unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (10/11/89)
for the recognition by all States of the binding jurisdiction of
the Court. The promotion of a respectful attitude towards
international law and law in general was absolutely necessary for
the future of mankind. An in-depth exchange of views on the
problem of enhancing the role of international law was
imperative and should be carried out during the current General
Assembly session. Its objective should be the elaboration of a
comprehensive international strategy for establishing the primacy
of law in relations between States.
The Soviet Union had submitted a memorandum containing specific
proposals on the subject covering crisis prevention, early
identification and notification of disputes to fact-finding and
judicial settlement. The inclusion of the International Court
of Justice into procedures for dispute settlement reaffirmed the
fundamental changes in the Soviet approach in favour of
arbitration.
Continuing, he said the Soviet Union was engaged in bringing its
domestic legislation and practice in line with international
norms, and to ensure that current changes in political,
economic, cultural and other spheres of Soviet life complied
with "progressive standards".
Referring to specific issues before the Committee, he said two
proposals on United Nations fact-finding merited attention, and
hoped they would be consolidated in strengthening the
Organization's peace-making potential. There was need for
fact-finding which could prevent a conflict or its escalation.
He said the Special Committee's mandate should be broadened to
include issues relating to United Nations's co-operation with
regional organizations to find political solutions to crisis
situations.
ALI A. TREIKI (Libya) said it was imperative to review the
Charter in order to achieve a peaceful and secure international
communnity based on peaceful coexistence. Most Members believed
the Charter, as originally drafted, could no longer cope with
the demands of this era for democracy and for giving an
equitable role to the third world.
Updating the Charter would require the United Nations to deal
with problems such as the new international economic order,
international justice and economic security, the exercise of
sovereignty, pollution, nuclear power, food and an end to hunger
and ignorance. Greater attention to such problems, and any
others that threatened international peace and security, should
be given, acting on a basis of justice and international law.
The Charter, he said, empowered the Security Council with
discretion in matters of peace-keeping and making it the body of
highest appeal in international relations. It could solve such
problems as that of international debt, at the heart of many
States' concerns; instead, coercive measures were imposed in the
economic sphere on small States.
Furthermore, he said, the arms trade was largely carried on by
permanent members of the Security Council; because some States
did not respect Security Council resolutions, illegal
occupations continued. The Security Council, in fact,
interpreted the Charter in such a way that some Members could
commit aggression against other States.
He blamed the veto, which he called an unjust power, and said it
paralysed the United Nations and led to continuing conflicts.
The International Court of Justice should assume the role of
settling disputes, but that organ also was paralysed by
"certain" Security Council members.
In order to place all Members on an equal footing, he said the
veto should be abolished. He hoped the Committee could find a
"real, positive" means of creating a Charter that would
strengthen the United Nations, and put all States on a balanced
footing without granting those special powers that "five States"
now have "without proper reason".
BOUM PASCALINE (Cameroon) said the 1989 session of the Special
Committee had been very productive. Cameroon had always striven
to strengthen the Organization's role and welcomed all steps
towards that goal.
His delegation supported the Committee's proposal that resort to
a commission for good offices, mediation or conciliation be
adopted at the present General Assembly session. Similarly,
Cameroon hoped the two working papers dealing with the use of
fact-finding missions resulted in a combined version.
On the rationalization of existing United Nations procedures, he
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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