Establishing the legal nature of unilateral acts of states

  • Elena V. Konnova Belarusian State University, Niezaliežnasci Avenue, 4, 220030, Minsk, Belarus

Abstract

There is a well established proposition that an intent of a State to be bound is a primary criterion for establishing the legal character of a unilateral act. However, this proposition does not solve the problem of interpretation of a State’s intent to be legally bound and of determining whether a certain act is subject to unilateral acts of States regime. A range of unilaterally formulated statements and declarations are examined in the article with a view to reveal different aspects of the process of determination of legal nature of a particular act of a State. Based on results of consideration of negative security assurances, notifications on the adoption of legislative acts, promises of granting a visa-free regime, assurances to support the acceptance of a State in an international organization, suggestions are formulated concerning the evaluation of certain unilateral statements for qualifying them as legal acts.

Author Biography

Elena V. Konnova, Belarusian State University, Niezaliežnasci Avenue, 4, 220030, Minsk, Belarus

PhD (law); associate professor at the de partment of international law, faculty of international re lations

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Published
2018-10-14
Keywords: unilateral acts of States, unilateral promise, intent of a State
How to Cite
Konnova, E. V. (2018). Establishing the legal nature of unilateral acts of states. Journal of the Belarusian State University. International Relations, 1, 41-47. Retrieved from https://journals.bsu.by/index.php/internationalRelations/article/view/1324
Issue
No 1 (2018): Journal of the Belarusian State University. International Relations
Section
International Law

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