DIPLOMATIC LAW

for foreign relations.

about economic and cultural relations and administrative cooperation);
It is about

peaceful relations;
It is about equal relations (principle of reciprocity);
It is about official relations;
It is about mutual agreement to maintain such relations;
It is about external relations (external nature and between the subjects of international law).

Diplomatic law (DL) – the body of legal rules on the maintenance of peaceful and official relations between subjects of international law through their competent organs.

Int’l law - “the body of rules and principles of action which are binding upon civilized states in their relations with one another (Int’l Law Commission)

Diplomatic relations – the customary form of permanent contact and communication between the subjects of int’l law.

law listed in the Statute of the ICJ, Art. 38;

Other sources, not listed in Art. 38 of the Statute of ICJ

38 of the Statute of the ICJ
“international conventions, whether

general or particular, establishing rules expressly recognized by the contesting states” (Statute of ICJ, Art. 38):
Diplomatic normative content;
At least 2 parties;
May codify international custom:

Examples:
Multilateral conventions (such as Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963, Convention on Special missions of 1969; ..)
Bilateral treaties between States or treaties with IO’s on the questions of DL.

of the Statute of the ICJ
 II. international custom, as

evidence of a general practice accepted as law (Statute of ICJ, Art. 38):
2 elements: objective (i.e. General practice) and subjective (i.e. Accepted as law, or opinio juris);
General practice = how to identify? -long lasting/widespread/universal character;

38 of the Statute of the ICJ

III the general

principles of law recognized by civilized nations; 
The broad nature of “legal principle”
Nature: generalized national legal principles/general principles of international law;

  

38 of the Statute of the ICJ
Subsidiary sources: to

fill the gaps or clarify the content of international law norms
judicial decisions and
the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists of the various nations

Note: Decisions of the ICJ binding only for parties, See Art. 59 of the Statute of the ICJ

in the Statute of the ICJ
2. The resolutions of international

organizations (IOs) if:
2.1. they include the existing norms of diplomatic law; or
2.2. they approve universal international treaties

See the Resolution of General Assembly No 179 (II) on the co-ordination of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations and of specialized agencies

in the Statute of ICJ
3. Procedural rules of international conferences

(just some of them have the status of customary rule);
4. Unilateral acts in the context of some specific factual or legal situations may create legal obligations:
4.1. statements of the head of the state (See ICJ judgment (1974) in the Nuclear Test case)
4.2. protests (to indicate the state’s negative reaction to the actions of another state or to stress the illegitimate nature of these actions): (e.g. http://urm.lt/default/en/news/lithuanian-foreign-ministry-sends-a-note-of-protest-to-russian-embassy-over-illegal-actions-in-detaining-lithuanias-fishing-vessel-)

in the Statute of ICJ
In the widest sense (because they

cannot create, change or repeal DL norms, just serve for the purpose of implementation or interpretation) also:
National laws (usually on the status of the state’s or IO’s missions or the functioning of the diplomatic service)
The doctrine of diplomatic law;

(what bodies are competent to represent the state and how)
State’s

institutions for foreign relations: permanent (e.g. diplomatic missions, consular post, etc.) and temporary (e.g. special missions)
The Head of the State;
Parliament;
Government;
Ministry for Foreign Relations.
Other ministries.

State:
Has the power to represent the State ex officio, so

the actions of the Head of the State are equal to the actions of the State;
Usually accepts the credentials, appoints the representatives, negotiates with the heads and other officials of other States, concludes the treaties (the concrete powers of the Head of the State depend on the political regime)

territorial questions, ratifies the int’l treaties, assigns the budget, pass

the memoranda or resolutions...
Usually have permanent commissions for foreign relations; send delegations, develop inter-parliamentary diplomacy..

important decisions on the questions of foreign relations;
Ministry of Foreign

Affairs:
Maintain diplomatic and consular relations with foreign countries and supervise the activity of the diplomatic missions and consular post;
Other bodies:
The heads and other officials of different institutions participate at int’l delegations, special attaches work at the diplomatic mission)