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003362 DRAFT-Not for distribution Unless a particular treaty provides otherwise, if a party to a treaty notifies the other parties, with at least three months' notice, of its intention to impeach the validity ofthe treaty, seek its termination, withdraw from the treaty or suspend its operation, and no objection is made by the other parties, then invalidity or right to terminate, withdraw or suspend is established. If another party to the treaty raises an objection, the parties are required to seek a solution through means indicated in Article 33 ofthe Charter ofthe United Nations?25 These include "negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of [the parties'] own choice." 226 If the means of solving of disputes listed in Article 33 of the Charter do not produce a solution in 12 months after the objection was raised and the dispute concerns the affect of peremptory norms of general international law, then the dispute may be submitted to the International Court of Justice.227 If the dispute is not solved in 12 months after the objection was raised and the dispute concerns any other issue, then the dispute may be submitted to a "conciliation commission" established pursuant to the Annex of the Vienna Convention.228 The decisions of a conciliation commission are not binding on the parties.229 The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.23o The Court is open only to nations that are parties to the Statute of the COurt.231 Only nations may be parties in cases before the Court.232 The jurisdiction of the Court comprises all cases which the parties refer to it and all matters s~ecially provided for in the Charter of the United Nations or in treaties and conventions in force.23 The jurisdiction of the Court in contentious proceedings is based on the consent of the nations to which it is open.234 Two nations may otherwise create jurisdiction by declaring that they recognize the jurisdiction of the Court as compulsory upon themselves ipso facto (presumed and unquestioned out of the fact itself), with regard to disputes concerning a) interpretation ofa treaty; b) any question of international law; c) the existence of any fact which, if established, would constitute a breach of an international obligation; or d) the nature or extent of the reparation to be made for the breach of an international obligation. Declarations may be made unconditionally or upon condition of reciprocity of another state.235 Hearings of the Court are public, unless the parties demand otherwise.236 Its deliberations take place in private and remain secret?37 The Court generally applies a) international conventions establishing rules expressly recognized by contesting states; b) international custom, as evidence of a general practice accepted as law; c) general principles of law recognized by civilized nations; and d) judicial decisions and secondary "publicist" views?38 The ICJ may give an advisory opinion on any legal question at the request of whatever body may be authorized by or in accordance with the Charter of the U.N. to make such a 239request.240 Parties authorized to make such requests include the U.N. General Assembly, U.N. Security Council, and other organs and specialized agencies ofthe U.N.241 The decisions of the Court, notwithstanding the means by which jurisdiction has been . established, have no binding force except between the parties and in respect of that particular case.242 The Security Council ofthe U.N. may, however, at any stage ofa dispute likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment. In making recommendations, the Security Council should 21