A/41/PV.41 General Assembly

I call upon the representative of Oman, who will introduce draft resolution A/4l/L.5. ~r. AL-ANSI (Oman) (interpretation from Arabic): As my country assumes the chairmanship of the Group of Arab States for this month, it gives me great pleasure, on behalf of the Arab delegations to the United Nations, to express our sincere gratitude to the Secretary-General for the important and comprehensive report (A/4l/48l) which he has submitted to this session concerning agenda item 23, on co-operation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States. The report, which is dated 7 August 1986, is indeed a very comprehensive document. I have pleasure now in introducing to the General Assembly draft resolution A/4l/L.5, submitted by the Arab States Members of the United Nations in connecti.on with this item. The draft resolution is sponsored hy: Algeria, Bahrain, Democratic Yemen, Djibouti, Iraa, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirat~5 and Yemen. The draft resolution refers, in its preamble, to previous resolutions on the promotion of co-operation between the League of Arab States and the United Nations, in particular to resolution 40/5, of 25 October 1985, the report of the Secretary-General and the relevant articles of the Charter which encourage activities throuqh regional arrangements for the promotion of the purposes and the principles of the Uniten Nations. In the third preambu1ar paraqraph, the Assembly would note with appreciation the Je~ire of the League of Arab States to consolidate and develop co-operation with the United Nations in all areas relating to the maintenance of international peace and security, and to co-operate in every possihle way with the United Nations in the implementation of united Nations resolutions relating to the queation of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East. The preamble goes on to refer to the vital impcrtance for countries members of the League of Arab States, of achieving a just, comprehensive and durable solution to the Middle East conflict and the auestion of Palestine, the core of the conflict, and to the fact that the strengthening of international peace and security is directly related to disarmament, decolonization, self-determination and the eradication of all forms of racism and racial discrimination. It refers to the conviction that co-operation between the League and the United Nations will contribute to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the Charter, and to recognition of tl.e need for closer co-operation with the competent agencies in furthering the various objectives approved by ~he Arab Summit Conference held in Amman in 1980. The last preambular paragraph reads as follows: (Mr. AI-Ansi, oman) "Having heard the statement of the Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States on oo~peration between the United Nations and the league of Arab States and having noted the emphasis placed therein a'\ follow-up actions and proceCilres on the reoonmendations in the p:>litical, economic, social and cultural fields adopted at the meeting between representatives of the General Secretariat of the league of Aeab States and its specialized organizatiQ'ls and the secretariats of the tllited Nations and other organizations of the tllited Na tions system, held at 'nlnis from 28 June to 1 July 1983, as well as on the recommendations relating to political IIBtters cootained in the relevant resolutions of the General Assembly". In the operative part the draft resolution reads as follows: "l. Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General~ "2. Elc:presses its appreciaticn to the Secretary-General for the follow-up action taken by him on the proposals adopted at the meeting between representatives of the General secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations and the secretariats of the United Nations system, held at Ttmis, and the meeting on social development in the Arab region, held at Amman from 19 to 21 August 1985, as well as to the specialized agencies and other organizations of the tllited Nations system for their efforts to facilitate the implementation of the '1\.1Ois and Amman proposals~ 11 3. Requests the Secretary-General to CQ'ltinue to strengthen co-operation with the General secretariat of the league of Arab States for the purpose of implementing Ulited Nations resolutions relating to the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East in order to ach ieve a just, canprehensive and durable solution to the Middle East conflict and the question of Palestine, the core of the conflict~ (Mr. AI-Ans!, Qnan) 1J4. Requests the secretariat of the lhited Nations and the General Secretariat of the league of Arab States, within their respective fields of canpetence, further to intensify their co~peration towards the realization of the purposes and pr inciples of the Charter of the United Naticms, the strengthen ing of in terna tional peace and securi ty, disarmament, decolcmization, self-determination and the eradication of all forms of racism and racial discrimination; Its. Requests the 5ecretary-General to continue his efforts to strengthen co~peration and co-ordination between the Olited Nations and the organizations of the United Nations system and the league of Arab States and its specialized organizations in order to enhance their capacity to serve the mutual interests of the two organizations in the political, economic, social and cultural fields~ "6. Requests the secretary-General to continue to co~rdinate the follow-up action .to facUi ta te the implementation of the pcoposals of a multilateral nature adopted at the Tunis meeting in 1983, and take appropriate action regarding the mul tila teral proposals rela ting to social development adopted at the lrnman meeting in 1985, including the following measures~ "(!.l ProllOtion of ccntacts and consultations between the counterpart programmes, organizations and agencies concerned~ "(~) setting up of joint sectocal inter-agency wocking groups; "(£) Ccmsultation with the 5ecretary-Genera1 of the League of Arab States regarding the convening in 1987 of the joint sectocal meeting on development of human resources in the Arab region~ "l!!) Provision of necessary assistance from within the existing resources for the proposed meeting on the development of human resources in the Arab region~ (Mr. M-Ansi, OIlan) ·7. Calls upon the specialized agencies, and other organizations and programnes of the united Nations system~ -(~ To cootinue to co-operate with the secretary-General and the programnes, organiZations and agencies concerned within the united Nations system and the League of Arab states and its specialized organizations in the follcw-up of multilateral pcoposals aimed at strengthening and expanding co-operation in all fields between the U1ited Nations system and the League of Arab States and its specialized organizations; -(~ To maintain and increase cootacts and consultations with the counterpart programnes, organizations and agencies concerned regarding projects of a bilateral nature in order to facilitate their implementation; • (£.) To inform the secretary-General, not later than 15 May 1987, of the progress of their co-operation wi th the League of Arab Sta tes and its specialiZed organizations and, in particular, the follow-up action taken on the multilateral and bilateral proposals aCbpted at the Toois and Amman meetings; - 8. Requests the secretary-General, in close co-operation with the secretary-General of the League of Arab States, to hold periodic consultations as and when appropriate between representatives of the secretariat of the Ulited Nations and of the General secretariat of the League of Arab States on follow-up policies, projects, actions and procedures; -9. Further requests the secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-secxmd session a progress report on the implementation of the present resolutiOlH -10. Decides to include in the prOVisional agenda of its forty-second session the item entitled 'Co-<lperation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States ' •• (Mr. AI-Anai, Qnan) Having presented this draft resolution; we are fully confident that, as in the case of similar draft resolutions in the past, it will receive the overwhelming support of the Assembly.

