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) --- Patt Haring | United Nations | Did u read patth@sci.ccny.cuny.edu | Information | misc.headlines.unitex patth@ccnysci.BITNET | Transfer Exchange | today? -=- Every child smiles in the same language. -=-