ARTICLE 13 Settlement of Disputes Any dispute among the State Parties arising from the interpretation or application of this Pact. shall be settled amicably and where there is no resolution, the matter shall be referred to the Tribunal. ARTICLE 14 Withdrawal Any State Party may withdraw from this Pact upon the expiration of twelve (12) months from the date of giving written notice to that effect to the Chairperson of the Organ and shall cease to enjoy all rights and benefits under this Pact, and shall indefinitely remain bound by the provisions of Article 12. ARTICLE 15 Saving Provisions 1. The State Parties shall: a) declare that none of the international engagements between them and with any Third Party is in conflict with the spirit and provisions of this Pact; b) recognise existing defence agreements, provided such agreements are not in conflict with the spirit and provisions of this Pact. 2. Where an existing agreement is inconsistent with this Pact, the State Parties concerned shall take steps to amend the agreement accordingly. 3. This Pact shall not derogate from the State Parties' rights and obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and the Constitutive Act of the African Union and relevant treaties and conventions concerning human rights and international humanitarian law. 4. This Pact shall not derogate from the responsibility of the United Nations Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security. ARTICLE 16 Signature This Pact shall be signed by duly authorised representatives of State Parties to the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. ARTICLE 17 Ratification This Pact shall be subject to ratification by the signatory States in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures. 5