I first call on the representative of the League of Arab States, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 477 CV), of 1 November 1950. Mr. MANSOURI (League of Arab States) (interpretation from Arabic): I have pleasure in extending to you, Sir, on behalf of the League of Arab States, our warmest congratulations on your election to the presidency of the forty-first session of the General Assembly. This is recognition by the international community of your diplomatic skill and experience, which will help Members to deal with the problems of the organization, particularly those relating to the need for trust and co-operation in international relations and to the future of those relations. The League of Arab States is fully aware of this need and the need to support and co-operate with you in your efforts to ensure the achievement of the noble aims and otjectives of the Charter and the implementation of the Organization's resolutions. I cannot fail to express our appreciation and thanks to your predecessor, Ambassador Jaime de Pinies, who presided over the work of the fortieth session of the Assembly with great skill. I wish to pay a tribute also to the Secretary-General, Mr. Perez de Cuellar, and to express the League of Arab States' appreciation of his efforts to fulfil the mandate entrusted to him. We particularly appreciate his efforts in the area of co-operation between the world Organization and the League of Arab States. We congratulate the Secretary-General warmly on his election to a second five-year term. His re-election is recognition of his spirit of compromise, administrative skill, deep belief in the noble purposes and principles of the Charter and continuing efforts to contribute to the attainment of those aims and objectives (M!. AI-Ansi, Oman) during the past five years. The Arab States look f«ward to further positive co-operation with the 5ecretary-General in efforts to achieve a just and canprehensive peace in the Middle East, put an end to arbitrary Israeli practices in Palestinian and other occupied Arab territor ies, eliminate racial discr imination and apartheid in South Africa and settle other inte.:national issues and problems. We in the Arab nation and the league of Arab States look forward to the fulfilment of the purposes and principles of the Charter. This is because of our profound belief in the pr inciples on which th is Organization is based and the need to respect them, to implement the resolutions of the organization, face up to the problems of the Organization, to seek ways and means to recover the foundation on which this Organization was built - the collective security that we all desire. {Mr. Mansouri, League of Arab States} The League of Arab States fully appreciates the efforts and concerns formulated in the report of the Secretary-General on this item (A/4l/48I) and in his comments on the report of the Joint Inspection Unit (A/41/6lS/Add.l). In this context the League of Arab States wishes to express its conviction that co-operation between our two organizations must continue and that its scope must be enlarged to encompass all fields, particularly the economic, social, humanitarian, cultural and technical fields, in all their aspects. The League is very desirous of developing, promoting and maintaining links in all areas of endeavour with regard to international peace and security. It wishes also to develop and promote active co-operation, consultation and deliberations with a view to finding ways and mean~ of implementing the resolutions of this organization, not only on full-scale disarmament and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, but also on the auestion of Palestine, the situation in the Middle East, the eradication of apartheid and all forms of discrimination, decolonization, the promotion of the right to self-determination, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all peoples of the world. We wish to express our appreciation of the efforts made by the Joint Inspection Unit in the preparation of its report on co-operation between the united Nations and the League of Arab States. These observations and comments on it were concentrated more particularly on the various fields of technical co-operation, and on mechanisms for such co-operation. The report is a good basis for the continuation of technical co-operation between the specialized organs in the future. However, we believe that the fact that the Joint Inspection Unit enlarged its study of the technical aspects has made it disregard the other aspects of co-operation between the League of Arab States and (Mr. Mansouri, League of Arab states) the united Nations, which go back to 1950, at which time there was no technical co-operation between the two organizations, as there is today. The League of Arab States has always informed the Secretariat of the united Nations and its officials of its concerns and its priorities in the economic, social and political fields, and we have always found a very positive response in the understanding of these issues, particularly in the fields of co-operation and communication between the two organizations. It is our wish that this co-operation should continue and broaden. We in the League of Arab States have always worked and shall continue to work for peace in the Middle East region, through our call and support for the holding of an international peace conference under the aegis of the United Nations, in pursuance of the resolutions adopted at the Arab summit conference held at Fez in 1982. The Arab States have expressed their commitment to peace initiatives and their conviction that the United Nations, which expresses the international consensus, is the framework and the Organization through which initiatives ca.n be taken that would help to promote peace, not only in the Middle East but in the world as a whole. The fact that we work through the United Nations in order to achieve the success of the peace initiatives is shown very clearly in the resolutions of the Fez summit, based on international legitimacy. We b21ieve that the so-called obstacles in the way of holding the conference must be eliminated. In this regard, we wish to stress the importance of the informational and political role undertaken by the United Nation with a view to convening that conference. At several of its sessions, the Gener~l Assembly of the United Nations has proclaimed the need to hold such an international forum in order to arrive at a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict and in orde~ (Mr. Mansouri, League of Arab States) order to secure the ri9ht of the hulestinian people to self-determination and existence as an independent State. The role of the United Nations is very important in influencing international pUblic opinion, particularly American public opinion, regarding various aspects of this international initiative and regarding the urgency of holding an international conference. Any delay in holding this conference would have very negative repercussions on international pUblic opinion with regard to the United Nations, its role in international disputes and, indeed, its credibility. Accordingly, we believe it is time to move forward and to reactivate the role of the United Nations and reaffirm its effectiveness by holding an international peace conference. In view of the crises in the Middle East at the present time, it is imperative for the united Nations to intensify its efforts so that its resolutions may regain their effectiveness and credibility and so that the Organization may thereby maintain its prestige on the international scene as a body to which peoples and organizations may have recourse in times of crisis. For this, of course, it will be necessary to work out the means of implementing these resolutions so as to enable the international community to achieve what is needed: peace, security and the right of peoples to self-determination. In the economic field we believe that the programmes for development, progress and stability, as part of the long-term development plan of the Arab people, are always open to fragmentation and obstacles. If these programmes and this plan do not have the necessary basis of political and security stability, we believe that these conditions must be satisfied through efforts to bring about the needed changes, so that Arab societies may be able to live in security and in dignity based on freedom and equality. (Mr. Mansouri, League of Arab states) Therefore, we ean say that there is a need to plan, on the pan-Arab level, for the Arab economic future. This reauires joint Arab programmes that would promote the aims of security and dev~lopment and would close the development gap between the different countries and the Arab nation. The League of Arab States looks forward to strong and fruitful co-operation with the organs of the United Nations in choosing those complementary projects that would link the Arab economies. The League of Arab States also looks forward to further co-operation between Arab experts and the experts of the united Nations in order to achieve many of the objectives of building infrastructure for the different organs and age~cies of the League of Arab States, such as the convention drafted a fev days ago, on 12 october 1986, between the Arab Labour Organization and the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, on co-operation and co-ordination between those two organizations in respect of internal migration, planning for the Arab labour force, the exchange of information on statistics for professional training, and the rationalization of the policies regarding the movements of Arab labour forces. The secretariat of the League of Arab States looks forward in the near future to co~leting the measures and the initiatives on the drafting of a convention with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) concerning the comprehensive, administrative development plan of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and its specialized bodies. We attach great importance to this plan because we would like to have the best possible organization in the administrative field and we would like to profit from the experience of UNDP in this field. ·The League of A~ab States is very desirous of extending the scope of the current conventions between the general secretariats of the League and the United Nations Fund for Population Activities. These programmes are of great benefit to (Mr. Mansouri, League of Arab States) the peoples of the region and play an important role in supporting development activities in the region. The League of Arab States fully appreciates the co-<>peration bet"",een itself and the thited Nations ChUdrenis Fund (UNICEF), a very serious relationship, laid down through the implementation of many joint progranmes and projects. The Arab Comcil of Ministers fer Social Affa irs has underlined the imp)rtance of this co-<>peration. The Council has called for further programnes in the Arab region, including joint programmes foe rr.others and chUdren, as well as the implementation of the recounendations contained in -the Charter of the Arab Child. The Council's concerns have mderlined the importance of the UNICEF str ategy for lQler ing ch ild morta lity in the wor Id. (Mr. Mansouri, League of Arab States) The Arab cooference on social welfare policies was held under the aegis of the League of Arab States. That conference is part of the preparatory wor k for regiooal consultations 00 policies and programmes for social welfare which will be held in the autumn of 1987, in accordance with relevant resolutioos of the Ebonomic and Slcial CO\mcil. The League of Arab States warmly welcomes the measures taken by the parties conce:ned to prepare for the convening of a conference on the development of human resources to be held in 1987. The League is making every effort to ensure the success of that conference. In concluding Irrf statement, I wish to underline the importance of the co-operation between the League of Arab States and the tbited Nations. This is made very clear by the developnents that have taken place in a nUnDer of areas, especially those relating to the maintenance of international Peace and security - pa~ticularly peace in the Middle East. That co-operation undoubtedly contributes to the achievement of the noble ends of the tbited Nations Charter.

