Comment: State Responsibility and Peace

Abstract

It is not easy to say something after the excellent paper presented by Helmut Aust if you have only a time of ten minutes allotted to you. However, I shall try to pick up a few problems connected with our topic. I share the view of Helmut Aust that we should concentrate on problems of State responsibility in connection with the use of force, or in other words the threat to or breach of the peace. However, we should not forget that a developed system of state responsibility clearly contributes to the rule of law in the international legal order and can thereby already be seen as an important element of world order and world peace. This has been rightly underlined by Helmut Aust. I would have no hesitation to welcome peace entering through the back-door.

Let me concentrate on the following issues: State responsibility in connection with post-conflict peace building, State responsibility and selfdefense, State responsibility and International organisations and lastly responsibility and obligations erga omnes.