Committee on Charter

and United Nations Role

256^th Meeting (AM)

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON UNITED NATIONS CHARTER CONCLUDES SESSION, SUBMITS

WIDE-RANGING RECOMMENDATIONS ON PEACE, SECURITY TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The Special Committee charged with evaluating proposals to enhance the United Nations Charter concluded its 2009 session today with the adoption of its report as orally amended.

The Committee, formally known as the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, was established in 1974 to examine proposals to strengthen the Organization’s role in maintaining peace and security, develop cooperation among nations and promote the rules of international law.  It began its current session on 17 February.  (For details of that meeting, see Press Release L/3136).

Its six-chapter report (documents A/AC.182/2009/CRP.1 to CRP.11) was introduced by Rapporteur Kautu Moeletsi ( Lesotho).  It contains summaries of the Special Committee’s discussions on various issues, including the question of peaceful settlement of disputes.  It also includes recommendations on the question of maintaining international peace and security, and on two flagship publications: Repertory Practice of United Nations Organs and Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council.

Chapter III of the report -- the lengthiest, on the maintenance of international peace and security -- contains six summaries, including on the Special Committee’s consideration of the revised working paper submitted by the Russian Federation on “Basic conditions and standard criteria for the introduction and implementation of sanctions imposed by the United Nations”.

Also included are summaries of the discussion on “Implementation of the Charter provisions related to assistance to third States affected by sanctions”; consideration of Libya’s revised working paper on strengthening principles concerning the impact and application of sanctions; and discussion of the revised working paper submitted by Cuba on “Strengthening the role of the Organization and enhancing its effectiveness”.

The Special Committee’s consideration of Libya’s revised proposal on strengthening the role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security was also included, as was its consideration of a revised working paper submitted by Belarus and the Russian Federation in 2005 suggesting an advisory opinion be requested from the International Court of Justice regarding States’ use of force without prior authorization by the Security Council.

With the adoption of its report, the Special Committee decided not to maintain on its agenda a proposal submitted by the Dominican Republic on behalf of the Rio Group entitled “Consideration of the legal aspects of the reform of the United Nations”, contained in chapter VI, which focuses on working methods and identification of new subjects.

Annexed to the report is the Russian Federation’s revised proposal on the “Introduction and implementation of sanctions imposed by the United Nations”, evolved from informal consultations during the present session.

In closing the meeting, Emmanuel Bichet ( Switzerland), Chairman of the Special Committee, said delegates had concluded negotiations on the text submitted by the Russian Federation.  He noted constructive discussions on Cuba’s revised proposal, and invited all delegations to continue their fruitful negotiations on it until the next session in 2010.

On the use of resources, he said the Special Committee had cancelled a few sessions this year and had not used all its allotted time.  He urged better use of the conference services in the future.  Thanking delegates for their “spirit of compromise”, he said he hoped it would again prevail in upcoming sessions.

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For information media • not an official record