I shall nQi call on those representatives who wish to explain their vote befoce the voting on draft resolution A/41/L.5. May I remind delegations that, in accordance with General Assenbly decision 34/401, explanations of Yote are limited to 10 minutes and should be nade by representatives from their seats • Hr. BEm (Israel): Once aga in we are about to Yote on a draft resolution in regarding the so-called "co-operatioo· between the League of Arab States and the United Nations. On the surface, this draft resolution seems routine. But is it realiy just routine? SUpposedly, this co-operaticm furthers the realization of the purposes and pr inciples of the Char ter. But does it really do that? My delegation does not believe so. In fact, the Arab League's activities are in direct (Mr. Mansouri, League of Arab States) contravention of the Charter. The draft resolution befor:e us, with its call to promote closer co-operation between the United Nations and the Arab League, will only act to weaken the principles of the Charter. Befoce we vote, let me take a Since its inception in 1945, the Arab League has been dedicated to ooe central goal~ the eradication of the State of Israel. It has oonsistently encouraged and directed an obsessive campaign of hatred against my country. It co-ordinates and disseminates anti-Israel proPaganda. It objects to any movement leading to peace in our region. It inci tes the Arab world to wage war and to cause bloodshed. Peace with Israel is a forbidden phrase in the vocabulary of. the Arab League - it is canpletely and totally rejected. Any Arab State that dares even to mention the possbility of peace with II¥ COWltry is considered an outcast by the Arab League and condenned as a traitor to the cause - the cause of waging war against Israel. On 22 March 1986, the secretary General of the Arab League reconfirmed th is path of intransigence and rejection. In a statement in Tunis celebrating the League's forty-first anniversary, he said~ "It is necessary to intensify the struggle (against Israel) on all fronts and in every field ••• " Take, for exaIl{)le, the Arab League's policy towards the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. Just last mooth, the League reiterated its rejection of peace by calling the septeni:>er Alexandria sunmit between President MJbarak and Prime Minister Peres "a regrettable event". Regrettable to whom? Regrettable to those seeking peace in the Middle Fast? Definitely not. ~grettable to the forces of intransigence and rejection - that is, to the Arab League? Definitely, yes. Not all Arab States are extremist, but when they meet in the framework of the League, ooly extreme positions are accepted as a common denominator. (Mr. Bein, Israel} In its ostensible role as Ol7er-all spokesman for all Arabs, the Arab League continues to suffocate any attempt that might lead to peace in our region. It openly sanctions terrorism against the civilian population of Israel; the Arab League defends the killing of civilians who happen to be Israelis. According to the League, this is never terrcxiSD. The League offers its facilities to Arab terrcxists - the very people who massacre innocents in houses of worship, in a irplanes and 00 cruise ships. Indeed, in the words of its secretary General, the League is -intensifying the struggle in every field, on all fronts". And we see the results of that incitement - en the froots of London, Rome, Vienna, Paris and Karachi. But the Arab League is not satisfied with waging war against Israel only en these levels. It tries to strangle Israel ecooomically as well. Under the direct supervision of the Arab U;.-.gue, all of its memer s were urged to establish national boycott offices. In those offices, as many as 10,000 international canpanies are blacklisted simply because they have some sort of conmercial affiliation with Israel. Bapp.ly, most of those canpanies are not intimidated by this blackmail. The League's boycott head:luarters are stationed in Damascus, the very city from """ich another type of intimidation - international terrorism - is directed and man ipu la ted. The Arab League's economic and political warfare against a fent>er State flagrantly violates the most elementary principles of the U'lited Nations Charter. Row, th~n, can one justify the large united Nations expenditure to pcomote co-operation between that body and the tbited Nations? In fact, it cannot be justified, especially at a time when the United Nations is struggling financially foe its very existence. Thousands of dollars are spent for the purpose of organizing seminars and conference3 dedicated to anti-Israel propaganda. That mooey could surely be put to better use. (Mr. Bein, Israel) In view of the Arab League's canplete and utter disregard of the fundamental principles of peace and security upon which this Organization is based, my delegation will of course vote against draft resolution A/41/L.5. Mr. AOKI (Japan) ~ My delega tion is well aware of the benefits of co-operation between the thited Nations and the various organizations having observer status in the Organization. we welcome and support united Nations co-operation with the League of Arab States. We will vote on draft resolution A/4VL.5 as we have done in past years on similar draft resolutions. However, we should like to reserve our positim cmcerning operative paragraph 3, which makes reference to those General Asseni'ly resolutions that we did not support in the past. (f4r. Bein, Israel)

The General Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/41/L.5. In this connection, I should like to inform members that the Secretary-General doe~ not foresee programme budget implications in the implementation of this draft resolution. A recorded vote has been reauested. A recorded vote was taken. In favour: Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain p Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi, Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Democratic Kampuchea, Democratic Yemen, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Eauatorial Guinea, Finland, France, Gambia, German Democratic Republic, Germany, Federal Republic of, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraa, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic RepUblic, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambiaue, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, portugal, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, uganda, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, united Arab Emirates, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe. Against: Israel, United States of America. Abstaining: Cyprus. Draft resolution A/4l/L.5 was adopted by 106 votes to 2, with 1 abstention (resolution 41/4).*

I shall now call on representatives who have asked to be allo~ed to explain their votes after the voting on draft resolution A/4l/L.5. *Suhseauently the delegations of Cyprus, Lebanon, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Niger, Panama and Romania advised the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour. May 1 remind delegations that, in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. Mr. BIRCH (United Kingdom): In order to make a few general comments, 1 have the honour to speak on behalf of Community, which have voted in favour of the draft resolution just adopted. Over the past few years the General Assembly has been as.:ed to consider a number of resolutions relating to co-operation between the United Nations and various organizations holding observer status. The Twelve are well aware of the advantages of such co-operation and have been happy to join in expressions of SUppoL~ and encouragement for its development within the framework of the united Nations Charter. The Twelve would prefer, however, that such resolutions should deal with the question of co-operation in terms that avoid introducing contentious issues. Against the background of the financial crisis currently faced by the United Nations, lhe Twelve also urge that every effort should be made to minimize the number of meetings and of documents whose cost falls to the Organization, with the aim of contributing to an overall reduction in expenditure. It is essential that the scarce resources of the united Nations which are made available for co-operation of this sort are applied to the best effect. In this connection we urge that due account be taken of the constructive recommendations contained in the report of the Joint Inspection Unit transmitted under a note by the Secretary-General on 16 September 1986 as document A/4l/6IS. With regard to paragraph 3 of the operative part of ~raft ~esolution A/4l/L.S, relating to co-operation between the United Nations and the League of Arab States, the Twelve wish to draw the attention of the Assembly to the need to avoid prejudicing the role of the Secretary-General, and wish to record that they have net supported all the resolutions referred to in that paragraph. (The President) the European twalve states members of Mrs. CLARK (United States of America): The United States voted against draft resolution A/4l/L.5 because operative paragraph 3 reauests the Secretary-General to attempt to implement previous General Assembly resolutions which the united States had voted against. The resolutions mentioned in that paragraph are contrary to the fundamental policies of the United States Government with regard to the Middle East. Mr. BERGH JOHANSEN (Norway): I have the honour to speak on behalf of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway. The Nordic countries voted in favour of the draft resolution just adopted by the General Assembly, on the understanding that the elements with political implications, in particular operative parag~aph 3, are not relevant to the issue and obviously cannot prejUdice the positions of the Nordic countries on the substantive matte~ referred to. Mrs. GERVAIS (Canada) (interpretation from French): As in the case of similar draft resolutions voted on in the past, Canada voted today in favour of draft resolution A/4l/L.5. My delegation, however, has certain reservations about operative paragraph 3, since we did not support all the resolutions whose implementation is reauested in that paragraph. Mr.OKELY (Australia): Australia has been a consistently strong sUpPOrter of instruments of regional co-operation and of co-operation between such bodies and the United Nations. The Secretary-Generalis report before us in document A/4l/48l is a source of satisfaction, and for that reason Australia has regist~red an affirmative note on draft resolution A/4l/L.5. My delegation does wish to place it on record, however, that, as it has done in the past in regard to similar draft resolutions, we encountered this year some difficulties with the wording of operative paragraph 3 of the draft resolution on which the Assembly has just voted. . Mr. ARMS'l'RONG (New Zealand): My delegation supports the prollOtion of co-operation between this Organization and the League of Arab States. We ~cordingly voted in favour of the draft resolution that has just been adopted. We have reservations, however, about aspects of the resolution, in particular operative paragraph 3, and I wish to place it on record that our vote does not signify any change in our position on matters that are nut relev~nt to this resolution.

That concludes our consideration of agenda item 23.

