ARTICLE 13

1. The Directorate shall consist of the Director General, his deputy and the required staff.

2. The Director General who acts on the principles of undivided authority shall be the chief executive of the Organization and in this capacity shall represent it in relations with the competent authorities of the Members of the Organization in all matters relating to its activities, as well as in relations with states whose governments are not Members of the Organization and with international organizations with which the Board finds it necessary to cooperate.

3. The Director General shall be responsible to the Board and shall act within the scope of the authority conferred on him by this Agreement and the decisions of the Board.

4. The Director General shall perform the following functions:

4.1. ensures the implementation of the Board's decisions;

4.2. negotiates with the communications authorities, design agencies and industrial enterprises of the Members of the Organization on the questions of designing the entire system and of designing, manufacturing and delivering the satellite-borne equipment elements and units for the Organization's communications satellites;

4.3. negotiates on the questions of launching communications satellites for the Organization;

4.4. concludes on behalf of the Board and within the authority determined by the Board international and other agreements;

4.5. draws up the budget estimates for the forthcoming fiscal year, submits them to the Board for approval and reports to the Board on the execution of the budget for the past financial year;

4.6. prepares for submission to the Board the report on the Directorate's activities for the past year;

4.7. draws up plans for the Organization's activities as well as for the development and improvement of the communications system and submits them to the Board for approval;

4.8. ensures the preparation, convocation and holding of the sessions of the Board.

5. The Director General and his deputy shall be elected from among the nationals of the states whose governments are Members of the Organization for a period of four years. The Deputy Director General may be elected, as a rule, for one term only. The Director General and his deputy shall not be citizens of the same state.

6. The staff of the Directorate shall be composed of nationals of the states whose governments are Members of the Organization with due regard for their professional qualifications and the equitable geographical representation.