Theories and Practice of State Succession to Bilateral Treaties: The Recent Experience of Kosovo
This article explores the most recent practice, as exemplified by the case of Kosovo, concerning succession to treaties in international law. In doing so, it examines the precise meaning and legal effects under international law of relevant provisions of the Declaration of Independence (DoI) of Kosovo with respect to international treaties concluded by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) or, as applicable, any other predecessor entity. More specifically, the aim is to identify and comprehend the fundamental principles underlying the existing or developing practice of treaty succession, and to situate it within a broader framework of succession in international law. Kosovo's absence from key multilateral regimes, in particular the United Nations, dictates a focus on succession to bilateral treaties. Kosovo is in the process of establishing with its partners the status of its bilateral treaties undertaken by way of succession.
States and nations compared. The case of Kosovo and Ukraine versus global politics
The 2008 proclamation of Kosovo’s independence, quickly recognized by many states including almost every single one of the western world, showed that a respected international legality does not exist anymore. In fact, in the eyes of the so-called “international community” Kosovo’s secession, pursued by the Albanian majority despite the resistance of the local Serbian nationality (including Belgrade’s government’s efforts against it) and the minority ethnic groups (Goranis, Roma) is a fait accompli that the community itself supported. However, Kosovo’s case is to be interpreted as a dangerous precedent that can endanger the territorial integrity of many states with national minorities aspiring to secession. This happened despite the existence of international law that does not allow unilateral acts of territorial secession, but only the eventuality of commonly agreed political separations. Examples of this kind could be the attempted secession of the eastern regions from the Ukrainian state, and the successful secession of Crimea from Kiev (that was successful also due to Russia’s support). Such initiatives were supported by Russia and opposed by the West, with an inversion of roles completely opposite to Kosovo’s case, that could be described as the other side of the same coin – with roles reversed – compared to the Ukrainian crisis: in Kosovo it was the West (the USA and most of the EU) that considered favorably – if not actually supported – the Albanian secession from Belgrade, while on the other hand Russia has presented itself in the role of the guardian of international legality while supporting the legitimacy of Serbia’s sovereignty rights over Kosovo.
Détermination d'un poˇle paléomagnétique et mise enévidence d'aimantationsàpolariténormale sur les formations du Permien supérieur du Massif des Maures (France)
Des roches sedimentaires du Massif des Maures (latitude: 43,4°N, longitude: 6,3°E), appartenantala famille des pelites et dont l'aˇge bien preciseest Permian superieur (Thuringien), onteteetudiees par analyse thermique et par champs alternatifs. La direction moyenne de l'aimantation caracteristique, obtenueapartir de 103echantillons, en donnant le meˇme poids aux 10 sites, est definie parD = −164°, I = −14° etα95 = 4°, et le poˇle paleomagnetique Nord correspondant est situea51°N, 161°E avecA95 = 3,5°. Ce poˇle est tres proche de la partie 230–250 Ma de la courbe de migration polaire europeenne. Il estegalement proche des poˇles du Permien superieur obtenus par Zijderveld en Esterel oriental, et de ceux d'U.R.S.S., obtenus sur les formations rouges de la Volga dont l'aˇge est Tatarien superieur. Ce resultat montre qu'il n'y a pas eu de deplacement tectonique important dans la region depuis le Permien, et le poˇle peut donceˇtre considerecomme une nouvelle contribution. Une polaritenormale a pueˇtre correctement isolee sur 20% desechantillons. Ce resultat, tres similaireacelui obtenu sur les formations rouges du Permien superieur de la Volga, apporte un nouvel argument en faveur de la solution qui situe la limite superieure de l'intervalle Kiaman au debut du Thuringien.