JD 3 0 6: P UB LI C INT E R NA TIO NA L LA W

S a tur da y 6: 0 0 PM t o 9: 0 0 P M
1 s t S e me s te r S Y 2 0 2 2 - 2 0 2 3

C ove r ag e :
V II . T E RR IT O RY : LA W OF T H E S EA

© 2020, TOMAS CLAUDIO COLLEGES, COLLEGE OF LAW; TAGHANGIN MORONG, RIZAL

 TA BL E O F CONT EN TS
C OR F U CH AN N E L C AS E ................................ ................................................................ . 1

MA RI TI ME DE LI MI T A TI O N AN D TE R RI T OR IA L QU E S TI ON S BE T WE E N QA T AR AN D B AH RA IN .. 2

N OR T H S E A CON T IN E N T AL S HE LF C AS E S ( GE RM AN Y/ DE N M A RK AN D
GE RM AN Y/N E T HE R LAN D S ) ............................................................................................ 3

© 2020, TOMAS CLAUDIO COLLEGES, COLLEGE OF LAW; TAGHANGIN MORONG, RIZAL

 JD 3 0 6: P UB LI C INT E R NA TIO NA L LA W
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COR F U CH AN N E L C A SE
[I C J RE PO RTS , 1 9 4 9 ]

F AC TS:
On O c to be r 2 2 , 1 9 4 6 , tw o Br it ish c ru ise rs a nd tw o de s tr oye rs, c o mi ng f ro m the
sou th , e n te re d t he N or th C or fu S tr a it . T he c ha nne l t he y w e re fo llo w i ng , w hic h w as i n
A lb ani a n w a te rs , w as re g ar de d as s af e : i t h ad b e e n sw e p t i n 1 9 4 4 an d c he c k -s w e p t i n
1 9 4 5. One of t he de s t roye rs , t he S au m are z , w he n of f S ar an da , s t ruc k a m ine a nd w as
g rave ly d a m ag e d . Th e ot he r de s tr oye r , th e V ol ag e , w as se n t to h e r ass is ta nc e a nd , w h ile
to w ing he r , s tr uc k an ot he r m ine an d w as a lso se ri ous ly d a m ag e d. F or ty -fi ve Br i tish
of fic e rs a nd s a il ors l o s t the ir l iv e s , a nd f or t y -tw o ot he rs w e re w o unde d.
The Un i te d Ki ng d om s e ize d t he Co ur t of th e disp u te by a n A pp li c at i on file d on 2 2
Ma y 1 9 4 7 a nd ac c us e d A lb an i a o f h avi ng l a id o r a ll ow e d a t hir d S t ate t o l ay the m ine s
af te r m ine -c le ari ng o pe r at io ns h a d be e n c arr ie d ou t by the A ll i e d n ava l a u th or it ie s . The
c ase h ad pre v io us l y b e e n br o ug h t be f ore t he Uni te d N at io ns an d, in c onse que nc e of a
re c o m me n da t io n b y t he S e c u ri ty C ou nc il , h ad b e e n r e fe rre d t o t he C o ur t.
A lb ani a , f o r i ts p ar t , ha d s u bm i tte d a c o un te r -c la i m ag ai ns t the Un i te d Ki ng d om . It
ac c use d the l a t te r of hav ing v io la te d A l ba n ia n sov e re ig n ty b y se ndi ng w ars hips in t o
A lb ani a n te rr it or ia l w at e rs an d o f c a rry ing ou t mi ne sw e e ping o p e ra ti on s in A lb an i an
w a te rs af te r t he e x p l os i ons .
The C our t did n ot ac c e pt th e f irs t o f the se c o mpl ai n ts b ut f ou nd th a t t he Un i te d
King do m ha d e x e rc is e d t he r ig h t o f i nn oc e nt pass ag e th r oug h in te r na t io na l s tr ai ts. O n
the o the r h an d, i t f ou nd th a t t he mi ne sw e e ping ha d vi ol a te d A lb an ia n so ve re ig n ty ,
be c a use i t h a d be e n c arr ie d ou t ag ain st t he w ill o f t he A l ba ni a n G ove r n me n t. In
par t ic u la r, it di d n o t ac c e p t the no t io n o f “ se lf - he l p” asse rte d by the U ni te d Ki ng d o m to
jus ti fy i ts in te rv e n ti o n.

