^[p13] 1. It is not only an honour, but a pleasure for me to address you today. I wish to thank the President of the Curatorium, Professor Daudet, the Secretary-General, Professor Thouvenin, and the staff of the Secretariat, and the Members of the Curatorium for the opportunity to speak to you on a subject which has defined my professional life ever since I started practising as a junior associate in a New York law firm in 1979 : “The Practice of International Law”.

2. I stress the word “practice” because I stand before you not …