The Assembly will now turn to agenda item 30 entitled ·Co-operation between the united Nations ana the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee-. A draft resolution has been circulated (A/4l/L.6). In accordance with General Assembly resolution 35/2 of 13 OCtober 1980, I now call on the Secreatary-Genera1 of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee, Mr. B. Sen. MR. SEN (Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee (AALCC»: On behalf of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee, I am privileged to offer our congratulations to you, Sir, on your unanimous election to the high office of President of the General Assembly. It is a matter of particular pleasure for us, since Bangladesh is an important member of our organization and your Government has consistently taken a very keen interest in our activities over the years. I should like also to convey our sincere congratulations to the Secretary-General on his appointment to a second term of office. The Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee, which was established in 1956 as a tangible outcome of the historic Bandung Conference, will this year complete 30 years of work in the service of the Asian-African community. In this context we considered our regular session at the beginning of the year at Arusha to be particularly signficant and as helping to promote a wider response to our work OJ the African continent. On the occasion of the commemoration by the General Assembly of the twenty-fifth anniversary of our Committee in November 1981 I had the p~ivi1ege of tracing the growth of our organizatiCXl from a small seven-menber body to a major international organization with a membership of 40 Governments. I also indicated the gradual expansion of our activities from that of an advisory role on international law to embracing such wider areas as internatiCXlal economic co-operation, the environment, humCl'litarian issues such as the problem of refugees and the promotion of inter-regional and international co-operation in support of the activities of the O1ited Nations in various fields. Since that time two things of special significance for the growth of our organization have occurred. The first was the decision of the GoI7ernment of the People's Republic of China to participate in our work as a full memer from the year 1984, which helped us to reach our goal of embracing all major nations in Asia and Africa within our membership. The second was the decision of the General Assenbly, adopted in 1981 by resolution 36/38, to strengthen further the existing state of co-operation with our organization and extend it to wider areas. That resolution, which called for consultations by the ~cretary-Generalof the Ulited Nations with the secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal CCXlsultative COilIllittee, has helped to place our relationship with the thited Nations on a firmer and regular footing with a new orientation of the work prograume on our activities to enhance our role in support of the tbi ted Nations. A great deal of progress has already been achieved in this area, as is bcxne out in the report of the secretary-General of the United Nations to the General Assenbly this year, as well as in his reports presented in 1983, 1984 and 1985.* In my statements before the General Assembly at ear lier sessions I have had occasion to mention our role in the negotiations leading to the Convention on t"'e Law of the sea and our supportive efforts thereafter in proIlK)ting and encouraging *Mr. Henar (Suriname), Vice-President, took the Chair. (Mr. sen, AALCC) the ratification of that Convention. That was one of the major areas of our activities over a period of nearly 15 years. I also referred to a number of other areas where co-operation between the United Nations and the AALCC had been most productive. On this occasion I should therefore like to confine myself to two of the major initiatives in strengthening the role of the United Nations which we have undertaken since last year and to our ongoing efforts in the field of international economic co-operation. At our Katmandu session, held in February last year, it was decided to prepare a study as part of our contribution on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations on strengthening the role of the Organization, with particular reference to the General Assembly. That study was aimed at an assessment of the work of the United Nations in various fields over a period of 39 years and it included certain suggestions for improvement. It was a matter of particular gratification for us when an open-ended meeting, held at the United Nations at the beginning of the General Assembly session in September 1985, considered that the study merited the serious consideration of the appropriate organs of the United Nations. That was followed by a reauest by 52 delegations from all regional groups for circulation of that study as a document of the General Assembly. After further consultations on that paper at both formal and informal levels during the General Assembly session last year I mentioned in my statement on 9 December 1985 that we would consider the possibility of establishing an open-ended working group with a view to preparing concrete recommendations for submission to the General Assembly at the present session. That idea was welcomed by several delegations and an AALCC working group of the whole accordingly met in New York during April and June this year. The recommendations of the working group have already been circulated as a (Mr. Sen, AALCC) General Assembly document (A/4l/437) and it has been a matter of encouragement that many delegations have found it possible to support them. The approach of our working group was to confine itself for the present to areas on which there were good prospects of progress being made, rather than to embark on wider aspects of improvement of the functioning mechanism of the united Nations as a Whole. The recommendations of the working group represent a compromise package which some delegations may not find fully in accord with their views but something which they might perhaps consider as a starting point in the negotiations for the improvement of the functioning of the General Assembly, which was long overdue. I should like also to emphasize that the recommendations of the working group demonstrate a degree of earnestness on the part of our membership and represent a positive approach to the delibel:ations of this Assembly. Another initiative that we have taken c:oncerns the role of the International Court of Justice for a better implementation of General Assembly resolution 37/10, adopted on 15 November 1982, and the earlier resolution 3283 (XXIX), of 12 December 1974, which called upon the Member States of the United Nations to consider the possibility of making wider use of the facilities and procedures under the revised rules of the Court. That was an item which was identified as falling within the extended areas of co-operation between the United Nations and the AALCC, as called for in General Assembly resolution 36/38. In response to the recommendations of a meeting of the legal advisers of AALCC member States, held in November 1983, a study was prepared drawing attention to the advantages of resort to the Court in legal disputes under special agreements in preference to ad hoc arbitration, particularly in the context of procedures in chambers available under the revised rules. The AALCC study, which was circulated as a General Assembly document at the fortieth session (A/40/682) evoked wide interest and we accordingly followed up the matter by convening a colloauium earlier this month for a further exchange of views on the subject. It is a matter of gratification that the International Court of Justice was appreciative of our efforts and the President of the Court himself chaired the colloauium. In this connection, it may not be out of place to mention that in promoting the role of the Court we considered it expedient to confine ourselves to encouraging Governments to refer their disputes under special agreements since we feel that this is the area where future possibilities would lie as viewed from a practical angle. Having regard to the fact that relatively few States are now prepared to accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court in advance without wide reservations, and the recent trend noticeable in their reluctance to agree to the adjUdication by the Court under the provisions of treaties and conventions, it would appear that the main area for widening the role of the Court would be in those cases where legal disputes are referred by means of a compromise. Indeed, we feel that there are great possibilities in this direction since at the reauest of the parties cases may now be heard by a sizeable forum through constitution of the Chambers whenever the parties may so reauest. We have also taken note of the fact that the occasional reference of disputes to the Court which are essentially of a political nature does not always help to ensure harmony ~r to enhance the acceptability of its procedures. The future of the Court, therefore, seems to lie in a regular flow of work of a legal nature which the States parties ought to be encouraged to refer to it under special agreements. In regard to the promotion of economic co-operation, we began in a modest way with the adoption of the First united Nations Development Decade, in the preparation of model contracts relating to commodities which were of primary concern to the countries of our region. This initiative received a new impetus with the establishment of the United Nations Commission on International Trade . Law (UNCITRAL) and our co-operation with that body. In the year 1976 we embarked (Mr. Sen, AALCC) on a new programme through preparation of a scheme for settlement of disputes in economic and commercial transactions with a view to creating stability and confidence in economic relations with and between the countries of our region. Two regional centres for arbitration were established under the scheme, one of which is located in Kua1a Lumpur and the other in Cairo. Negotiations for the establishment of some other centres are also in progress. Almost bnmediate1y after the eleventh special session of the General Assembly we geared ourselves to assist our member Governments in their participation in the proposed global negotiations through preparation of technical studies in the field of commodities and industrialization. Two ministerial meetings on economic co-operation were held under our auspices to facilitate that process, namely, one in Kua1a Lumpur in December 1980 and the other in Istanbul in September 1981. To this end, we also participated closely in the sessions and meetings of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. But