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UNIVERSAL POSTAL UNION—JUNE 15, 1897
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Article 25

1.—Congresses of plenipotentiaries of the contracting countries, or simple administrative conferences, according to the importance of the questions to be solved, are held when a demand for them is made or approved by two-thirds, at least, of the Governments or Administrations, as the case may be.

2.—Nevertheless, a Congress must be held at least once every five years.

3.—Each country may be represented either by one or several delegates, or by the delegation of another country. But it is understood that the delegate or delegates of one country can be charged with the representation of two countries only, including the country which they represent.

4.—In the deliberations each country has one vote only.

5.—Each Congress fixes the place of meeting for the next Congress.

6.—For Conferences, the Administrations fix the places of meeting upon the proposal of the International Bureau.

Article 26

1.—In the interval which elapses between the meetings, any Postal Administration of a country of the Union has the right to address to the other Administrations belonging to it, through the intermediary of the International Bureau, propositions concerning the regimen of the Union.

In order to be considered, each proposition must be supported by at least 2 Administrations, not counting the one from which the proposition emanates. When the International Bureau does not receive at the same time as the proposition, the necessary number of declarations of support, no notice is taken of the proposition.

2.—Every proposition is subject to the following procedure:

A period of six months is allowed to the Administrations of the Union to examine the propositions, and to transmit to the International Bureau their observations, if any. Amendments are not admitted. The replies are tabulated by the International Bureau and communicated to the Administrations with an invitation to pronounce either for or against the proposition. Those Administrations which have not transmitted their vote within a period of six months, counting from the date of the second circular of the International Bureau notifying them of the observations made, are considered as abstaining from voting.

3.—In order to become binding the propositions must obtain, as follows:

  • 1st. Unanimity of votes, if they involve the addition of new provisions or any modification of the stipulations of the present Article and of Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18, 27, 28 and 29;
  • 2nd. Two-thirds of the votes if they involve a modification of stipulations of the Convention other than those of Articles 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 15, 18, 26, 27, 28 and 29;