I SSUE :
Whe the r A l ba ni a s h o uld be he ld r e sp ons ib le f or the e x pl osi o ns th a t c a use d
da m ag e t o the Br it is h w ars hi ps u nde r in te r na ti on a l l aw

H E L D:
[Y E S ] The H ag ue C onv e nt io n of 1 9 0 7 , N o. V TI I, is a pp lic ab le i n t i me of w ar t hus the
obl ig at io n of A lb an ia is t o be ba se d i n ac c o rd o f c e r t ai n g e ne ra l an d w e l l -re c og n ize d
pri nc ip le s i n i n te r na ti on al , n a me ly: e le me n ta ry c ons ide ra ti o ns o f h um a ni ty , e ve n m or e
e x ac ting in pe ac e t ha n in w a r; the pr inc i pl e of t he f re e d o m o f m ari ti me c o m mu nic a t io n;
an d e ve r y S t a te 's o bl i g at i on n o t to al lo w k n ow i ng ly i ts t e rr it or y t o be use d fo r ac ts
c on tr ar y t o the rig hts of o the r S t a te s . A lb a ni a , ha ving t he e x c l us ive c o nt r ol w i t hi n i ts
fr on tie rs c o ns ti tu t ing jur is d ic t io n , h ad th e re sp ons ibi li ty t o i nf or m or to w ar n the Bri t i sh
ve sse ls an d s hi pp ing in g e n e r al of th e e x is te nc e o f m ine s in t he C or fu Ch a nne l . T he m ine -
lay ing in th e C or fu C h an ne l c ou ld no t h ave be e n e ffe c te d w i th o u t t he k now le dg e or
c onse n t o f A l ba ni a – ac t s o f w h ic h t ha t are c on tr ar y t o the rig ht s of t he o t he r S ta te s .
The re f ore , A l ba ni a s h ou ld be he l d re s po nsi ble f or t he e x p los i on c aus ing the
da m ag e t o the Br it is h c ruis e rs and de s tr oy e rs .

© 2020, TOMAS CLAUDIO COLLEGES, COLLEGE OF LAW; TAGHANGIN MORONG, RIZAL

 JD 3 0 6: P UB LI C INT E R NA TIO NA L LA W
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M ARI TI ME DE LI MI T A TI ON AN D TE RRI T ORI AL QUE S TI ON S
BE T WE E N QA T AR AN D B AH RAI N
[I C J RE PO RTS , 1 6 MA R C H 2 0 0 1]

F AC TS:
A dis p u te c o nc e r ni ng s ov e re ig n ty ove r c e r t ai n is l a nds an d sh o al s, i nc l udi ng the
de li m it a ti on o f a m ar i ti me bo un da ry w e r e i ssue s u po n w hic h Qa t ar an d B ahr a in s oug h t
to re s olve fo r 2 0 ye ar s . D u ring t his pe ri od of ti me , le t te rs w e re e x c ha ng e d an d
ac k n ow le dg e d by bo t h p ar tie s ’ he ads o f s t at e .
A Tri pa rt i te Co m mi t te e “f or the pu rp ose of app r oac hi ng t he I n te r na ti on a l C o ur t o f
Jus tic e … ” w a s f or me d by re pre s e nt a tive s o f Qa ta r, Ba hr ai n and S au di A r ab i a. Th oug h t he
c o mm i tte e me t s e v e r al ti me s , i t fa ile d t o p rod uc e an ag re e me n t on the spe c i fic te rm s fo r
sub mi t ti ng t he d is p ut e t o t he Co ur t. Eve n t ua lly , the me e t ing s c ul mi na te d in “ Min u te s”,
w hic h re af fi rm e d the proc e s s a nd s t ipu la te d t ha t the pa r tie s “ m ay ” sub m i t t he d isp ut e t o
the I CJ a fte r g iv ing th e S au di King six mo n t hs t o re so lve the d isp ute .
A fte r a le ng t hy j ur is d i c ti on al ph ase , the c o ur t iss ue d its me ri ts j udg me n t , a w a rd ing
sove re ig n ty ov e r t he H aw a r Is la nds t o B ah rai n , a nd ove r Z ub ar a h a nd Ja na n Isl an d,
inc l ud ing H add J an an , to Q a t ar . T he c o ur t’s sove re ig n ty de te r mi na ti on s f ac to re d
c ons ide ra bly in t o t he loc a ti on of t he m a ri ti me b ou nd ar y .

