As the Sixth Committee (Legal) today concluded its debate on measures to counter international terrorism, Sudan’s representative called for the convening of a high-level conference and establishment of the Saudi Arabian proposed centre as strong measures to counter attacks against Islam.

The Sixth Committee (Legal) today continued its consideration of measures to eliminate international terrorism, with delegations focusing not just on the outstanding issues to the proposed comprehensive convention, but actions and initiatives taken to challenge the roots of terrorism.

As the Sixth Committee (Legal) this afternoon took up the question of measures to eliminate international terrorism, Mexico’s representative on behalf of the Rio Group of countries was one of many delegations calling for a finalization of the comprehensive convention on terrorism as a way to strengthen the effectiveness of existing mechanisms.

As the Sixth Committee (Legal) today addressed the organization of its work for 2009, and reviewed the new system of administering justice at the United Nations, which had been introduced earlier this year and was generally welcomed, concerns were expressed about certain structural details of the new system, which is now subject to formalization by the General Assembly.

Following is the text of a joint statement on the establishment of an Independent Counsellor at the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia:

“Negotiations are the art of the impossible; it is within our hands to make the possible impossible or the impossible possible,” the Coordinator tasked with ironing out a draft comprehensive counter-terrorism convention said today as the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 concluded its thirteenth session without final agreement on a text.

With the prevailing view that the scope and intensity of terrorist acts in ever new forms transcended the ability of unilateral actions to deter them, and the hope that a comprehensive global convention would fundamentally bolster the existing counter-terrorism regime, the Ad Hoc Committee established by General Assembly resolution 51/210 opened its thirteenth session today amid pledges by delegates to hammer out the differences dogging the treaty’s text.

On Monday, 22 June, the 15 judges who are to serve on the new United Nations Dispute Tribunal and Appeals Tribunal all participated in a swearing-in ceremony in the presence of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The tribunals are part of a comprehensive reform of the Organization’s internal justice system, dealing with work-related disputes and disciplinary matters, due to begin on 1 July 2009.

8 April 2009

Press ReleaseL/3141 UNITAR/711

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

SIXTEEN FELLOWSHIPS AWARDED FOR 2009 UNITED NATIONS

 

INTERNATIONAL LAW FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME

 

25 February 2009

General AssemblyL/3137

Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York

Committee on Charter

and United Nations Role

256^th Meeting (AM)