By its resolution 44/23 of 17 November 1989, the General Assembly declared the period 1990-1999 to be the United Nations Decade of International Law. The main purposes of the Decade were, inter alia: (a) To promote acceptance of and respect for the principles of international law; (b) To promote means and methods for the peaceful settlement of disputes between States, including resort to and full respect for the International Court of Justice; (c) To encourage the progressive development of international law and its codification; (d) To encourage the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law