I SSUE :
Whe the r a n i n te rn a ti on al ag re e me n t c re a t ing r ig h ts an d o blig a t io ns c a n be
c ons ti t ut e d b y t he s ig na t orie s t o the m inu t e s of me e t ing s an d le t te rs e x c ha ng e d .

H E L D:
[Y E S ] In in te r n at io n al law , i n te r na ti o na l ag re e me n ts d o n o t tak e a si ng le fo r m u nde r t he
Vie nn a C onv e n ti on on the L aw o f T re at ie s , an d t he Co ur t has e nf orc e d t his rul e in t he
pas t. The C ou r t s a id , the re is no do ub t th a t l ang uag e pl ays a v it al r o le in in fl ue nc ing a
c ou rt ’s de c is i on as t o w he t he r a n ag r e e me nt has be e n e n te re d i nt o and in t his p a rt ic ul ar
c ase , t he l a ng u ag e w as the m ai n f oc us o f t he I C J a nd it w as th e c on te n ts o f t he M in u t e s
th a t pe rsu ade d t he IC J t o re je c t t he B ah r ai n f ore ig n mi nis te r ’s c l ai m th a t he did n ot
in te n d t o e nte r i nt o a n ag r e e m e n t. Whe re t his is c o mp ar e d to g e ne r al U .S . c on tr ac t l a w ,
w he re a c l ai m by one of th e p ar tie s t ha t n o c on tr ac t e x is te d be c ause t he re w as n o
me e ti ng o f the mi nds mig ht be the g ro un d up on w hic h a U .S . c o ur t w o ul d c o ns i de r
w he t he r a c on tr ac t d i d e x is t w i t h m o re c a r e an d t h oug ht th a n t he I C J g ave t he f ore ig n
mi nis te r o f B ah ra in ’s c la ims .
In th is c a s e , t he M in u te s n o t o nl y c o n ta in t he re c ord o f t he me e t ing s be tw e e n the
par t ie s , i t a ls o c o nt a i ne d the re a f fir m a ti on of ob lig a ti ons pre v io usly ag re e d to an
ag re e me nt t o a ll ow t he Ki ng of S au di A ra b ia t o t ry to fi nd a s ol u ti on t o t he d isp u te
dur ing a six - m on t h p e ri od , a nd in dic ate d t he p ossi bil i ty of th e i nvo lve me n t of th e I C J The
Min u te s s ti pul a te d c o m mi t me n ts t o w h ic h t he p ar tie s ag re e d , t h e re by c re a t ing r ig h ts an d
obl ig at io ns i n i n te rn a ti on al l aw . Thi s is the bas is t he re f ore , of th e e x ist e nc e of
in te r na ti o na l ag re e m e nt .

