen. NHEAN VIBOL (Chairman)Address: House No. 275 Preah Norodom BoulevardCell phone: (855)-12810-428Fax: (855) 23-726 052E-mail: vibolnhean@yahoo.com"Croatia"In accordance with Article 13, paragraph 2 of the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the body of contact, to act as liaison with other States Parties on matters relating to the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, shall be the Ministry of the Interior."El SalvadorWith regard to article 13, paragraph 2, of this Protocol and without prejudice to the designation made in accordance with article 18, paragraph 13, of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Government of the Republic of El Salvador designates the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of El Salvador as the central point of contact to provide liaison with other States Parties on matters relating to the Protocol.Honduras<right>8 August 2008</right>In this connection, I wish to inform you that the Ministry of National Defence has designated Director of Planning, Programmes and Military Policy (C-5) Infantry Colonel DEM [Dîplomado de Estado Mayor] Leonardo Muñoz Ramirez as the institutional liaison to the Secretary-General of the United Nations in matters related to the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition.Hungary“… the following authority has been designated as the point of contact to act as liaison between the Republic of Hungary and other States Parties on matters relating to the Protocol.National Police Headquarters – International Law Enforcement Cooperation Centre (NEBEK)Address: H-1139 Budapest, Teve u. 4-6Telephone: (+36-1) 443-5596Fax: (+36-1) 443-5815 E-mail: nebek@nebek.police.hu”.Latvia<right>31 August 2010</right>“Competent authority in accordance with Article 13, paragraph 2:Ministry of InteriorAddress:Cierkurkalna 1st line 1, k-2Riga, LV-1026LatviaPhone: + 371 67219263Fax: + 371 67829686E-mail: kanceleja@iem.gov.lvWebsite: www.iem.gov.lv”Lithuania".....in accordance with Article 13 (2) of the Protocol, the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania declares that the Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Lithuania is designated as the point of contact to act as liaison between it and other States Parties on matters relating to this Protocol."Malawi"The Competent Authority charged with the responsibility of coordinating and the rendering of mutual legal assistance is:The Principal Secretary Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal SecurityPrivate Bag 331, Lilongwe 3. MALAWIFax: 265 1 789509Tel: 265 1 789 177.The Official Language of communication is English."Norway"The agency that may act pursuant to Article 13 of the Firearms Protocol as liaison for Norway with regard to the exchange of information between States Parties in connection with the efforts to combat violations of the Firearms Protocol is the National Criminal Investigation Service."Panama<right>13 December 2004</right>.....in accordance with article 13 (2) of the aforementioned Protocol, the Republic of Panama has designated the Ministry of Government and Justice as the national body or single point of contact to act as liaison between it and other States Parties on matters relating to the Protocol.Poland"With regard to article 13, paragraph 2 of this Protocol, without prejudice to article 18, paragraph 13 of the Convention, the Government of the Republic of Poland designates the Chief Commander of the Police as the national body to act as a liaison between the Republic of Poland and other States Parties on matters relating to this Protocol."Romania"In accordance with Article 13 paragraph 2 of the Protocol, Romania declares that the National Agency for Export Control is the national point of contact designated to liaise with other States Parties in matters relating to the said Protocol."Serbia<right>20 April 2009</right>“The Permanent Mission of the Republic of Serbia to the OSCE and other International Organizations in Vienna ... has the honour to notify of the Serbian competent authorities for the implementation of the Article 13 (Cooperation) of the Protocol ...The requests shall be addressed to:Name of Authority:Ministry of Interior of the Republic of SerbiaMinistry of Interior, 2, Bulevar MihailaFull postal address: Pupina, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of SerbiaName of Service to be contacted: Service for Combating Organized CrimeName of Person to be contacted : Mr. Svetislav Djurovic, Head of Service for Combating Organized CrimeTelephone: +381 11 311 84 65Fax: +381 11 311 84 64Office hours: from 08:30 to 16:30Time zone: GMT 1Languages: English, French, German, Spanish.”South Africa"AND WHEREAS the Secretary-General is hereby notified, in accordance with Article 13 (2) of the Protocol, that the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service has been designated as the single point of contact to liaise with other States Parties on matters relating to the Protocol as required by Article 13 (2) of said Protocol."Spain<right>19 March 2007</right>Ministerio del InteriorDirección General de la Policía y la Guardia CivilIntervención Central de Armas y ExplosivosCalle Batalla del Salado, 3228045 MadridTelephone: +34 91 514 2400Fax: +34 91 514 2409dg-icae-armas@guardiacivil.org<right>4 June 2007</right><left>MINISTERIO DEL INTERIOR</left><left>DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE LA POLICÍA Y DE LA GUARDIA CIVIL</left>Dirección Adjunta OperativaIntervención Central de Armas y Explosivosc/ Batalla del Salado, 3228045 Madrid (España)Telephone: 34 91 514 2400Fax: 34 91 514 2411email: dg-icae@guardiacivil.org. / dg-icae-armas@guardia civil.orgSwitzerlandNotification with regard to article 13, paragraph 2:The designated authority is the Office fédéral de la police, Office central des armes, Nussbaumstrasse 29, CH-3003 Berne, téléphone +41 31 324 54 00, télécopie +41 31 324 79 48, courriel zsw@fedpol.admin.ch.Trinidad and Tobago“(Article 13 on Cooperation):Assistant Superintendent of Police Wendy WilkinsonOrganised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms BureauCorner Park and Richmond StreetsPort of SpainTrinidad and TobagoTelephone: (868) 625-3924Facsimile: (868) 624-9778Electronic mail: ocnfbadmin@ttps.gov.tt.”TurkeyOn 3 June 2005, the Government of Turkey notified the Secretary-General of the following:"National Body:General Command of GendarmarieDepartment of Combatting Smuggling and Organized CrimePoint of Contact:Senior Colonel Cengiz YildirimHead of DepartmentDepartment of Cobatting Smuggling and Organized Crime General Command of Gendarmarie."Furthermore, on 20 April 2009, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Turkey the following notification:“…..information on the single point of contact, nominated by relevant Turkish authorities, to act as liaison between Turkey and other States Parties on matters relating to Protocol against the Illicit[e] Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, is as follows:Mr. Ferhat KONYASenior ColonelGeneral Command of GendarmerieTel: +90 312 456 33 00Fax[e]: + 90 312 231 29 69E-Mail: dia@jandarma.gov.tr.”Uganda"...The National Focal Point for the Protocol Against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components and Ammunition is as follows:The CoordinatorUganda National Focal Point on Small Arms and Light WeaponsP.O.Box 7191KAMPALATelephone No: 256-41-252091Cell No: 256-71-667720Fax No: 256-41-252093."United Republic of Tanzania<right>9 June 2006</right>“Point of Contact:Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International CooperationP.O. Box 9000Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.”1See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.2In a communication received on 5 March 2008, the Government of Spain informed the Secretary-General of the following: 1. Gibraltar is a Non-Self-Governing Territory for whose international relations the Government of the United Kingdom is responsible and which is subject to a process of decolonization in accordance with the relevant decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly. 2. The Gibraltarian authorities are local in character, and exercise competences exclusively over internal affairs that originate in and are based on the powers allocated to and conferred on them by the United Kingdom, in accordance with its domestic legislation and in its capacity as the sovereign State upon which depends the said Non-Self-Governing Territory. 3. Consequently, any involvement by the Gibraltarian authorities in the implementation of this Convention shall be understood to take place exclusively within the framework of the internal affairs of Gibraltar and shall not be considered to affect in any way the content of the two preceding paragraphs.