1980 Vienna Diplomatic Conference
The 1980 Diplomatic Conference was convened in accordance with a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly and took place in Vienna (Austria) from 10 March until 11 April 1980. Upon invitation of the Austrian government, the conference was held at the Hofburg, the former imperial palace in Vienna's first district. 62 States sent delegations to the conference, and one State as well as 8 international organizations were represented as observers (see the official List of Participants).
In the aftermath of the 1980 Vienna Diplomatic Conference, the most important documents used during the conference and records of the delegates' deliberations in Vienna were published in a 522 pages-volume, commonly referred to as the Official Records.
Documents providing the basis of the delegates' work at the 1980 Diplomatic Conference
Commentary on the draft Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, prepared by the Secretariat, (A/CONF.97/5), Official Records, pp 14–66
Analysis of comments and proposals by Governments and international organizations on the draft Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, and on draft provisions concerning implementation, reservations and other final clauses, prepared by the Secretary-General, (A/CONF.97/9), Official Records, pp 71–82
Work in the Committees
During the five weeks of the Diplomatic Conference, the delegates did most of their work in Committees. Four Committees were established: The First Committee, the Second Committee, the Drafting Committee and the Credentials Committee.
Most of the substantive deliberations of the Convention's text took place in the First Committee. It was responsible for the draft provisions that became today's Arts. 1–88 and 96.
Report of the First Committee (A/CONF.97/11), Official Records, pp 82–141
The Second Committee was responsible for the draft provisions concerning implementation, declarations, reservations and other final clauses (today's Arts. 89–95 and 97–101), as well as for the draft Protocol to the Limitation Convention.
Report of the Second Committee (A/CONF.97/12), Official Records, pp 141–154
Final Act of the Conference and adopted text of the Convention
Final Act of the United Nations Conference on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (A/CONF.97/18), Official Records, pp 176–177 = UNCITRAL Yearbook XI (1980), pp 149–150
United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (A/CONF.97/18, annex I), Official Records, pp 178–190 = UNCITRAL Yearbook XI (1980), pp 151–162
