"ARTICLE 12BIS

"ARTICLE 12BIS

1. The Operations Committee is the body of the Organization set up for the purpose of prompt consideration and decision making with regard to the Organization's activity.

Any Signatory may be a member of the Committee.

2. The Operations Committee shall

2.1. examine and approve issues related to the construction, procurement or lease as well as operation of the space segment;

2.2. approve plans for the development and improvement of the communications system of the Organization;

2.3. define specifications for the Organization's communication satellites;

2.4. examine and approve in-orbit delivery programmes for the Organization's communication satellites;

2.5. approve plans of communication channel allocation to the Members of the Organization and Signatories as well as the criteria applicable to the use of the Organization's space segment by other users including the procedure of authorizing such use;

2.6. define specifications for earth stations; establish the procedure of clearing an earth station for access;

2.7. determine whether an earth station intended for access to the Organization's communications system meets the specifications;

2.8. if necessary, establish in the framework of its competence auxiliary bodies and hold specialized meetings;

2.9. approve the structure and staff table of the Directorate as well as the regulatory documents of the Directorate;

2.10. approve the Organization's action plan for the next calendar year;

2.11. adopt the Organization's financing policy, examine and approve finance rules, annual budgets and annual finance reports, fix tariffs for the transmission of units of information or channel lease charges associated with the use of the Organization's communication satellites as well as make decisions on any other financial issues including investment shares and their redistribution;

2.12. determine the size of the share capital;

2.13. make decisions to approach national or international banking institutions for credits as well as define the terms and conditions of external financing from other sources;

2.14. examine and approve reports of the Director General on the activity of the Organization;

2.15. elect the Chairperson and members of the Auditing Commission, approve the working procedure and reports of this Commission;

2.16. approve amendments to the Operating Agreement and submit them to the Board for confirmation;

2.17. annually submit to the Board reports on its activity;

2.18. appoint an arbitrator when the Organization is involved in arbitration;

2.19. lay down and pursue the Organization's policy of intellectual and industrial property protection in relation to inventions or technological information created as a result of the Organization's activity or under contracts with the Organization;

2.20. supervise the activity of the Directorate;

2.21. approve its own rules of procedure;

2.22. perform any other functions under any other Article of this Agreement or the Operating Agreement as well as any other functions required for the attainment of the Organization's purposes."