UN Commission on International Trade Law(UNCITRAL)

News:Recently,the Government of India has announced that the International Arbitration Tribunal has dismissed all claims against India in entirety in relation to cancellation of Letters of Intent for providing 2G services.

Facts:

About the issue:

• The arbitration arose against India due to cancellation of issuance of telecom licences to provide 2G services in five telecommunications circles by Russian and Cyprus companies due to India’s essential security interests.
• The verdict was pronounced by the International Arbitration Tribunal constituted in accordance with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law(UNCITRAL) Arbitration Rules, 1976.
• The proceedings were administered by the Permanent Court of Arbitration(PCA).

About UNCITRAL:

• The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law(UNCITRAL) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966.
• It is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law.
• It is responsible for helping to facilitate international trade and investment.
• The Commission carries out its work at annual sessions which are held in alternate years at United Nations Headquarters in New York and at the Vienna International Centre at Vienna.
• UNCITRAL’s original membership comprised 29 states and was expanded to 60 in 2004.The membership is representative of the various geographic regions and the principal economic and legal systems of the world.

About Permanent Court of Arbitration(PCA):

• PCA is a permanent intergovernmental organization established by treaty at the First Hague Peace Conference, Netherland in 1899.
• It is dedicated to serve the international community in the field of dispute resolution and to facilitate arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution between States.
• The PCA has a Financial Assistance Fund which aims at helping developing countries meet part of the costs involved in international arbitration or other means of dispute settlement.
• It has a three-part organizational structure consisting of (a)Administrative Council that oversees its policies and budgets (b)panel of independent potential arbitrators known as the Members of the Court and its (c)Secretariat known as the International Bureau headed by the Secretary-General.