of the Mediterranean Sea area caused by dumping from ships and aircraft. Article 6 Pollution from ships The Contracting Parties shall take all measures in conformity with international law to prevent, abate and combat pollution of the Mediterranean Sea area caused by discharges from ships and to ensure the effective implementation in that area of the rules which are generally recognized at the international level relating to the control of this type of pollution. Article 7 Pollution resulting from exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf and the seabed and its subsoil The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, abate and combat pollution of the Mediterranean Sea area resulting from exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf and the seabed and its subsoil. Article 8Pollution from land-based sources The Contracting Parties shall take all appropriate measures to prevent, abate and combat pollution of the Mediterranean Sea area caused by discharges from rivers, coastal establishments or outfalls, or emanating from any other land-based sources within their territories. Article 9Cooperation in dealing with pollution emergencies 1. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate in taking the necessary measures for dealing with pollution emergencies in the Mediterranean Sea area, whatever the causes of such emergencies, and reducing or eliminating damage resulting therefrom. 2. Any Contracting Party which becomes aware of any pollution emergency in the Mediterranean Sea area shall without delay notify the Organization and, either through the Organization or directly, any Contracting Party likely to be affected by such emergency. Article 10Monitoring 1. The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to establish, in close cooperation with the international bodies which they consider competent, complementary or joint programmes, including, as appropriate, programmes at the bilateral or multilateral levels, for pollution monitoring in the Mediterranean Sea area and shall endeavour to establish a pollution monitoring system for that area. 2. For this purpose, the Contracting Parties shall designate the competent authorities responsible for pollution monitoring within areas under their national jurisdiction and shall participate as far as practicable in international arrangements for pollution monitoring in areas beyond national jurisdiction. 3. The Contracting Parties undertake to cooperate in the formulation, adoption and implementation of such Annexes to this Convention as may be required to prescribe common procedures and standards for pollution monitoring. Article 11 Scientific and technological cooperation 1. The Contracting Parties undertake as far as possible to cooperate directly, or when appropriate through competent regional or other international organizations, in the fields of science and technology and to exchange data as well as other scientific information for the purpose of this Convention. 2. The Contracting Parties undertake as far as possible to develop and coordinate their national research programmes relating to all types of marine pollution in the Mediterranean Sea area and to cooperate in the establishment and implementation of regional and other international research programmes for the purposes of this Convention. 3. The Contracting Parties undertake to cooperate in the provision of technical and other possible assistance in fields relating to marine pollution, with priority to be given to the special needs of developing countries in the Mediterranean region. Article 12Liability and compensation The Contracting Parties undertake to cooperate as soon as possible in the formulation and adoption of appropriate procedures for the determination of liability and compensation for damage resulting from the pollution of the marine environment deriving from violations of the provisions of this Convention and applicable Protocols. Article 13 Institutional arrangements The Contracting Parties designate the United Nations Environment Programme as responsible for carrying out the following secretariat functions:(i) to convene and prepare the meetings of Contracting Parties and conferences provided for in Articles 14, 15 and 16; (ii) to transmit to the Contracting Parties notifications, reports and other information received in accordance with Articles 3, 9 and 20; (iii) to consider inquiries by, and information from, the Contracting Parties, and to consult with them on questions relating to this Convention and the Protocols and Annexes thereto; (iv) to perform the functions assigned to it by the Protocols to this Convention; (v) to perform such other functions as may be assigned to it by the Contracting Parties; (vi) to ensure the necessary coordination with other international bodies which the Contracting Parties consider competent, and in particular, to enter into such administrative arrangements as may be required for the effective discharge of the secretariat functions. Article 14 Meetings of the Contracting Parties 1. The Contracting Parties shall hold ordinary meetings once every two years and extraordinary meetings at any other time deemed necessary, upon the request of the Organization or at the request of any Contracting Party, provided that such requests are supported by at least two Contracting Parties. 2. It shall be the function of the meetings of the Contracting Parties to keep under review the implementation of this Convention and the Protocols and, in particular:(i) to review generally the inventories carried out by Contracting Parties and competent international organizations on the state of marine pollution and its effects in the Mediterranean Sea area; (ii) to consider reports submitted by the Contracting Parties under Article 20; (iii) to adopt, review and amend as required the Annexes to this Convention