JUIN JUNE 200] VOLUME 85 N'850 L'interpretation du droit international humanitaire par les tribunaux internationaux Interpretation of international humanitarian law by the international tribunals 233 Editorial/Editorial 235 The contribution of the International Court of Justice to international humanitarian law VINCENT CHETAIL 271 Dix ans apres la creation du Tribunal penal international pour l'ex-Yougoslavie : evaluation de l'apport de sa jurisprudence au droit international humanitaire JEAN-FRANC;:OIS QUEGUINER 31 3 Towards a single definition of armed conflict in international humanitarian law: A critique of internationalized armed conflict JAMES G. STEWART 351 The development of the grave breaches regime and of individual criminal responsibility by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia NATALIE WAGNER 231 $MF?#';Zif P' $ Affaires courantes et commentaires Current issues and comments 385 The implementation of international humanitarian law in the Russian Federation BAKHTIYAR TUZMUKHAMEDOV 397 The review of weapons in accordance with Article 36 of Additional Protocoll JUSTIN McCLELLAND "3' i++.e, Faits et documents Reports and documents 42 1 War in Iraq: the ICRC President calls for respect for international humanitarian law Declaration by the ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger to the media on 20 March 2003 , 42 3 Conflict in Iraq: Memorandum to the belligerents 429 United Nations Security Council4762nd meeting Response to the humanitarian situation in Iraq Speaking notes for an address by Mr. Jakob Kellenberger, President International Committee of the Red Cross (lCRC), Geneva New York, 22 May 2003 433 Première session spéciale de la Conférence des États parties chargée d'examiner le fonctionnement de la Convention sur les armes chimiques La Haye 28 avril - 9 mai 2003 Déclaration du Comité international de la Croix-Rouge, Genève 232 REVUE INTERNATIONALE DE LA CROiX-ROUGE 437 First Special Session of the Conference of the States Parties to Review the Operation of the Chemical Weapons Convention The Hague 28 April - 9 May 2003 Statement of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva 441 Cérémonie de remise du Prix Paul Reuter 2003 444 Presentation ceremony, Paul Reuter Prize 2003 5 '&Mf f-· '2 tiE Livres et articles Books and articles 447 Récentes acquisitions faites par le Centre d'Information et de Documentation 1Recent acquisitions of the Library & Research Service Un texte paraissant dans la Revue Texts published by the Review n'engage que son auteur. En pu­ reflect the views of the author bliant un article dans la Revue, ni alone and not necessarily those la rédaction ni le ClCR ne pren­ of the ICRC or of the Review. nent position au sujet des opi­ Only texts bearing an ICRC nions exprimées par son auteur. signature may be ascribed to Seuls les textes signés par le ClCR the institution. peuvent lui être attribués. Editorial Le droit international humanitaire, comme tous les corps de droit, n'est pas statique et doit toujours etre interprete et appJique de fQ/;on aconfirmer ses objectifs principaux et sa pertinence. Les dernieres deux decennies, en particulier ces dix dernieres annees, les tri­ bunaux internationaux ont de plus en plus dO traiter des questions concernant Ie droit international humanitaire. lis ont identifie les objectifs fondamentaux, les regles et les prin­ cipes appropries des traites et du droit coutumier et ils se sont prononces sur la fa(on dont ceux-ci s'inscrivent au droit international general aussi bien qu'au droit penal international, au droit de la responsabilite etatique et au droit des droits de I'homme. Le resu/tat de cette deliberation juridique sur Ie droit international humanitaire est une richesse de precedents persuasifs et revetus d'autorite concernant l'application des regles du conflit arme. Cette edition de la Revue examine cette contribution des tribunaux internationaux au droit international humanitaire. Les jugements et les avis de la Cour Internationale de Justice sont focalises en un article, proposant une vue d'ensemble de la fa(on dont la Cour a aide aclarifier Ie rapport entre Ie droit international humanitaire et Ie droit international general et aidentifier la teneur des principes fondamentaux de la loi humanitaire. La maniere dont la Cour de Justice internationale a traite la complexite des liens entre les trai­ tes humanitaires, Ie droit coutumier et Ie ius cogens est egalement evaluee. La jurisprudence du Tribunal penal international pour l'ex-Yougoslavie est ensuite analysee sous plusieurs angles. Dans une perspective globale, son impact sur Ie droit inter­ national humanitaire est evalue, en particulier par rapport asa fonction interpretative qui permet d'appJiquer des dispositions conventionnelles anciennes aux