with prospects receding for the launching of global negotiations, we directed our attention to practical ways of attracting capital and investments to our region to a greater extent. ~o facilitate this process we developed certain models for bilateral agreements on investment promotion and protection which were adopted at our Katmandu session last year. We also embarked upon sponsoring a series of meetings between countries interested in investments and prospective investors with the participation of United Nations agencies, the World Bank and representatives of Governments and trade. These meetings paved the ground for better understanding of the problems and issues on such matters as profitability, investment incentives, protection and guarantees for investment as well as the benefits that the developing countries could expect from forelgn investments, particularly in sectors of national importance. Taking note of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development (Mr. Sen, AALCC) 1986-1990 and the deliberations at the thirteenth special session of the General Assembly this year. we have initiated steps to generate greater interest in the private sector in the more affluent countries within our member~hip to embar~ upon investments in Africa for their development. By way of further initiative we began a study of the problem of debt burden and have planned a working group meeting on this sUbject during this year. This matter is also of particular interest to Member States in Africa in the conf;ext of the united Nations ~!r.,ogramme of Action. Although this subject is being reviewed in several forums it would be our endeavour to bring in certain legal concepts which could be blended with the economic norms and practices for a just and adequate solution of the matter. Although the problem of debt burden of States in the inte·rnadonal context is comparatively recent. thl"! matter of debt burden of an individUClll has been a constant phenomenon over the years, particularly in feudal soc:Leties and in the colonial empires. In many of the common law countries, beginrdLng -with England in the nineteenth century. a great deal of jurisprudence evolved 1~rough legislation enacted to relieve the burden of debt. This was particularly noticeable in the efforts of the representative Governments on the Indian sub-continent during the early 1940s by the enactment of the Moneylenders Act and Debtor's Relief Act, which incorporated provisions for enquiries to be made into the ci~cumstances of debts and fixation of ceilings on interest. These legislations, prompted by the induction of the principles of eauity to smoothen the harshness of the common law. contained a number of principles which could perhaps be applied with suitable adartation. even in situations relating to the debt burden of States. In this context, it may not be out of place to mention that the law of tort in the municipal legal systems relating to such matters as negligence or nuisance has been transplanted in the progressive development of international law on such concepts as State responsibility or international liability of States for injurious (Hr. Sen. AALCC) consequences arising out of acts not prohibited under intecnatia\al law.. Q1 the same analogy there seems to be no reasa\ why the principles developed in the mtl'licipal legal system; for the relief of the debtor cannot also be exten::ed as part of international law in relatitX1s between affluent and poor nations. Thus, we feel that there might be a good deal of scope for thinking in terms of preparation of a set of norms and pr inciples which could be suited to meet the present si tuatia\ through a jUdicious blending of legal pr inci ples and eCalom1c norns for the benefi t of both the creditor and debtor nations. I should like to avail myself on this occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of our CoIllllittee to extress our sincere thanks to the secretary-General for the keenness and pet'salal interest he has taken in prollDting closer co-operatia\ between the two bodies. I should also like to place on record our deepest appreciation of the efforts of the legal Counsel, Mr. Fleischhauer, and Mr. lby lee, of his office, to bring about the implementation of the General Assellbly resolu tions relating to co~peration wi th our Conunittee in tangible and practical terlll8. (Mr. Ben, AALCC)

I call on the representative of the United Republic of Tanzania, to introduce the draft resolution (A/41/L.6). Mr. CHAGULA (United Republic of Tanzania): As current Chairman of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee (AALCC), my delegation first would like sincerely to thank the united Nations Secretary-General for his report (A/41/653) entitled wCo-operation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committeew• Likewise, we should like to express our appreciation to Mr. Sen, Secretary-General of the AALCC, for his comprehensive introductory statement, after which and in the light of the report of the United Nations secretary-General, it would be unnecessary for me to say much concerning the work programme of the AALCC since the last session of this Assembly, which was adopted by the Committee at its twenty-fifth session, held a;; Arusha, Tanzania, last February. However, as this matter is very relevant to the report of the Group of 18, which is one of the most important issues before this session of the Assembly, my delegation would like to beg the indulgence of delegations by referring again to the AALCC study on strengthening the role of the United Nations through rationalization of functional modalities with reference to the Gen~ral Assembly, which was issued last year as document A/40/726 for the consideration of the General Assembly. That AALCC study was very well received by a significant and widely representative proportion of the membership of the Assembly, which prompted the AALCC to establish an informal open-ended working group for in-depth consultations on the ideas and suggestions contained in the study. The Working Group completed its work last June, and I had the honour of transmitting its recommendations to the secretary-General of the United Nations on 25 June 1986 with a formal reauest that they be circulated as a document of the General Assembly under items 8 and 30 of the provisional agenda of its forty-first session. It is gratifying to note that those recommendations are now contained in document A/4l/437 which is before this session of the Assembly for consideration under item 30. AS current Chairman of the AALCC, to re-echo what several delegations at thic session of the Assembly have already requested, I should like to urge the General Committee to consider proposing at this session of the General Assembly a draft resolution which would permit the early implementation of the AALCC Working Group recommendations on the improvement of the functioning of the General Assembly, which, it has become apparent, do have the support of a very wide spectrum of the membersh}? of the Assembly ana have also taken into account, inter alia, the recommendations of former Presidents of the General Assembly on the rationalization of the procedures of the Assembly in document A/40/377. Tanzania attaches great importan~e to the work of the AALCC, which is now in the 30th year since its establishment. At this juncture it is fitting for my delegation to pay a tribute to the AALCC's Secretary-General, Mr. Sen, who, through his dedication, exceptional ability and devotion during the last 30 years r has built up the AALCC to the tower of strength it is today, particularly in its co-operation with the united Nations and as a service regional organization for the international community as a whole. Mr. Sen, I understand, has, regrettably, finally and definitely decided to end his services with the AALCC early next year and, as this will be the last General Assembl;< session he will be attending as Secretary-General of t~e AALCC, I should like t~ wish him every success in future. He will leaqe the AALCC with the satisfaction that he is leaving behind a very mature organization. As the report of the United Nations Secretary-General clearly shows, r-ince 1981 the formal co-operative framework between the United Nations and the AALCC has continued to be strengthened. The draft resolution that this Assembly has since , (Mr. Chagula, United Republic of Tanzania) then been adopting at every regular session on co-operation between the United Nations and the AALCC is a measure of the mature relationship between these two bodies in their mutual interest. It is against this background that, with much pleasure, and on behaif of Canada, Cape Verde, Cyprus, Egypt, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United States of America, Mongolia and my own country, the United Republic of Tanzania, I am presenting for the consideration of the .General Assembly the draft resolution in document A/4l/L.6 on co-OPeration between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee. In addition, the following Member States should be added to the list of sponsors of the draft resolution: Australia, China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Nepal, Oman and Uganda. Regarding the draft resolution itself, I should like to make a few brief comments. All the preambular paragraphs and operative paragraph I are the same as in earlier resolutions. Operative paragraph 2 is almost identical with paragraph 1 of General Assembly resolution 36/38, which was adopted on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the AALCC. Operative paragraph 3 refers to the work of the AALCC undertaken since 1983 for improvement of the functioning of the General Assembly, including the presentation in December 1983 of an informal paper on the working modalities of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly, the preparation of the study for the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations (A!40/726), the recommendations of the AALCC Working Group in June 1986 (A/4l/437), the preparation of a study on the World Court (A/40/682), and the organization of a colloauium on the role of the World Court, which was recently held here in New York. Operative paragraph 4 relates to the implementation of paragraph 2 of General Assembly resolution 36/38 during the past five years; and in operative paragraph 5 it is suggested that the item on co-operation between the United Nations and the AALCC , should now come up every two years in accordance with the general recommendations of the AALCC Working Group. Finally, I should like to thank all those delegations that have found it possible to co-sponsor the draft resolution, which, in view of my belief that it does not contain any controversial eler~~ts~ I si~eerely hope will be adopted by consensus. (Mr. Chagula, United