Le mécanisme de règlement des différends de l’O.M.C. se distingue des autres juridictions internationales en ce qu’il comporte un ensemble sophistiqué de procédures spécifiquement et exclusivement destinées à traiter les désaccords pouvant surgir au cours de l’exécution de l’obligation qui résulte pour un Membre de la décision juridictionnelle qui déclare sa responsabilité. Leur existence même et la façon dont les organes de jugement s’acquittent de leur mission témoignent de ce que l’exécution des obligations résultant des actes juridictionnels dans l’ordre international n’échappe pas fatalement au droit. Ainsi, le système de l’O.M.C. exprime mais aussi réalise une ambition singulière en droit international : renforcer la garantie de la légalité en habilitant la juridiction à encadrer, contrôler, et, en définitive, participer à assurer l’exécution de ses propres décisions. The WTO dispute settlement system has created a sophisticated set of procedures designed with the sole purpose of dealing with all disagreements that can arise between the parties during the implementation process. The very existence of these procedures, and the manner in which the adjudicative bodies accomplish their task, give evidence of the fact that compliance with judgments in the international legal order does not inevitably lie outside the realm of the law. The WTO system thereby expresses but also fulfills a strong ambition, unique when considered through the lens of international law: strengthening the rule of law by vesting the adjudicative bodies with the task of supervising, reviewing, and ultimately contributing to inducing and enforcing compliance with their own judgments.

Karl LaGrand, 35, was executed on 24 February 1999. His brother Walter, 37, was executed on 3 March 1999; the Court had earlier issued an Order for provisional measures calling on the United States to "take all measures at its disposal" to ensure that Walter LaGrand was not executed pending a final decision in the proceedings instituted by Germany. Germany instituted proceedings against the United States on 2 March 1999, alleging violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 24 April 1963 with respect to the case of Karl and Walter LaGrand, two German nationals convicted of murder in Arizona. It maintains that they "were tried and sentenced to death without being advised of their rights to consular assistance," as required by the Convention.

This Liber Amicorum appears on the occasion of Professor Vera Gowlland-Debbas' retirement from the Graduate Institute. It includes contributions by her colleagues and friends from distinguished universities and international institutions. It covers different fields in which she has excelled. This collective work is divided into three main sections. The first section examines matters concerning the law of the United Nations. The second section is devoted to human rights and international humanitarian law. The third section addresses issues related to law-making, compliance with international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The result is a collection of stimulating analysis of most of the topical problems of international law. The contributions are in both English and French.

Arbitral and judicial decisions dealing with territorial land and maritime disputes bear the mark of compromising. They draw boundaries situated between the respective pretentions of the parties and ensure an equitable share of spaces and resources. This phenomenon of compromising symptomatically appears in the jurisprudence dealing with territorial disputes, because of their specific nature, and the geostrategic, economic and emotional factors at stake. It is also due to the remarkable flexibility of applicable norms and principles, which provides a vast power of appreciation to the judge. This study enhances how the content of the decisions is used in order to reach a balanced solution and demonstrates that the international judge focuses on peacekeeping considerations. Les décisions arbitrales et judiciaires relatives aux différends territoriaux terrestres et maritimes sont marquées par une tendance transactionnelle. Elles consacrent des tracés frontaliers situés entre les revendications respectives des parties et assurent plus globalement un équitable partage des espaces et des ressources. Ce phénomène de compromis s’exprime symptomatiquement dans la jurisprudence relative aux différends territoriaux en raison de la nature de ces litiges et de leurs enjeux géostratégique, économique et émotionnel. Il est aussi dû à la particulière flexibilité des règles et des principes applicables. Cette étude témoigne de l’instrumentalisation qui est faite du contenu des décisions juridictionnelles au profit de solutions équilibrées et démontre que le juge international est avant tout tourné vers la mission pacificatrice de son office.

"The African Yearbook of International Law" provides an intellectual forum for the systematic analysis and scientific dissection of issues of international law as they apply to Africa, as well as Africa's contribution to the progressive development of international law. It contributes to the promotion, acceptance of and respect for the principles of international law, as well as to the encouragement of the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law in Africa. A clear articulation of Africa's views on the various aspects of international law based on the present realities of the continent as well as on Africa's civilization, culture, philosophy and history will undoubtedly contribute to a better understanding among nations. "The African Yearbook of International Law" plays an important role in examining the tensions underlying the State in Africa, and by shedding more light on the causes of the fragility of African state institutions so as to facilitate the identification of appropriate remedies. The tension and interrelationships among issues such as territorial integrity, self determination, ethnic diversity and nation-building are constantly addressed. Development, human rights and democratization in Africa are also subject of continuous attention and examination.

This book makes a significant contribution to the comprehension of the law and practice of provisional measures issued by international courts and tribunals, including international commercial arbitration. After having analyzed the common features of provisional measures, it provides an overview of the peculiarities of these orders within the context of different international proceedings (e.g. the ICJ, the ITLOS, the CJEU, the ICC, human rights courts and investment arbitration). In this regard, the book is valuable in offering a broad and rigorous comparative analysis between the various forms of provisional measures. Owing to its original cross-cutting and case-driven approach, the book will be an essential tool for both scholars and practitioners dealing with the law of provisional measures in international adjudication. Indeed, this book will be an important novelty in international law libraries due to the broad range of regimes scrutinized and to a detailedanalysis of the general trends within the contemporary law of provisional measures. Fulvio Maria Palombino is Professor of International Law in the Department of Law at the University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. Roberto Virzo is Associate Professor of International Law in the Department of Law, Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods (DEMM) at the University of Sannio, Benevento, Italy. Giovanni Zarra is Adjunct Professor of International Law in the Department of Law at the University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.