Global Policy Forum

The Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization approved the first part of its report to the General Assembly this afternoon, as orally amended.

Regarding the implementation of Charter provisions related to assistance to third States affected by sanctions, that report (document A/AC.182/2001/CRP.1-3) states that some delegations noted that little headway had been achieved on the topic during the several years it had been on the agenda.

However, in the Committee's working group, satisfaction was expressed over the continued consideration of the topic on a priority basis by the Special Committee, as well as over the increased number of United Nations organs engaged with the issue.

Delegations also stressed in the report that every effort should be made to minimize any negative impact on third States from the application of sanctions, as some had endured severe hardships. Some delegations expressed support for the establishment of a mechanism to address economic hardships of such States, such as a trust fund for their assistance.

The remaining chapters, including the Special Committee's recommendations on all topics, will be taken up tomorrow.

The applicability of the recommendations of the ad hoc expert group, summarized in the report of the Secretary-General (document A/53/312) was a subject of much debate, according to the report. On the other hand, many of the delegations commended the Security Council on its work on the issue of third States. They expressed the hope that the Council would continue these efforts, especially those concerning the enhancement of the effectiveness and transparency of the sanctions committees. However, the point was also made that nothing prevented the General Assembly and its subsidiary bodies, such as the Special Committee, from studying and making recommendations on the issue. Some delegations supported the establishment of a working group within the Sixth Committee that would focus on assistance to third States.

The report also summarizes the views of the working group on the revised working paper submitted by the Russian Federation, "Basic conditions and standard criteria for the introduction of sanctions and other coercive measures and their implementation" (document A/AC.182/2000). Several delegations reiterated their support for that paper's views.

As the Committee adopted the sequential paragraphs of its report, various representatives suggested additions or changes to ensure that their views were adequately reflected. Those changes would be submitted in writing to the Secretariat, according to the procedures of the Committee.

In those discussions, the representatives of Iraq, Nigeria, Benin, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Germany, Sweden, India, Algeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Guatemala, Russian Federation, Mexico, United Republic of Tanzania and France spoke. The report was introduced by the Rapporteur, Teoman Mustafa Uykur (Turkey). The Committee will meet again tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. to continue action on its draft report.

Background

The Charter Committee was established in 1974 to examine proposals regarding the Charter, the strengthening of the role of the United Nations in maintaining peace and security, cooperation among nations and promotion of the rule of international law in relations between States. It was asked by the Assembly, in its fifty-fifth session, to continue to give priority to examining the question of assistance to third States affected by Security Council sanctions, as well as to a review of its own working methods. The Committee's current session runs from 2 to 12 April.