<P> With reference to international agreements, "every treaty in force is binding upon the parties to it and must be performed by them in good faith ." Pacta sunt servanda is related to good faith, while pacta sunt servanda does not equate with good faith . This entitles states to require that obligations be respected and to rely upon the obligations being respected . This good faith basis of treaties implies that a party to the treaty cannot invoke provisions of its municipal (domestic) law as justification for a failure to perform . However, with regards to the Vienna Convention and the UNIDROIT Principles it should be kept in mind that these are heavily influenced by civil law jurisdictions . To derive from these sources that pacta sunt servanda includes the principle of good faith is therefore incorrect . </P> <P> The only limit to pacta sunt servanda are the peremptory norms of general international law, called jus cogens (compelling law). The legal principle clausula rebus sic stantibus, part of customary international law, also allows for treaty obligations to be unfulfilled due to a compelling change in circumstances . </P>

What is pacta sunt servanda in international law