Republic of Tanzania) Sir John TIDMSON (United Kingdom) ~ I should like to begin by expressing my thanks to the delegation of India for making it possible for me to speak at this point in the debate. I have the hooour to speak on behalf of the twelve ~mber States of the Buropean Commllnity" The '.!)relve have long admired the work of the Asian-African legal Consultative Coltlllittee (AALCC). We have lent support to many of the initiatives it has taken over the thirty years of its life and we admire the legal and diplomatic skills displayed by its long-standing 5ecretary-General, Hr. Barry Sen. We listened carefully to Mr. Sen·s statement this morning about the work of the Consultative COItIiIittee durng the last twelve mooths. We should like, if we may, to singl-.1 out one particular project undertaken in t'1at period, namely, the Comnittee·s recOl'JIllendations fee improving and rationalizing the week of the General Assembly whiCh was circulated to the membership of the United Nations in the annex to document A/41/437 of 1 July 1986. Much work has, of course, been done over the years to improve the way in which we handle our business in the Assenbly, in particular in its min committees. B.1t a good deal remains to be done if we are to carry out our wor k in the most effective way and be seen to be doing so. It is in this respect that the AALCC·s reconrnendations would, if suitably adopted, make a most useful c:ontr ibution. Some of the Consultative Committee·s suggestions were mde also by the past presidents of the Assembly and recorded in a united Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) study circulated as General Assenbly document A/40/377. These in turn received the support of the representative of Canada and the representatives of many other countries, including some of the Twelve, during the 40th session of the General Assembly. We believe that the reconmendations have very wide support. Lastly, the 'lWelve believe that the AALCC's recommendations should be useful to assist in taking forward in this respect consideration of the work of the Group of High-level Intergovernmental EKperts. It is significant to note that their implementation would not entail amending the General AsselTbly's rules of procedure. The 'lWelve applaud th is useful initia tive taken by the AALCC and wish it well in its wor k in the year s ahead. Mr. BADllWI (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic) ~ It gives me -pleasure to be among the first speakers today while the General Assenbly is considering item 30 entitled ·C~peration between the united Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consulta tive Committee (AALCC).· The delega tion of Egypt a ttaches special importance to this item in view of its clear impact on the developnent and codification of international legal norms through the establishment of a wider base of understanding of and appreciation for the important role played by international law in all areas with a view to improving the international climate and the creation of a better world for all people. Egypt's concern for the promotion of co-operation between the united Nations and the Consultative Cormnittee arises from our deep belief in the mission of both organizations on the regional and international level. This noble mission was the reasQ'l for our participation in the es~ablishment of the lbited Nations, and for our support for the establishment of the Consultative Conmittee as an inter regional insti tution that works for the achievement of the same lofty goals of the United Nations. The lbited Nations, as we have come to expect from it, has played a leading role in the recognition of that Committee when it decided at the thirty-fifth session to grant the status of permanent observer to the AALCC. The Uni ted Na tions invi ted the COI-,lJ1Iittee to par tici pa te as an obs erver in the sess ions and the deliberations of the General Assembly. In the thirty-sixth sessiCX'l, \\bieb coincided with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Conmittee, the United Nations decided to include the item under consideration on its agenda as an express ion of the thi ted Na tion 's appreciation for the important role played by the CCX'lsultative COlllDittee in the ptollDtion of the efforts of the Orgmization both at the interregiooal and international levels. Therefore the Coosultative COlIlllittee intensified its efforts and activities so as to be worthy of the coofidence of the Organizatioo. It expanded its areas of work to encompass co-operation in humanitariar and economic fields in additioo to its co-operation in the progress ive development and o'ldification of international law.' The COlllDittee did not confine its efforts and activities to its MenDer States~ rather it expanded them to include all States Members of the thited Nations. we have listened with great care to the c0ntJrehensive statement made by Mr. Sen, the secretary-General of the AALCC, as well as to the statement made by the permanent representative of Tanzania in his capacity as current Chairman of this Committee. It gives us pleasure to extend our congratulations to both of them for their excellent presentation of the efforts of the CCX'lsultative COlllDittee and the resul ts of those efforts made over 30 years of hard week. This year we mark the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of this Coltlllittee. we were pleased to receive the report of the ll'lited Nations secretary-General about the co-operation between the united Nations and the Ccmsultative Conmittee. The report clearly reflects the progress made in all natter:s of III1tual concern. In this regard we would like to emphasize the efforts made and the initiatives taken by the Consultative Committee in three main areas: the encouragement of increased reco'urse to the Internatiooal Court of Justice~ the efforts made to strengthen the role of the Uni ted Nations through the ra tiooal iza tion of its fWlctiooal modalities~ and international economic co-operation for developnent• The International Court of Justice is the nain judicial organ of the thited Nations. All Member States are ipso facto parties to the Statute of the Court. Yet, many States are reluctant to accept its mandate and to refer their disp.1tes to the Court under special agreement, preferring to refer their disputes to ad hoc tr ibunals. That was me of the important mtters that CCXllm2:1"1~d the attention of the M::!eting of the legal Advisers of the M::!mber States and the Cmsultative COllIDittee in 1983. During that meeting it was decided that the Consultative Conmittee would make efforts to encourage States to resext to the International Court of Justice ex its special c:hamers, should the parties agree, instead of resor ting to ad hoc tr ibunals. On that basis the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee (AALCC) prepared a study on the auestion that was discussed during its twenty-fourth session, held in Katmandu in February 1985. It was distributed as an official document of the United Nations under item 31 of the General Assembly's agenda at its fortieth session. This study received close attention from all States. To complement its leading role in this regard, the Committee held a col1oauium at the beginning of the month. The colloquium had the honour of being presided over by the President of the International Court of Justice. During the co1loauium a valuable exchange of views took place in which some of the members of the Court, the cnrrent Chairman of the AALCC and its Secretary-General, the Chairman of the sixth Committee, the Legal Counsel of the United Nations and the legal advisers of Member States of the United Nations all took part. The effect of this was to increase the importance attached to that matter at all regional and international levels. Similarly, in pursuance of its work in relation to the strengthening of the role of the united Nations through rationalization of functional modalities, the Committee took the opportunity of the commemoration of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations to submit a study entitled "Strengthening the role of the United Nations through rationalization of functional modalities with special reference to the General Assembly". This study was distributed as an official document of the United Nations at the reauest of 53 delegations, from all regional groups. It received widespread support while this item was under consideration in the General Assembly last year. This is in addition to the fact that many States referred to it while discussing the other relevant auestions, as the study contained realistic, practical arrangements to ensure improved operation of the General Assembly and of its subsidiary organs. with the encouragesent of many States, the AAU:C established an open-ended working group that held a series of aeetings in New York during April and June of 1986. My delegation had the honour to participate in that work. The working group, after its review of the AALCC study and the other relevant studies, agreed on a set of recoJilileiidat!QiiS to i=?:ove the !:"O~k of the General Assembly. The recommendations were made available to the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts to Review the Efficiency of the Administrative and Financial Functioning of the United Nations. It was also distributed as an official docUJlfent at the forty-first session. We were pleased to see a clear reference to that set of recommendations in the reconmendation 3 of the High-level Group of Experts. That reeoIllllendation was the one that dealt with the procedures and methods of work of the General hsselllbly and its subsidiary organs. The recomBendation reaffirmed a number of points, most of which were identical to the recommendations of the AALCC in that regard. We were particularly pleased to see that the recommendations of the Committee were welcomed by many del~ations frOill all regional groups. This reflects its representation of a wide spectrum of views of the Member States of the United Nations. The prospects of reaching an agreement on most of these recommendations seem promising, if the General Assembly, and in particular the General coaaittee, accord it the special importance it deserves. With respect to economic affairs, the COnsultative Committee demonstrated the importance Jt attaches to the question of international co-operation for development by its implementation of a pioneer project for the settlement of disputes in economic and COIlElercial transactions. In the framework of that project it decided to establish five regional centres for trade arbitration, two of which (Mr. Badawi, Egypt) were established at Kuala Lumpur and Cairo. They are currently performing their function of helping in the promotion and implementation of the rules of arbitration