The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) presents his compliments to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and, in accordance with the provisions of Article 16(5) of the Strasbourg Agreement Concerning the International Patent Classification of March 24, 1971, has the honor to notify him that the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics deposited on September 30, 1975, its instrument of accession to the Agreement.
Furthermore, this instrument of accession contains the following declaration:
"The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics considers it necessary to make the following declaration in respect of the provisions of Article 12(3) of the Agreement. That article provides Contracting Parties with the possibility of extending its effect to those territories for the external relations of which they are responsible. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics declares that the provisions of the said Article are outdated and that they are in contradiction with the Declaration of the General Assembly of the United Nations on the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples (United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514(XV) of December 14, 1960). That Declaration proclaims the necessity of bringing to a speedy and unconditional end colonialism in all its forms and manifestations." (Translation).
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 13(1)(b), the said Agreement will enter into force, with respect to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, one year after the date of this notification, that is, on October 3, 1976.
October 3, 1975