Article 9: Adoption Of The Text
In: Commentary on the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of TreatiesSearch for other papers by M.E. Villiger in
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Abstract
The adoption of the text of a treaty takes place by the unanimous consent of the states. The adoption of the text of a treaty at an international conference takes place by the vote of two-thirds of the states participating in the conference, unless by the same majority they shall decide to apply a different rule. The provision speaks of the adoption of the text of a treaty, which includes voting on the individual provisions during the conference and on the entire text at the end of the conference. If adoption is brought about through initialling of the text, this may also imply authentication of the treaty text. Article 9 constitutes one of a number of "vestibules" leading into the main chambers of the convention. Apart from restating a basic rule of international law offers to conference participants a useful voting tool, thus sparing the conference lengthy preliminary procedural debates.