Article XXIII Accession (a) Any State whose telecommunications Administration or Recognized Private Operating Agency was, or had the right to become, a Signatory Party to the Provisional Agreement at the date on which the Convention is opened for signature, may accede to the Convention from the date on which it ceases to be open for signature, until two years after its entry into force. (b) The provisions of paragraphs (c) to (e) of this Article shall apply to requests for accession by the following States: (i) a State whose telecommunications Administration or Recognized Private Operating Agency was, or had the right to become, a Signatory Party to the Provisional Agreement at the date on which the Convention was opened for signature, but which has not become a Party to the Convention in accordance with subparagraphs (i) or (ii) of paragraph (a) of Article XXI of the Convention, or paragraph a) of this Article, (ii) any other European State which is a Member of the International Telecommunication Union wishing to accede to the Convention after its entry into force. (c) Any State which wishes to accede to the Convention in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (b) of this Article ("the Applicant State") shall so notify the Director General in writing and shall supply the latter with all information which the Board of Signatories may require, concerning the Applicant State's proposed utilization of the EUTELSAT Space Segment. (d) The Board of Signatories shall examine from the technical, operational and financial view points the compatibility of the application of the Applicant State with the interests of EUTELSAT and the Signatories within the scope of activities of EUTELSAT and shall submit a recommendation thereon to the Assembly of Parties. (e) Taking into account such recommendation, the Assembly of Parties shall take a decision on the Applicant State's request within six months following the date on which the Board of Signatories decides that it is in the possession of all the information required under paragraph (c) of this Article. The decision of the Board of Signatories shall be promptly notified to the Assembly of Parties. The decision of the Assembly of Parties shall be taken by secret vote and in accordance with the procedure for decisions on matters of substance. An extraordinary meeting of the Assembly of Parties may be convened for this purpose. (f) The Director General shall notify the Applicant State of the conditions for accession established by the Assembly of Parties which will be the subject of a protocol annexed to the instrument of accession to be deposited by the said State with the Depositary.