Article 15, paragraph 1, of the Convention provides any "Any Party may propose amendments to the Convention". Article 15, paragraph 2, of the Convention stipulates that "Amendments to the Convention shall be adopted at an ordinary session of the Conference of the Parties. The text of any proposed amendment to the Convention shall be communicated to the Parties by the secretariat at least six months before the meeting at which it is proposed for adoption. The secretariat shall also communicate proposed amendments to the signatories to the Convention and, for information, to the Depositary." In accordance with these provisions, the Russian Federation, by a letter dated 24 May 2011, transmitted to the secretariat the text of a proposal for an amendment to article 4, paragraph 2 (f), of the Convention. Pursuant to article 15, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the secretariat transmitted this proposal to Parties and signatories to the Convention by a note verbale dated 3 June 2011 and, for information, to the Depositary by a letter dated 22 June 2011. The communication from the Russian Federation, together with the text of the proposed amendment, is annexed hereto