Suchergebnisse

The decision of the International Court of Justice in the case of a Belgian warrant of arrest against a former Congolese foreign minister concerned two important aspects of modern trends of criminal responsibility of high-ranking state officials. The Hague judges did not discuss the issue of universal jurisdiction, as the Congo withdrew her claims in this field, but instead concentrated on the immunity of the former foreign minister. The Court decided to grant absolute immunity. The present paper seeks to investigate the majority judgment as well as individual opinions by some of the judges. The author is very critical in respect to the judgment expressing the view that the decision is extremely traditional because it does not take into account current trends in state practice & international law doctrine, including obligations erga omnes. In particular, the scope of immunity granted to a former minister exceeds the needs of this post, especially when taking into account the gravity of the imputed crimes. Adapted from the source document.

Nach fast fünfzigjähriger Debatte hat die UN-Kommission für Internationales Recht einen Vorschlag zur Regelung der Verantwortung von Staaten für internationale strafbare Handlungen vorgelegt. Der erste Teil dieses Entwurfs enthält die Definition einer internationalen strafbaren staatlichen Handlung. Die folgenden Teile behandeln den Inhalt der internationalen Verantwortung eines Staates und die Implementation dieser Verantwortung. Der Verfasser fragt nach den Konsequenzen, die ein schwerwiegender Verstoß gegen internationale Normen haben soll, nach den möglichen Reaktionen und Gegenmaßnahmen sowie nach der Rolle von Dritten. Er macht überdies auf die Beziehung zwischen dem vorgelegten Entwurf und anderen internationalen Rechtsnormen aufmerksam. Der Verfasser würdigt den Entwurf als ausgewogenen Kompromiss zwischen den Interessen der beteiligten Staaten. (ICE)

The Potsdam Agreement has played an important role in the liquidation of the effects of the WWII. In connection with other agreements of the Allied Powers it has constituted the legal basis of the Polish western border. Implementing the Agreement, a transfer of German population from Poland, Hungary, & Czechoslovakia to Germany took place. Some provisions create problems in the Polish-Russian & the Lithuanian-Russian relations. The rule of penal responsibility of war criminals was pursued in the Nuremberg trial. As far as the problems to be settled are concerned, the Potsdam Agreement & other international instruments directly or indirectly connected with it (including the Two-plus-Four-Treaty) correspond to a classical peace treaty. Adapted from the source document.

The bilateral treaties concluded by Poland and Germany on November 14, 1990, and June 17, 1991, are an ideal illustration of the political and social changes in Central Europe. They were intended to constitute a turning point in the relations between the two neighbors, enemies for centuries that are now starting to construct a common future.