I should like to express my gratitude to the T.M.C. Asser Institute for their invitation to the symposium. As a guest I had no intention of speaking today, and, consequently, I have no prepared text. But some theses and arguments used in the course of discussion lead me to the conclusion that it would perhaps be reasonable and useful to clarify certain important points. Before I endeavour to do so, may I be permitted to stress, since I have the honour to be a Judge of the International Court of Justice, that everything I intend to say must be considered only as my own private opinion.