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III. The International Court of Justice
2. THE JURISDICTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
2.3. The Optional Clause
2.3.4. Interpretation of a Declaration made under
Article 36, Paragraph 2, of the Statute

¤ Fisheries Jurisdiction
(Spain v. Canada)
Jurisdiction of the Court
Judgment of 4 December 1998
I.C.J.Reports 1998, p. 432

[pp. 452-456] 42. Spain and Canada have both recognized that States enjoy a wide liberty in formulating, limiting, modifying and terminating their declarations of acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute. They equally both agree that a reservation is an integral part of a declaration accepting jurisdiction.

43. However, different views were proffered as to the rules of international law applicable to the interpretation of reservations to optional declarations made under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute. In Spain's view, such reservations were not to be interpreted so as to allow reserving States to undermine the system of compulsory jurisdiction. Moreover, the principle of effectiveness meant that a reservation must be interpreted by reference to the object and purpose of the declaration, which was the acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court. Spain did not accept that it was making the argument that reservations to the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court should be interpreted restrictively; it explained its position in this respect in the following terms:

"It is said that Spain argues for the most restrictive scope permitted of reservations, namely a restrictive interpretation of them ... This is not true. Spain supports the most limited scope permitted in the context of observing of the general rule of interpretation laid down in Article 31 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties."

Spain further contended that the contra proferentem rule, under which, when a text is ambiguous, it must be construed against the party who drafted it, applied in particular to unilateral instruments such as declarations of acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court and the reservations which they contained. Finally, Spain emphasized that a reservation to the acceptance of the Court's jurisdiction must be interpreted so as to be in conformity with, rather than contrary to, the Statute of the Court, the Charter of the United Nations and general international law.

For its part, Canada emphasized the unilateral nature of such declarations and reservations and contended that the latter were to be interpreted in a natural way, in context and with particular regard for the intention of the reserving State.

44. The Court recalls that the interpretation of declarations made under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute, and of any reservations they contain, is directed to establishing whether mutual consent has been given to the jurisdiction of the Court.

It is for each State, in formulating its declaration, to decide upon the limits it places upon its acceptance of the jurisdiction of the Court: "This jurisdiction only exists within the limits within which it has been accepted" (Phosphates in Morocco, Judgment, 1938, P.C.I.J., Series A/B, No. 74, p. 23). Conditions or reservations thus do not by their terms derogate from a wider acceptance already given. Rather, they operate to define the parameters of the State's acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court. There is thus no reason to interpret them restrictively. All elements in a declaration under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute which, read together, comprise the acceptance by the declarant State of the Court's jurisdiction, are to be interpreted as a unity, applying the same legal principles of interpretation throughout.

45. This is true even when, as in the present case, the relevant expression of a State's consent to the Court's jurisdiction, and the limits to that consent, represent a modification of an earlier expression of consent, given within wider limits. An additional reservation contained in a new declaration of acceptance of the Court's jurisdiction, replacing an earlier declaration, is not to be interpreted as a derogation from a more comprehensive acceptance given in that earlier declaration; thus, there is no reason to interpret such a reservation restrictively. Accordingly, it is the declaration in existence that alone constitutes the unity to be interpreted, with the same rules of interpretation applicable to all its provisions, including those containing reservations.

46. A declaration of acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court, whether there are specified limits set to that acceptance or not, is a unilateral act of State sovereignty. At the same time, it establishes a consensual bond and the potential for a jurisdictional link with the other States which have made declarations pursuant to Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute, and "makes a standing offer to the other States party to the Statute which have not yet deposited a declaration of acceptance" (Land and Maritime Boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria (Cameroon v. Nigeria), Preliminary Objections, I.C.J. Reports 1998, para. 25). The regime relating to the interpretation of declarations made under Article 36 of the Statute is not identical with that established for the interpretation of treaties by the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (ibid., para. 30). Spain has suggested in its pleadings that "[t]his does not mean that the legal rules and the art of interpreting declarations (and reservations) do not coincide with those governing the interpretation of treaties". The Court observes that the provisions of that Convention may only apply analogously to the extent compatible with the sui generis character of the unilateral acceptance of the Court's jurisdiction.

