xsd:string Two (or more) people (the Parties, also encodable as Party_1 and Party_2) negotiate an agreement. Both sides are construed as making a commitment to assume an Obligation--the process is understood to be symmetrical or reciprocal. Instead of a specific mention of the Obligation, a Topic expression may be used to indicate the domain covered. So far , we have agreedto cede 100km of coastline to Kiribati . DNI At common law, the parties could make an oral agreement to submit a dispute to arbitration and such oral agreement would be valid.