conflits inte r­ ethniques modernes. Cet aspect controverse du role du tribunal dans l'application du droit internatiOl1al humanitaire est analyse dans une autre contribution avec un regard plus detaille sur l'extension du regime d'infractions graves et de la doctrine de but commun. La question de la jurisprudence du tribunal est examinee dans un dernier article pour savoir si une definition unique de con flit arme devrait etre adoptee pour remplacer la dichotomie entre conflit arme international ou non-international. En plus des articles thematiques, une contribution plus specifique traite de la mise en CEuvre du droit international humanitaire dans la Federation russe. Dans une autre contribution, l'examen des armes en vertu de l'article 36 du protocole additionnell aux Conventions de Geneve est revisite d'un point de vue pratique. Enfin, la Revue publie quelques documents principaux du c/CR concernant la guerre recente en Irak, y compris Ie memorandum aux belligerants rappelant aux Etats leurs enga­ gements en vertu du droit international humanitaire pendant ces hostilites. La Revue Editorial International humanitarian law, like any body of law, is not static, and it must always be interpreted and applied in such a way as to uphold its basic objectives and relevance. Over the past two decades, particularly the latter half, international tribunals have increasingly had to decide on questions relating to humanitarian law. They have had to identify relevant rules and principles, customary laws and fundamental objectives, and rule on how these relate to general international law and other distinct bodies ofinternational law such as international criminal law, the law of State responsibility and human rights law. The result of this judicial deliberation in the area of international humanitarian law provides a wealth of persuasive and authoritative precedence in relation to the enforcement ofthe rules ofarmed conflict. This issue ofthe Review takes stock ofthe contribution ofthe international tribunals to international humanitarian law. The judgements and opinions of the International Court of Justice are the focus ofone article, which provides an overview ofhow the Court has helped to clarify the relationship between international humanitarian law and general international law and to identify the content of the fundamental principles of humanitarian law. The way the International Court ofjustice has dealt with the complexity ofthe links between humanitarian treaties, customary norms and jus cogens is also assessed. The jurisprudence of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia is analysed from several angles. From an overall perspective, its impact upon international humanitarian law is evaluated, particularly as regards its interpretative function and how this has allowed long-standing provisions ofhumanitarian treaties to be applied to modern inter­ ethnic conflicts. This controversial aspect ofthe Tribunal's role in the application ofinternational humanitarian law is analysed in a further contribution with deeper insight into the extension of the grave breaches regime and the common purpose doctrine. The jurisprudence of the tribunal is used in a final article to bolster the argument as to whether a single definition of armed conflict should be adopted to replace the problematic international/non-international armed conflict dichotomy. In addition to the thematic articles, one contribution deals with the specific subject of the implementation of international humanitarian law in the Russian Federation, whereas another looks at the review of weapons under Article 36 of the Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions, from a practical point ofview. Finally, this issue also contains some key ICRC documents relating to the recent war in Iraq, including a memorandum to the belligerents reminding them oftheir obligations under international humanitarian law during military hostilities. The Review RICR JUIN IRRC JUNE 2003 VOL. 85 N" 850 235 The contribution of the International Court of Justice to international humanitarian law VJNCENT CHETAIL* International humanitarian law is a major part of public interna­ tional law and constitutes one of the oldest bodies of international norms. As the principal judicial organ of public international law, the International Court ofJustice contributes to the understanding of the fun­ damental values of the international community expressed in international humanitarian law. 1 J udicial decisions as such are not a source of law, but the dicta by the International Court of Justice are unanimously considered as the best formulation of the content of internationallaw in force. 2 From a general internationallaw perspective, international case law is therefore of the utmost