New York (VNA) – Reinforcing international lawis an important foundation for the peaceful co-existence of countries,requiring all states to comply with their obligations under international lawand seriously implement the decisions and judgments of international judicialbodies, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), stated MinisterCounsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly’s plenary session todiscuss an annual report by the ICJ in New York on November 6, the representative affirmed that the diverse caseload undertaken by the ICJ showsthe universality and general jurisdiction of the court.

She emphasised that another majorfunction of the ICJ is to provide advisory opinions according to the provisionsof the UN Charter to clarify legal aspects related to major issues of theinternational community’s concerns, including climate change, adding Vietnam believesthat these processes will have a profound impact on the interpretation ofenvironmental obligations under international law.

Thoa underlined that the ICJ needs to clarify the principleof “common but distinct responsibilities” as well as the obligation tocooperate, including through the transfer of green technology, and liability incase of breach of those obligations. The diplomat emphasised that ICJ'sadvisory opinions will contribute to strengthening common efforts to respond toclimate change.

On March 29, the UN General Assembly unanimously passed aresolution requesting the ICJ to provide advisory opinions on states’responsibilities on climate change. The resolution was submitted at theinitiative of Vanuatu and the Core Group of 18 countries, including Vietnam.The group wants to take advantage of the ICJ's role to clarify the obligationsof countries in causing negative consequences due to climate change for manycountries, especially hardest hit ones.

At the session, ICJ President Joan Donoghue said that thisyear, the court has issued four judgments and 20 procedural orders, and considered tworequests for advisory opinions. The ICJ is handling nearly 20 cases related tomany areas of international law such as maritime delimitation, territorialborders, diplomatic relations, human rights, and environment. In addition, ithas also continued to review procedures and working methods, noting thepromulgation of a number of amendments that incorporate gender issues into thecourt's rules.

Representatives from nearly 100 participating countries hailed the court’scontributions to international peace and security as well as the settlement ofdisputes among countries, along with its advisory opinions on the legal aspectsof many issues of international concern, including those on the occupiedPalestinian territory and climate change./.