Delegates Underline Peaceful Dispute Settlement, Use of Sanctions, as Special Committee on Charter Continues Session

Speakers in the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization today emphasized the body’s role in interpreting legal provisions related to sanctions use, peaceful dispute settlement — and more broadly — cooperation with regional organizations in working to maintain peace and security.

Neeru Chadha, Consultant, Ministry of External Affairs for India, said the Special Committee was well placed to interpret the Charter’s provisions.  Sanctions should be used only as a measure of last resort.  Due to the shift from comprehensive and general sanctions to targeted measures, unintended harm to third States or their citizens had significantly reduced.  The lack of requests from States for United Nations assistance in that regard did not mean the topic should be deleted from the Committee’s agenda.

She expressed support for the joint Russian Federation-Belarus proposal for an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on the legal consequences of the use of force without Security Council authorization under Chapter VII, and looked forward to a revised concept paper by Ghana on the strengthening of cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations.

Igor Garlit Bailen (Philippines) expressed support for proposals by Cuba, Ghana and the Non-Aligned Movement.  Ghana’s proposal was in line with Article 33 of the Charter and the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, the first instrument created by the Committee and the first legal framework for pacific dispute settlement.

Indeed, he said, the Charter underscored the central role of regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security, the essence of Ghana’s proposal.  Similarly, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also emphasized centrality, upheld international law and promoted peaceful dispute settlement.  As ASEAN Chair, the Philippines had made peaceful coexistence and partnership thematic priorities for 2017.