Danilo Türk Book Presentation

has not changed the basic legal situation in which the state remains the responsible party with respect to the individual’s legal status, both within the state and internationally. The same conclusion is drawn in the discussion on the international criminal responsibility of the individual. The establishment of the international criminal tribunals and the International Criminal Court (established by the Rome Statute of 1998, in force since 2002) represents amajor newdevelopment in the systemof international law.This development marks an important change in the attitude of states, which have traditionally considered their criminal jurisdiction as a core domestic function of state sovereignty. However, it remains to be seen whether the jurisprudence of the international criminal tribunals will substantially internationalize the prosecution of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The third chapter addresses the growing scope for international law to impact directly on the individual –both in respect of human rights and the individual’s criminal responsibility.While international law has expanded considerably in its scope in these areas, the fundamental structure and centrality of the state has not changed. The subsequent chapters deal with those areas of international law where the state remains the central player. The fourth chapter addresses the organs of state relevant to international relations. It examines the functions and the legal status of the head of state, the prime minister and the foreign minister as well as those of diplomatic representatives, consuls and international civil servants.The chapter explains the basic features of their functions and status and identifies the areas where development of international law has played an important role including those related to the protection of diplomatic communication and the role of honorary consuls. Chapter five deals with international transactions. It starts with a discus- sion of unilateral declarations such as recognition, protest and waiver. The major part of this chapter is devoted to international treaties: conclusion of treaties, their validity and interpretation, reservations to multilateral treaties, revision of treaties and termination and nullity of treaties.

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