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GCIL HOME   HIGHLIGHTS AGREEMENT ON THE CONSERVATION OF ALBATROSSES AND PETRELS PAPAHANAUMOKUAKEA MARINE MONUMENT R.M.S. TITANIC SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS SUBJECT AREAS Antarctic Arctic Biological Diversity Climate Change Environment and Trade Extraterritorial Appl. of Laws Fisheries Heritage Marine Debris Marine Mammals Marine Pollution Marine Protected Areas Marine Turtles Marine Scientific Research Seabed Management Seabirds Ships, Regulation of Survey and Charting Treaties Underwater Sound Zones and Boundaries ACRONYMS REFERENCES

TREATY INTERPRETATION The Office of General Counsel for International Law Treaty interpretation is central to the work of international lawyers. One of the principal tools used by GCIL attorneys for this purpose is the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties. The convention, which is based on draft articles prepared by the International Law Commission, applies to agreements between countries and is widely regarded as codifying customary international law on treaties with some necessary augmentations and clarifications. It entered into force on 27 January 1980 and has been ratified by 108 countries as of 2008. While the U.S. signed the Convention on May 26, 1971, the Senate has never given its advice and consent to ratification. Nevertheless, the U.S. generally recognizes the Convention as an authoritative restatement of customary international law. See, e.g., Assistant Legal Advisor for Treaty Affairs at the Department of State and Secretary of State Roger's Report to the President, Oct. 18, 1971, 65 Dep't St. Bull. 684, 685 (1971); Chubb & Son, Inc. v. Asiana Airlines, 214 F.3d 301, 308 (2nd Cir. 2000) (cert. denied). Additional reference information: Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties List of countries that have ratified the Convention, including any reservations entered. Treaty Doc. 92-12. Message from the President of the United States to the U.S. Senate transmitting the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties for advice and consent to ratification (November 22, 1971) S. Prt. 106-71 (106th Cong, 2d Sess.) Treaties and Other International Agreements: The Role of the United States Senate. A Study Prepared for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by the Congressional Research Service (January 2001). International Law Commission Draft Articles on the Law of Treaties with commentaries, 1966 United Nations Conference on the Law of Treaties, 1968-1969 UN Treaty Reference Guide - Definition of Key Terms. (downloadable PDF version) Care has been taken in the compilation of this web page. The page has links to other governmental and non-governmental organizations. The appearance of these links does not constitute an endorsement by NOAA or the U.S. Department of Commerce of the web sites accessible through these links or of the information they contain. As we cannot control the information on these external web sites, we cannot take responsibility for them and we shall not be liable for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising from any inaccuracies.