[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 28, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7571-7572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4470]



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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 2347]


Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Private International 
Law; General Meeting on Developments in Private International Law

    There will be a general meeting of the Secretary of State's 
Advisory Committee on Private International Law (ACPIL) on Friday, 
March 15, 1996 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Department of State 
in Washington, D.C.
    The meeting agenda will include a review of developments in 
international organizations specializing in this field of work, 
including the International Institute for Unification of Private Law 
(UNIDROIT), the Hague Conference on Private International Law, the 
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), Inter-
American Specialized Conferences on Private International Law (CIDIP) 
sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS), and other 
international organizations, as appropriate.
    The principal topics for discussion will include a review of two 
multilateral treaties (conventions) adopted in 1995--the UNIDROIT 
convention on return of stolen and illegally exported cultural 
property, completed at Rome in June, 1995, and the United Nations 
convention on independent financial guarantees (including European law-
based direct bank guarantees and American law-based standby letters of 
credit, as well as commercial letters of credit), approved by the UN 
General Assembly on December 11, 1995. Both Conventions have been 
opened for signature and ratification.
    Other topics will cover developments in international family law, 
focussing on recent efforts to provide for more effective international 
enforcement of 

[[Page 7572]]
support obligations, as well as issues expected to arise in connection 
with the final Hague Conference negotiations on a convention on 
protection of children (jurisdiction and recognition of custody 
decrees) and other matters concerning children. Finally, with a view to 
enhancing private law unification in the Americas, the process and 
resources committed by the OAS to the OAS-sponsored Specialized 
Conferences on Private International Law will be discussed, and 
recommendations sought for practical ways in which that process can be 
improved. Alternatives to the OAS process may also be considered.
    Persons interested but unable to attend the meeting are welcome in 
writing to request documents and to submit comments or proposals to the 
office indicated below. Additional topics may be considered depending 
on time available. In order to facilitate planning for the meeting, 
members of the public are requested to propose in writing to the office 
below any topics on which they may wish to comment.
    Members of the general public may attend up to the capacity of the 
meeting room and participate subject to the direction of the Chair. The 
meeting will be held in Conference Room 1107 at the Department of 
State; entry should be only via the Diplomatic entrance at 22d and 
``C'' Streets, N.W. As access to the building is controlled, in order 
to expedite entry, the office indicated below should be notified by 
mail or fax not later than Monday, March 11 of the name, address, firm 
or affiliation if any, social security number and date of birth of 
persons wishing to attend.
    Additional meeting--following the general Advisory Committee 
meeting, a meeting of the Committee's study Group on cross-border 
insolvency will meet on Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. That 
meeting will take place at the International Law Institute, 1615 New 
Hampshire Avenue, N.W. Persons wishing to attend should notify the 
office below in advance.
    For information on the Department's program in this field or for 
copies of documents on particular topics, please contact by mail the 
Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser for Private International Law (L/
PIL), attention Harold S. Burman, at 2430 ``E'' Street, N.W., Suite 355 
South Building, Washington, D.C. 20037-2800, or notify Ms. Gonzales by 
fax at (202) 776-8482.

    Dated: February 21, 1996.
Peter H. Pfund,
Assistant Legal Adviser for Private International Law, U.S. Department 
of State.
[FR Doc. 96-4470 Filed 2-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-08-M