Article 27 ICC Statute has proven to cause compatibility problems with regard to immunity provisions in national constitutions. States have, however, indicated readiness to overcome these problems. On the other hand, Article 98 forms the pivot of the latest attempt of the United States, a non-signatory state, to ensure a de facto immunity from ICC jurisdiction for US nationals. This editorial sets out the contrasting approach of states to the ICC and concludes that the US Proposal for a Rule to 98(2) would have had the effect that the rule encompassed in Article 27 ICC Statute would in practice not apply to nationals of non-state parties.

The “internationalization” of the guerrilla war in Colombia signals a different course for resolving the 40-year-old conflict. Upon close scrutiny, it may actually prolong the war. This is the case since both groups, Colombian publicists and US policy-makers, who stand in the position of stewards to an international approach, oppose substantial political negotiation. The bulk of this Article examines the positions of international law taken by Colombian publicists. The author focuses on two issues which have been the subject of much recent debate. The first is the status of Colombia's guerrilla forces. The second issue concerns the rules of conduct of non-international war. The last portion of this Article examines the meaning of US-led internationalization of the Colombian conflict. Colombia is the last site of major civil strife in our hemisphere.President Bill Clinton, 28 October 1998.Colombia's people […] should know that we understand the many dimensions and long-term nature of the problems they face, and that we will do all we can to help them.Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, 10 August 1999.

The law of international organisations needs to address comprehensively, the legal question of the accountability of such Organisations. In the contemporary world, whereas states, multinational corporations, and individuals can be held accountable under applicable systems of law, there is no equivalent set of rules that applies to international organisations. The OPCW, a global disarmament Organisation, is a good model of an accountable Organisation. The Chemical Weapons Convention embodies various sets of rules and provisions, which ensure the accountable functioning of the Organisation. This article examines the concept of the accountability of international organisations as envisioned by the International Law Association, and analyses the concept in the context of the OPCW.

On 8 July 1991, Qatar filed an application instituting proceedings against Bahrain in respect of certain disputes between the two states relating to sovereignty over the Hawar Islands, sovereign rights over the shoals of Dibal and Qit'at Jaradah, and the delimitation of the maritime areas of the two states.

Following the transfer of Dragan Nikolić to the ICTY on 22 April 2000, at his initial appearance, the accused pleaded “not guilty” to all charges raised against him in the amended indictment, dated 21 March 2000.

On 12 May 2000, Judge Claude Jorda, President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), on behalf of the Judges of the ICTY, filed with the Secretary-General a ‘Report on the Operation of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.’

This article discusses the contribution made by the jurisprudence of the Yugoslavia Tribunal to the articulation of the body of international humanitarian law that applies to all armed conflicts, regardless of whether they are international or internal. The Tadić Jurisdiction Decision rendered by the Appeals Chamber in 1995 set the stage for a substantial “rapprochement” of the regulatory content of war crimes committed in international and internal armed conflict, using Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions as the main vehicle. The first judgements have contributed greatly to the expansion of the body of “Geneva law” applicable to all armed conflicts. More recently, the Tribunal has started to examine cases of armed conflicts per se, in which perpetrators have been charged with violation of the “Hague law”, i.e., the law relating to the conduct of hostilities. The end result of this development will be elaboration of a common core of Geneva law and Hague law applicable to all armed conflicts that have reached the threshold of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions.

The powers accorded the prosecutor by the Rome Statute have been the subject of much recent debate. Critics contend that the ex officio powers for triggering jurisdiction allow for abuse. This however ignores the rigorous requirements of the Statute for the appointment of the Prosecutor. Moreover the limited danger posed is far outweighed by the need to provide for an independent, credible Prosecutor. The Prosecutor's power to forego investigation and prosecution where this serves the interests of justice has also been widely critiqued for inadequately accommodating amnesties in democratic transitions. It is argued that amnesties which adhere to internationally accepted guidelines are consistent with the interests of justice and that the prosecutor may therefore defer to domestically enacted amnesty processes.

The difficulties surrounding the entry-into-force of the CTBT, which have become more pressing after the refusal of the American Senate to ratify the treaty, have their origin in divergent perceptions of different groups of states about the relationship between the NPT and the CTBT in terms of non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. Still, preparations for the implementation of the treaty continue unabated. It can be upheld that given the current legal status of the CTBT there already exists a prohibition on the carrying out of nuclear test explosions anywhere for all States Signatories of the CTBT, at least as long as they have not indicated not to become a Party to the treaty.

On 13 July 1999 Algeria joined the growing list of countries that have adopted some form of ‘amnesty law’ as a means of restoring peace and encouraging reconciliation. After a brief description of the historical context, this article examines the features of the Algerian Civil Concord Law. This law is then used as a backdrop in considering eight ways in which modern amnesty laws may be drafted and adopted to ensure compliance with developing principles of international law.

Approximately the entire 20th century, the Panama Canal (including a strip of land bordering the canal known as the ‘canal zone’) was essentially controlled by the United States, a control which included the primary responsibility for its defence. With the onset of the new millennium, however, the canal reverted to exclusive Panamanian control. This contribution will briefly recall the legal basis of this watershed which dates from 1977 and indicate if the United States retains any residual powers as regards the Panama Canal in particular its defence.