ABSTRACT
Article 63 addresses a situation in which a state is concerned with the interpretation by the Court of a convention to which it is a party. This is a significant procedural right for third states in international law because states party to a convention have a legitimate interest in its interpretation since an interpretation rendered by the Court, which may constitute an authoritative precedent, may affect the ambit of their obligations under the convention.3
This is so because an interpretation by the Court may impact on the manner in which the third state is implementing its rights or obligations under the treaty and potentially be affected in the future by a claim against it. Article 63 of the Statute reads as follows:
