Lithuania > Law on International Treaties of the Republic of Lithuania
{ Adopted on: 21 May 1991 }
{ ICL Document Status: 21 May 1991 }
[Preamble]
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania proceeding from the universally recognized principles and norms of international law regulating the conclusion and execution of international treaties, and which were consolidated in the 23 May 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of International Treaty, the 14 March 1975 Vienna Convention on the Representation of States in their Relations with International organizations, and in the 21 March 1986 Vienna Convention on the Law of Agreements between States and International organizations, or between International organizations, expressing its allegiance to the principle of scrupulous fulfillment of international obligations, adopts this law.
Article 1Under this law an international treaty of the Republic of Lithuania shall mean an agreement which the Republic of Lithuania concludes in writing with foreign states or international organizations, regardless of the title of said treaty.
Article 2This law shall establish procedure for the conclusion and execution of all international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania, regardless of which institution or official negotiated and signed, according to established procedure, any international treaty of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 3(1) Recommendations concerning conclusion of international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania shall be submitted to the Government of the Republic of Lithuania by the standing committees of the Supreme Council or by Ministries of the Republic of Lithuania upon coordination, or jointly, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs according to procedure established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
(2) If the proposed international treaties establish norms other than those established by valid laws of the Republic of Lithuania, recommendations concerning these treaties shall be coordinated with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Lithuania and shall be submitted together with expert assessment of the discrepancies.
Article 4Decisions concerning the preparation and negotiation of international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania shall be made by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or, on its behalf, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, except decisions concerning the international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania specified in Article
7 (2) of this law. Decisions concerning them shall be made by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 5(1) The President of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania shall have the right to negotiate the conclusion of international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania, to adopt their texts or signthem without special authorization, in accordance with the provisions set forth in Article
4.
(2) A head of a diplomatic mission of the Republic of Lithuania or a representative of the Republic of Lithuania to an international conference, international organization, or to one of its bodies shall have the right to negotiate the conclusion of an international treaty of the Republic of Lithuania and to adopt its text either with the state wherein the diplomatic mission is located, or at an international conference, international organization or at one of its bodies, respectively.
(3) Other persons may negotiate the conclusion of an international treaty of the Republic of Lithuania, to adopt its text or sign it only if he has been provided powers set forth in Article
6 of this law.
Article 6The powers to negotiate and sign international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania shall be conferred by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and signed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, except powers to negotiate and sign treaties on behalf of the Republic of Lithuania set forth in Article
7 (2) of this law. Powers to negotiate and sign the international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania specified in Article
7 (2) of this law shall be conferred by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania and signed by the President of the Supreme Council and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania. Such powers must define the object of negotiations and specify other actions which the negotiator is authorized to perform.
Article 7(1) International treaties of the Republic of Lithuania shall be ratified by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania.
(2) Subject to ratification shall be the following international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania:
1) on political cooperation with foreign states;
2) on mutual assistance;
3) peace treaties;
4) on the refusal to use or threaten to use force;
5) on the presence and status of Armed Forces of the Republic of Lithuania on the territory of foreign states;
6) on the presence and status of Armed Forces or foreign states on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania;
7) on the borders of the Republic of Lithuania;
8) on the participation of the Republic of Lithuania in both universal and regional international organizations;
9) multilateral and long-term economic agreements;
10) treaties establishing norms differing from those provided for by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania;
11) defence treaties.
(3) Also ratified must be those international treaties which include provision for ratification. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall submit by its own decision international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania to the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania for ratification.
Article 8(1) The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania, having considered an international treaty of the Republic of Lithuania submitted for ratification, shall adopt a relevant decree.
(2) Instruments of ratification shall be issued pursuant to Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania decrees.
Article 9At the behest of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania,the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, a diplomatic mission of the Republic of Lithuania in a corresponding foreign state, or a mission of the Republic of Lithuania to an international organization shall exchange instru-
ments of ratification, and deposit documents of accession to international treaties with the depositary.
Article 10International treaties of the Republic of Lithuania which are not subject to ratification but for which confirmation procedure is stipulated, shall be confirmed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or, at its behest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania according to procedure determined by the Government.
Article 11A decision to accede to an international treaty shall be made by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or, at its behest, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, except treaties specified in Article
7 (2) of this law, decisions concerning which shall be made by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 12International treaties of the Republic of Lithuania shall have the force of law on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 13The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall fulfil obligations assumed in international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 14Decisions to suspend or terminate international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania according to universally recognized norms of international law shall be made by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, except treaties specified in Article
7 (2) of this law, decisions concerning which shall be made by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 15All international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania shall be registered in the register of international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Article 16Ratified and confirmed international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania as well as treaties to which the Republic of Lithuania has acceded according to the procedure established by this law, upon recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shall be published in the Supreme Council and Government of the Republic of Lithuania News, and in the Lietuvos Aidas, Echo Litvy, and Kurier Wilenski newspapers.
Article 17The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania shall file the international treaties of the Republic of Lithuania which are in force with the Secretary General of the United Nations Organization for registration, deposition, and publication.
For methodology see:
Comparing Constitutions and International Constitutional Law.
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1994 - 27.6.2020
/ Translation provided by M. Scheinin.
For corrections please contact
A. Tschentscher.