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1. All States Members of the United Nations or members of any of the specialized agencies or of the International Atomic Energy Agency or parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and any other State invited by the General Assembly of the United Nations, may become Contracting Parties to this Convention:
(a) by signing it without reservation of ratification, acceptance or approval,
(b) by depositing an instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval after signing it subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, or
(c) by depositing an instrument of accession.
2. This Convention shall be open from 1 January 1976 until 31 December 1976 inclusive for signature at the Office of the United Nations at Geneva by the States referred to in paragraph 1 of this article. Thereafter it shall be open for their accession.
3. Customs or economic unions may, together with all their member States or at any time after all their member States have become Contracting Parties to this Convention, also become Contracting Parties to this Convention in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this article. However, these unions shall not have the right to vote.
4. The instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.