© 2020, TOMAS CLAUDIO COLLEGES, COLLEGE OF LAW; TAGHANGIN MORONG, RIZAL

 JD 3 0 6: P UB LI C INT E R NA TIO NA L LA W
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N OR TH SE A C ON TI N E N T AL SH E LF C ASE S
(GE R MAN Y / DE N MA R K A N D GE R MAN Y /N E TH E RL AN D S)
[I C J RE PO RTS , 2 0 FE B R UA RY 1 9 6 9]

F AC TS:

Pro ce ed ing s jo i ned w it h No rth Sea C o nt in en t al Sh el f ( Fed er al Re pu bli c o f

Ge r man y / Net he rla nds ) o n 26 Apr il 1968 .
The c as e i nv olv e d t he de li m it a ti on o f t he c on ti ne n t al s he l f are a s in the N or t h S e a
be tw e e n Ge rm a ny an d D e n m ark an d Ge r m any a nd Ne t he rl a nds be yo nd t he p ar ti al
bo und ar ie s p re v i o us l y ag re e d u po n b y t he se S t at e s , t ha t the bo und ar ie s be tw e e n the ir
re spe c tive are as of t h e c on ti ne n t al s he l f i n the N o rt h S e a a nd th e are a c l ai me d by t he
Fe de r al Re pu blic o f G e rm an y , s h ou ld b e de te r mi ne d by the a ppl i c at i on of th e pr inc ipl e of
e qui dis t anc e as s e t f or th in A rt ic le 6 of t h e Ge ne v a C o nve n ti o n of 1 9 5 8 on t he
C on ti ne n t al S he l f , w h ic h b y J an u ary 1 , 1 9 6 9 h a d be e n r at if ie d o r ac c e de d to by 3 9 s t at e s
bu t t o w hic h Ge r m an y w as no t a p ar ty , w a s the ba sis of D e n ma r k ’s a nd th e Ne the r l an d’s
c on te n t io n.
Be c a us e the us e o f th e de li m it a ti on me t ho d w as no t me r e ly a c o nve n ti on a l
obl ig at io n , b ut a r ule th a t w as p ar t o f the c orp us of g e ne r al in te rn at io n al l aw an d l ik e
ot he r ru le s o f g e ne r al or c u s t o m ary in te r na ti on al l aw , w hic h w as bin di ng a u to m at ic all y
on Ge rm a ny , i nde p e n de n t o f any spe c i fic a sse n t, dir e c t or in dire c t , g ive n by Ge r ma ny ,
D e n ma rk a nd th e N e t he rl a nd’ s c o nte nde d t ha t Ge r m an y w as b ou nd to ac c e p t th e
de li m it a ti on on a n e q uid is ta nc e b asis .

I SSUE :
Whe the r de li mi t a ti on be t he o bje c t of a n e qui t ab le ag re e me n t b e tw e e n t he s ta te s
inv olve d

H E L D:
[Y E S ] D e li m it a ti on m u s t be t he o bje c t of an e qui t ab le ag re e me n t be tw e e n the s t a te s
inv olve d. A s s t ipu l ate d in A rt ic le 6 o f t he G e ne va C on ve n ti on , e q uid is ta nc e p rinc ip le i s
no t p ar t of c us to m ar y in te r na ti o na l l aw . A r tic le 6 m ak e s t he o bl i g at i on to use the
e qui dis t anc e me th o d a s e c ond ar y o ne w hic h c o me s in to pl ay on l y w he n ag re e me n ts
be tw e e n the pa r tie s a re a bs e n t. A l th oug h t he pr inc ipl e o f e q ui di st anc e is n ot g ive n a
fu nd am e n t al n or m -c r e a ting c h ar ac te r b y A rt ic le 6 , w h ic h is ne c e ssar y t o the f or ma t io n o f
a g e ne ra l r ule of la w .
The v i e w t h at c us to m ary ru le s o f i n te r na ti on al law de te r mi ne d the bo un da rie s o f
are as l oc at e d on the c on ti ne n t al s he l f be t w e e n the ir c ou nt rie s an d t he Fe de r al Re pu blic
of Ge r ma ny w a s c on t e nde d by D e n ma rk a n d t he Ne the rl an ds. In th is c as e , a fte r tak in g
in to c on side r at io n all re le v an t c i rc u ms t anc e s, the de l im i ta ti o n h e re is to be e x c u se d by
e qui t ab le ag re e me n t .

© 2020, TOMAS CLAUDIO COLLEGES, COLLEGE OF LAW; TAGHANGIN MORONG, RIZAL