47. In the event, the Court has in earlier cases elaborated the appropriate rules for the interpretation of declarations and reservations. Every declaration "must be interpreted as it stands, having regard to the words actually used" (Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., Preliminary Objection, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1952, p. 105). Every reservation must be given effect "as it stands" (Certain Norwegian Loans, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1957, p. 27). Therefore, declarations and reservations are to be read as a whole. Moreover, "the Court cannot base itself on a purely grammatical interpretation of the text. It must seek the interpretation which is in harmony with a natural and reasonable way of reading the text." (Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., Preliminary Objection, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1952, p. 104.)

48. At the same time, since a declaration under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute, is a unilaterally drafted instrument, the Court has not hesitated to place a certain emphasis on the intention of the depositing State. Indeed, in the case concerning Anglo-Iranian Oil Co., the Court found that the limiting words chosen in Iran's declaration were "a decisive confirmation of the intention of the Government of Iran at the time when it accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court" (ibid., p. 107).

49. The Court will thus interpret the relevant words of a declaration including a reservation contained therein in a natural and reasonable way, having due regard to the intention of the State concerned at the time when it accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court. The intention of a reserving State may be deduced not only from the text of the relevant clause, but also from the context in which the clause is to be read, and an examination of evidence regarding the circumstances of its preparation and the purposes intended to be served. In the Aegean Sea Continental Shelf case, the Court affirmed that it followed clearly from its jurisprudence that in interpreting the contested reservation

"regard must be paid to the intention of the Greek Government at the time when it deposited its instrument of accession to the General Act; and it was with that jurisprudence in mind that the Court asked the Greek Government to furnish it with any available evidence of explanations of the instrument of accession given at that time" (Aegean Sea Continental Shelf, Judgment, I.C.J Reports 1978, p. 29, para. 69).

In the present case the Court has such explanations in the form of Canadian ministerial statements, parliamentary debates, legislative proposals and press communiqués.

50. Where, moreover, an existing declaration has been replaced by a new declaration which contains a reservation, as in this case, the intentions of the Government may also be ascertained by comparing the terms of the two instruments.

51. The contra proferentem rule may have a role to play in the interpretation of contractual provisions. However, it follows from the foregoing analysis that the rule has no role to play in this case in interpreting the reservation contained in the unilateral declaration made by Canada under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute.

52. The Court was addressed by both Parties on the principle of effectiveness. Certainly, this principle has an important role in the law of treaties and in the jurisprudence of this Court; however, what is required in the first place for a reservation to a declaration made under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute, is that it should be interpreted in a manner compatible with the effect sought by the reserving State.

53. Spain has contended that, in case of doubt, reservations contained in declarations are to be interpreted consistently with legality and that any interpretation which is inconsistent with the Statute of the Court, the Charter of the United Nations or with general international law is inadmissible. Spain draws attention to the following finding of the Court in the Right of Passage over Indian Territory case, where the Court had to rule on the compatibility of a reservation with the Statute:

"It is a rule of interpretation that a text emanating from a Government must, in principle, be interpreted as producing and as intended to produce effects in accordance with existing law and not in violation of it." (Right of Passage over Indian Territory, Preliminary Objections, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1957, p. 142.)

Spain argues that, to comply with these precepts, it is necessary to interpret the phrase "disputes arising out of or concerning conservation and management measures taken by Canada with respect to vessels fishing in the NAFO Regulatory Area ... and the enforcement of such measures" to refer only to measures which, since they relate to areas of the high seas, must come within the framework of an existing international agreement or be directed at stateless vessels. It further argues that an enforcement of such measures which involves a recourse to force on the high seas against vessels flying flags of other States could not be consistent with international law and that this factor too requires an interpretation of the reservation different from that given to it by Canada.