established by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Through a variety of activities, inclUding colloauiums and meetings, the last of which was the colloquium held by the regional centre for international ... ~raae arbitLaticn in Cairo at the beginning of this year under the aegis of the Consultative Committee. Representatives of States from different regional groups attended the colloquium with a view to the promotion and im?lementation of these rules. The Consultative Committee continues to play a role in increasing capital flows and transfers of technology to developing countries in the Asian-African regions through its preparation of model bilateral agreements for promoting and protecting investments, and its legal framework for joint ventures in the industrial sector. The Secretary-General of the United Nations was right in what he said about multilateralism in his annual report about the work of the Organization: ft[Its] champions are t~ be found not only amongst the Governments of Member States. They exist in all walks of life, inclUding academic institutions and the world media. I wish, in this connection, to refer specifically to the many non-governmental organizations which share the goals and, in many instances, the work of the United Nations. I am convinced that, in the coming years, the United Nations will need to place even greater emphasis on close communication and co-operation with these organizations. They constitute an essential extension of the capacity of the United Nations to reach its global constituency.ft (A/41/l, p. 17) With this auotation, I come to the conclusion of my statement. I should like to add only that the delegation of Egypt looks forward to continued close contact and co-operation between the united Nations and the Consultative Committee. I should like to express our full support for the draft resolution that has been distributed. Mr. JOSSE (Nepal): As a member of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee (AALCC), my delegation has the honour to express its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his report on co-operation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Commit~ee, circulated in document A/4l/653. SUnilarly, we are also grateful to Mr. B. Sen, the Secretary-General of the AALCC, for his introductory statement detailing the genesis, nature and scope of the co-operative relations between the United Nations and the AALCC. The AALCC, which has been enjoying permanent observer status with the United Nations since 1.975, has co~leted 30 eventful years of existence. Emerging, as Mr. Sen has said as a -tangible outcome- of the historic first Asian-African Conference at Bandung in 1956, it has become one of the most representative intergovernmental regional bodies dealing with international law. (Mr. Badawi, Egypt) As has been described in detail in the secretary-Generales repor:t, the co-operative relationship betwet""n the united Nations and the AALCC has blOssomed consider8bly since it was first initiated in 1981. Indeed, in the five years since then the AALOC has played a very active role in the J.r~essive codification and development of inter:national law, including in such ne~ areas as intes:national economic co-operatim and the environment. As the secretary-General of the MLCC has stated, it has also consciously sought to prOllDte inter-regional and international co-operation supportitre of the broad initiatives of tl"e united Nations. Nepal has been observing the increasing role of the MLCC in the progressive codification and development of international law with great interest and admiration. In particular, we recall with appreciation MLCC's efforts in prour>ting the ratification and implementation of the thited Nations Convention on the Law of the sea, including the question of the right of access for land-locked States to the living resources of the exclusive ecooomic zone and thu question of transit through coastal States. Nepal noted the praiseworthy efforts of AALCC in preparing a study on the strengthening of the thited Nations through a rationalization of functional modalities, as part of its contribution to the fortieth anniversary of the thited Nations. My delegation was pleased to have participa ted in the deliberations of the AALCC Working Group to prepare some concrete recommendations for submission to the General Assenbly at the present session, which have been distributed in document A/4l/437. we believe this could mark a beginning of negotiations leading to CNerdue reforms in the functioning of the General Assembly. ·We highly conmend the efforts of the AALCC in promoting the wider use of the International Court of Justice, as detailed in documes,t A/40/682. we aLe convinced that the possible wider use of the Court by agreement of States parties would contribute to the emancement of the PGcific settlement of disputes between States, a cCXlcept that is entitely in keeping with the pr inciples of the Chartet of the tlhited t~tiOiiS. we also take favourable note of AALCC's efforts in the promotion of in ternational economic co-opetation and i ts ~ecent initiatives on the ptClblem of debt burden. we believe both are areas of considetable inter:est and concern to the O1ited Nations and have mOte than a passing relevance to int«natiCXlal. peace and harmony. In this International Year of Peace my delegation takes special pleasure in commending the efforts and imagina tion of the AALCC in ptODDting the progress ive codifi,.."tion and developuent of international law as it relates to the question of refugees and the concept of zmes of Peace. In particular, I wish to recall that a preliminary study en the concept of peace zme in international law was ptepared by A1\LCC ~Ot consideration at its Katmandu session last year, on wich occasion it generated considerable interest. The same was true of its session in Arusha in February of this year, leading to a decision by the AALCC to constitute an expert group to considet the -content and impl ications of var ious ptoplsale, including Nepal's~ for the esti'lblishment of Peace zones nade within and outside the thited Nations. Against this background, ray delegation is delighted to record its appreciation of AALCC's hitj'lly commendable commitment and cmtributions to the progressive codification and developnent of international law, in keeping with its co-operative relationship with the U'lited Nations. We therefOte take pleasure in sponsoring draft resolution A/41/L.6, on co-operation between the united Nations and AALCC, and appeal foe its adoption by consensus. Hr. LABERGE (Canada) (interpretation from French): It is my pr ivilege today to address the General Asserrbly, under agenda i tern 30, on behalf of my delegation and the delegations of Austra.:'ia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Japan, the Nether lands, Norway, S~ldin and Sweden. Since the begiming of 1985. these delegations have consulted informally on lllatters of procedural refon. in the tnited NaUons. we did so, first, in the context of the fortieth anniversary, and have d.c:ne so since iUore broadly, wi th a large majori ty of the 1Iemer delega tions of the General Assembly as well as with the secretariat. These consultations continue, and we relllain open to the views of all dele9a tions. We continue to adjust our approach, in general and specific terms, to take account of the whole spectrum of opinions represented in the General Asselllbly, but our central preoccupation remains the same~ to imprOlTe the operations of the Ora!J1ization for the caDlDOil good. • OUr informal reform group has been greatly impresseG by the labours of the WClCking Group of the Asian-African Legal Consultative C:mnittee (AALCC), whose efforts culminated in April and June of this year with a ser ies of reconmendations, which have been circulated in General Asselllbly document A/4l/437. The proposals introcl1oed by the AALCC Wor king Group are consistent with the process of reflection and consultation that our group has gooe throu~ to identify practical steps to imprOl7e tl1ited Nations operations. we believe that the Coosultative Conmittee's recommendations represent a significant and valuable cootribution to efforts aimed at imprOl7ing the functioning of the United Nations, an imprOl7ement that is necessary if the Organization is to deal mexe effectively with the difficult sulH:;tantive issues that are currently before us. As stated by Hr. sen, the secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee, the approach of the l'br king Group was to focus upon those areas that offer good prospects of progress in imprOl1ing the operations of the thited Nations as a wole. (Mr. Iaberge, Canada) We fully endorse his view that the ~~tcC has provided many excellent proposals for further improvement and streamlining of the procedures of the General Assembly - a long-overdue exercise. Our informal group believes that the recommendations of the Working Group serve well to reinforce aspects of the work of the Group of High-level Intergovernmental Experts that is currently under consideration in this General Assembly. They also serve to shed fresh light on earlier recommendations in the same vein set out in the various annexes to the existing rules of procedure. We believe that the current climate of reform may allow us to achieve significant improvement in procedures. We would urge that all bodies and organs within the United Nations take practical steps to improve their functioning and streamline their operations so as to facilitate more detailed and considered examination of the substantive issues that come before them in the course of their work. We therefore call upon the President of the General Assembly and the Chairmen of all the Main C~mmittEes and sUbsiQia~y bodies to take action to improve the functioning of the united Nations - inter alia through implementation of the recommendations contained in document A/4l/437. We reaffirm the role of the General Committee in advancing the work of the General Assembly in accordance with the rules of procedure and the relevant annexes thereto. We urge the Secretary-General, in preparing his annual memorandum on the Organization of the regular session of the General Assembly, similarly to take into account the recommendations of the AALCC Working Group. Since reporting on this item at the fortieth session of the General Assembly, some members of our informal group have indicated in letters to the Secretary-General ~nd to all members of the General Committee our desire to see the early adoption of the recommendations made by the Working Group of the AALCC:· Some of us have made statements in the Special Political Committee and the Fourth . Committee in support of the AALCC recommendation for harmonization of their respective timetables. Some have made statements