Committee on Charter

and United Nations Role

259^th Meeting* (AM)

Special Committee on United Nations Charter, Concluding Session, Adopts

2010 Report Containing Recommendations for General Assembly

Concluding its seven-day session, the Special Committee charged with weighing proposals to enhance the United Nations Charter today adopted its 2010 report, containing recommendations directed at the General Assembly.

According to the report, the Special Committee recommended that the General Assembly reiterate the Secretary-General’s responsibility for the quality of the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs and the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council.  With regard to the Repertoire, the Assembly would call on the Secretary-General to continue to follow the modalities first outlined in 1952.

By another recommendation, the Assembly would call on the Secretary-General to continue efforts to update the two publications and make them available electronically in all language versions.  The Special Committee further suggested that the Assembly reiterate calls for voluntary contributions to the trust fund for updating the Repertoire, with the assistance of volunteer experts working at no cost to the United Nations.  The funds would also go towards eliminating the backlog in the Repertory of Practice of United Nations Organs.

Carlos D. Sorreta (Philippines), Chair of the Special Committee, said another recommendation was to retain a proposal in last year’s report on strengthening of the role of the Organization and enhancing its effectiveness.  A summary of the Special Committee’s discussion on that topic, based on a working paper submitted by Cuba, as revised, was reflected in the report, he added.

Presenting the 2010 report, Oleksiy Shapoval ( Ukraine), Rapporteur of the Special Committee, said it contained summaries of discussions on a draft recommendation proposed by Belarus and the Russian Federation, but which was not included in the report.  The proposed recommendation would have had the Assembly request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the use of force by States without prior Security Council authorization, except in the exercise of the right to self-defence.  [At its final meeting, the Working Group of the Whole agreed that, while the recommendation would not be included in the report, the topic would remain on the agenda.]

Another discussion summarized in the report centred on implementation of Charter provisions relating to assistance to third States affected by the application of sanctions, including the Special Committee’s consideration of a working paper submitted by Libya on strengthening certain principles concerning the impact and application of sanctions.  Also summarized were discussions on a revised proposal by Libya, aimed at strengthening the Organization’s role and enhancing its effectiveness.

Before adopting the report, the Special Committee heard a lengthy exchange on the exact wording of a paragraph that would identify new subjects for discussion next year, as proposed by Ghana and Venezuela.  The representative of Venezuela suggested that the paragraph reiterate the full titles of the proposals, and the names of sponsoring countries.  She also suggested including the proposal in an annex to the report.

The Special Committee accepted the inclusion of those suggestions in the final report, following comments by the representatives of the United Kingdom, Cuba, United States, Nicaragua, Egypt, Mexico, Libya, Trinidad and Tobago, Iran, Russian Federation and Spain.  In addition, it amended the paragraph’s original wording, which would have had the Special Committee “further elaborate and consider” those proposals, to read “further discuss and consider” while “taking into account views already expressed”.

Cuba’s representative also proposed additional wording on the identification of new subjects to reflect the views of some delegations that consensus should not be necessary for including items on the agenda.

The Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization was established in 1975 to examine proposals to bolster the world body’s role in maintaining peace and security, to advance cooperation among nations and to promote international law.

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*     The 258^th Meeting was not covered.

For information media • not an official record