E.W. Vierdag – författare

Following profound modifications of Soviet ideology after the coming to power of Gorbachev, Europe experienced an unprecedented time of change which resulted, inter alia, in the unification of the two German States, the abolition of socialist international organizations, the obsolescence of neutrality policies in the New Europe and the pull on the European Communities to admit new members. These revolutionary events give rise to interesting legal questions. Since international relations are changing, the legal framework in which these relations are set has to change, too. In December 1990, international legal aspects of the changes in the political structure of Europe were discussed at a conference held in Amsterdam. In this book, which takes account of the outcomes of the discussions, the international legal framework in which these changes take place and their consequences are described and analyzed by eminent scholars from East and West.

This book was written as a dissertation for the Doctorate of Laws, University of Amsterdam. I am most grateful, first of all, to Professor A. J. P. Tammes, who acted as Promotor. Throughout my working at this study he managed to afford at the same time guidance, inspiration, and complete freedom. I have also benefited much from the suggestions and advice of Dr. Th. e. van Boven of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, who was a very helpful Co­ referent. In earlier stages of the work, the critical remarks by Mr. S. A. Kuipers, Dr. H. Meijers and Miss J. M. van Wouw were of great im­ portance to me. So was the experience of participating in the program of graduate studies of the Columbia University School of Law, in I968- I969. lowe gratitude to the Amsterdam Law Faculty for having offered this opportunity to me. I am indebted to Miss Sinja Alma for her transforming a chaotic manuscript into a neat typescript in a most capable and patient manner; to Miss E. D. ]. ]ongens for her assistance in sorting out the United Nations documentation; and to Howard S. Gold (Gersono­ vitch), who was so kind as to correct the faults in my English. Since I went on tinkering with the text I am to blame for all linguistic errors in it. The research for this study was concluded in October, I972.