54. Spain's position is not in conformity with the principle of interpretation whereby a reservation to a declaration of acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court is to be interpreted in a natural and reasonable way, with appropriate regard for the intentions of the reserving State and the purpose of the reservation. In point of fact, reservations from the Court's jurisdiction may be made by States for a variety of reasons; sometimes precisely because they feel vulnerable about the legality of their position or policy. Nowhere in the Court's case-law has it been suggested that interpretation in accordance with the legality under international law of the matters exempted from the jurisdiction of the Court is a rule that governs the interpretation of such reservations:

"Declarations of acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court are facultative, unilateral engagements, that States are absolutely free to make or not to make. In making the declaration a State is equally free either to do so unconditionally and without limit of time for its duration, or to qualify it with conditions or reservations." (Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua (Nicaragua v. United States of America), Jurisdiction and Admissibility, Judgment, I.C.J. Reports 1984, p. 418,

para. 59.)

The holding of the Court relied on by Spain in the Right of Passage over Indian Territory case, which was concerned with a possible retroactive effect of a reservation, does not detract from this principle. The fact that a State may lack confidence as to the compatibility of certain of its actions with international law does not operate as an exception to the principle of consent to the jurisdiction of the Court and the freedom to enter reservations.

55. There is a fundamental distinction between the acceptance by a State of the Court's jurisdiction and the compatibility of particular acts with international law. The former requires consent. The latter question can only be reached when the Court deals with the merits, after having established its jurisdiction and having heard full legal argument by both parties.

56. Whether or not States accept the jurisdiction of the Court, they remain in all cases responsible for acts attributable to them that violate the rights of other States. Any resultant disputes are required to be resolved by peaceful means, the choice of which, pursuant to Article 33 of the Charter, is left to the parties.

[pp. 479-480 S.O. Oda] 10. It is clear given the basic principle that the Courts jurisdiction is based on the consent of sovereign States, that a declaration to accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court under Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute, and any reservations attached thereto, must, because of the declaration's unilateral character, be interpreted not only in a natural way and in context, but also with particular regard for the intention of the declarant State. Any interpretation of a respondent State's declaration against the intention of that State will contradict the very nature of the Court's jurisdiction, because the declaration is an instrument drafted unilaterally.

There may well be occasions when a respondent State seeks to interpret restrictively the scope of an applicant State's acceptance of the Court's jurisdiction, especially if one considers that a respondent State's obligation to comply with the Court's jurisdiction greatly depends on the scope of the applicant State's acceptance of the Court's jurisdiction (cf. Article 36, paragraph 2, of the Statute), but this is, of course, not the situation in the present case.

11. Once Canada had excluded from the Court's jurisdiction certain disputes - namely, "disputes arising out of and concerning conservation and management measures" - the meaning of the reservation should, as I have explained above, be interpreted according to the intention of Canada. I am at a loss to understand why the Court should have felt it necessary to devote so much time to its interpretation of the wording of that reservation.

In particular, I do not understand why the Court should have wished to consider whether the expression "conservation and management measures" in Canada's reservation 2 (d) ought to be interpreted according to an allegedly established and normative concept of "conservation and management measures". I feel particularly that paragraph 70 of the Judgment has been drafted under a misunderstanding of the subject, namely the law of the sea.

[pp. 512-513 S.O. Weeramantry] 65. There could well be a range of possible interpretations of a declaration, and it seems to me that the interests of justice are best served by taking a broader view where that is consistent with the terms of the declaration. Thus construed, these submissions to the jurisdiction can afford the Court the basis for building up a growing body of jurisprudence, as well as for increasing the confidence of States in the reach and the value of international adjudication. Decisions which tend to diminish that jurisdiction in its formative stage may well inhibit the growth of the potentially vigorous sapling of international adjudication1, and deter parties, who might otherwise approach the Court for a resolution of their disputes, from doing so.

66. All of these principles make no encroachments whatsoever on the undoubted right of every sovereign State in its own unfettered discretion to determine whether it will or will not enter the judicial enclave created by the Statute. The discussions attending the acceptance of this clause show how careful the drafters were to ensure the preservation of State autonomy in this regard, for the imposition of compulsory jurisdiction, in however small a measure, was seen as a significant encroachment upon State autonomy.

1Footnote omitted