论条约解释的时间要素

Time Factor of Treaty Interpretation

基于语言自身的缺点,而法律规范又不得不借助于语言来表达,因此,条约解释对国际法的实施至为关键。“条约解释的时间要素”涉及的问题复杂,分歧较多,在1969年通过的《维也纳条约法公约》中并没有相关明文规定,时间要素问题被认为是隐含在该公约第31条第3款(c)项的“可适用于当事国间关系之任何有关国际法规则”之中。实际上,“时间要素”自近现代国际法诞生起就受到重视,在国际法实施或诸多国际法争端案件解决中时常使用,故对条约解释具有十分重要的意义。明确其在解释中的作用可以延长国际条约的生命力,使条约得到有效的实施、案件得到较为公正的裁决;但是如果听任解释者对其自由裁量,则可能会导致条约难以有效实施或案件裁决不公。为此,需明确条约解释时间要素的客观性,强调特定术语含义的客观变化是缘于时间的推移,同时这种术语含义的变化并不能任由解释者主观自由裁量,才能为条约的有效实施或案件的公正裁决创造有利条件。

Owing to the defects of language and the phenomenon that legal norms are expressed in languages,treaty interpretation is key to the implementation of international law.The“time factor of treaty interpretation”is not expressly provided in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties adopted in 1969 because of its complexity and divergence of views on it by the members of International Law Commissions of the United Nations.It is considered to be implicit in“any relevant rules of international law applicable to the relations between the parties”in Article 31,paragraph 3(c),of the Convention,which has been unduly ignored.Since the birth of modern international law,“time factor”has actually been valued and often used in the implementation of international law and in the settlement of international disputes,so it is very important for treaty interpretation.Clarifying its role in interpretation can prolong the vitality of international treaties,enable treaties to be effectively implemented and cases to be justly adjudicated.However,if the interpreters abuse their discretions in the aspect of time factor in treaty interpretation,it may make it difficult to effectively implement the treaty or lead to the consequences of unfair adjudication of the case.Therefore,it is necessary to clarify the objectivity of time factor in treaty interpretation,and emphasize the objective change of the meaning of specific terms caused by the passage of time rather than the subjective discretion of the interpreters,so as to create favorable conditions for the effective implementation of the treaty or the fair adjudication of cases.