in the Sixth Committee urging . iJ11?lementation of relevant AALCC rec011lUendations. In particular, members of our group plan to urge, in all Committees, that resolutions be drafted in accordance with AALCC recommendations. Finally, we would reauest the Secretary-General to report in a separate document, or perhaps in his report on the activities of the Organization, on progress achieved in regard to procedural improvements. We emphasize that all reform initiatives are in one way or another aimed at finding and implementing means to make the United Nations more effective in the search for peace and development, for security and eauality and for freedom and the rule of law. They reflect our wish, which we hope is a collective one, to help to improve the functioning of the Organization and its image in the world. It is to that end that our 11 delegations, in co-operation with others, intend to pursue our efforts to improve the functioning of the United Nations. We appeal to all Member States for co-operation and support ill that endeavour. In conclusion, we particularly applaud the efforts of the ~UCC and encourage that body, representative of so many of our Members, to carry on with its work. Mr. KlKUCHI (Japan): It is my great pleasure and privilege to address this Assembly un agenda item 30, ·co-operation between the United Nations and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee (AALCC),· particularly since this year marks the Committee's thirtieth anniversary. As Mr. Sen, Secretary-General of the AALCC, recalled in his statement earlier this morning, the Committee was created in 1956 to study legal and technical questions common to Asian and African countries. As one of its seven founding members, Japan takes special pleasure in noting the Committee's steady and remarkable e~pansion into a truly international organization which now comprises 38 member States and two associate member States. My Government wishes to pay special tribute to Mr. Sen, who has served with true distinction as the Committee's Secretary-General ever since its creation. The AALCC is a uniaue international forum for the free exchange of views and the discussion of common legal problems among experts from Asian and African countries having diverse political, economic and social systems. It has also served to promote peaceful solutions to various legal problems and disputes and has provided young diplomats and lawyers with opportunities to gain expertise in the ever.-expanding technical areas of law. The Committee has thus contributed to greate~ understanding and to the development of friendly and co-operative relations among those countries, not only in legal areas but in other fields as well. But it is not only the countries of Asia and Africa that have benefited from the work of the AALCC. As its activities expanded, co-operation with countries from other regions and with other international forums became inevitable. It has developed particularly close relations with such United Nations bodies as the International Law Commission, the Commissio~ on International Trade Law, the Conference on Trade and Development and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In more recent years, particularly since it was granted observer status in the General Assembly, the Committee has made valuable contributions to the work of the Sixth Committee and, in fact, to the General Assembly as a whole. Special mention should be made of the imPOrtant initiative it took on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the General Assembly regarding the strengthening of the role of the United Nations, with particular reference to the General Assembly. The Committee established an open-ended working group here in New York which submitted to the Assembly a series of recommendations for rationalizing its procedures and improving its functions. My delegation fully supports those recommendations and commends the Working Group for its efforts. (Mr. Kikuchi, Japan) As Mr. Sen pointed out in his statement, the recommendations represent a compromise package and should therefore be acceptable to all delegations, especially now that the need for improved United Nations efficiency and effectiveness is universally recognized. My delegation hopes that consultations on those recommendations will continue, so that they can be formally adopted and incorporated into the annex to the General Assembly's rules of procedure. I should like to urge all presiding officers of the Assembly and its subsidiary bodies, as well as all Member states, to implement their contents insofar as possible in the meantime. The important achievements made thus far by the AALCC lie in promoting co-operation among States in Asia, Africa and elsewhere, strengthening the legal foundations of international relations and advancing the principles and purposes of the United Nations. This augurs well for the success of its future activities. My delegation will continue to extend its fullest co-operation to the Committee both in participating actively as a member and in supporting the Committee's role within the United Nd~ions system. (Mr. Kikuchi, Japan) Ml: ~ GHAREKBAN (India) \ We have listened with interest to the statements made by the Secretary-General of the (hi ted H:l tions and the Secretary-General of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee. we are grateful for their reports on the ongoing co-operative activities between the thited Nations and the Cmsultative COIIIDittee. The As ian-Afr iean Legal Consultative COBIDittee, composed of exper t member s of the Mellber States, was established in 1956 with the primary dljective of assisting the Asian-Afr iean countr ies in the field of international law. The activities of the Committee in various areas of international MW - such as the law of treaties, environnent, outer space, international trade and eexmomic relations law and commercial arbi tration and 0 ther areas, and abOl7e all the law of the sea - have more than justified the expectations of its founding fathers. By nGi the Consultative Committee has aCXIuired the status of a premier intergOl7ernmental organization in the field of progreGsive deve10pnent and codifieation of interna tional law. It is a recognitiOn of the value and quality of the work of the Consultative Committee that its annual sessions have been attracting, besides its own memer States - which nCM number 40 - an increasing numer of States from all parts of the world as well as representatives from the thited Nations and its specialized agencies and other intergovernnental bodies. Furthermore, it has become a welcome traditioo for the Secretary-General of the Committee or his representatives to attend the sessicns of the International raw Conmission and the united Nations Commission on Internatiooal Trade raw and for the representatives of these bodies, in their turn, to attend the annual sessions of the Conmittee. On more than one occasicn, even judges of the International Court of Justice have addressed annual sessions of the Conmittee. Moee importantly, the Consultative Committee, on the basis of systellli!ltic sbldies prepared by its secretariat, has been discussing, at its annual and intersessional Elcpert Group meetings, smjects 1Itlich are on the agenda of the International Law COlllDissim, the united Nations Comission on Int.ernational Trade Law, the thi ted Nations Commission on Trade and Development and the di plonatic conferences convened under the auspices of the united Nations. This year the secretariat of the Committee alsa tR=epared very useful backgro~d naterial for the assistance of its Member States in their work at the current, forty-first, sessim of the General Assent>ly. At this stage, I should like to place on record my delegation's sincere aptR=ecia tion for the outstanding con tr fuu tion made by Hr. Sen, the secretary-General of the Coosultative COlllUittee, in raising the COlllDittee to its present pre-eminent posi tion. I wish him all success in his future activi ties. We are grateful to him and the C01'llllittee for the set of reconmendations contained in ciJcument A/4l/437, for improvement of the functiming of the General AsseDbly. Such reconmendatioos are indeed welcome at a time when the United Nations is making every effort to streamline its functiooing. The symposium on the role of the International Court of Justice, organized by the Asian-African legal Consultative Canmittee during the current session of the General Assembly, has made a US€lful contribution in explaining the wider use of the pcocedures available under the Statute and the revised rules of the International Court of Justice for settlem~nt of legal disputes amongst States parties. We are glad to note that the symposium bcought to the sUP:face the potential of the c:haDber procedJres of the International Court of Justice. (Mr. Gharelchan, India) We hope that the aatually adITantageous co-operation which subsists between the United Nations and the Asian-Afr ican Legal Consultative COIIDittee will thrive in future. SUch co-operation redounds to the benefit of the intes:national commtnity and essentially serves the cause of world peace and order based on respect for rule of law and justice. We, as a c:o-sponsor of resolution A/4l/L.6 on agenda item 30, colllDend it to the General Assemly for adoption by consensus. Hr. AL-BINAI (oman) (interpretation from Arabic); I am pleased to participate in this debate because my CO\Kltry is this mmth's Chairman of the Arab Group, on whose behalf I am I10lII speaking, and is also a menber of the Asian-African Lesal Consultative COIIIDittee, in Wlose activities we have participated and continue to participate actively. OUr participation is based on the belief that any effort tha t strengthens the role of the thited Ni!tions should involve oman and all the other Arab c:ountries. The united Nations emerged in response to a need - which is as acute as ever - for a body capable of playing a constructive role in solving international pcoblems, safeguarding international peace and securi.ty, and assisting the peoples of the world to build the future they were dreaming of. This Organization has certainly met the challenge of the expectatioos of the peoples of the world. Any shortcomings it nay bave stem from reasons beyond its control, as is well known to the international OOJm1unity. An evaluation of the work of the Organization demonstrates that its positive c:ontributioos outweigh any of the negative aspeC?ts which SOille seek to exaggerate in the pursuit of selfish and shortsighted purposes. Through its members and observers, the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee has always sought to present constructive proposals and to enga,;e in studies designed to strengthen the role of the international Organization, so that (Mr. Gharekhcm, India) it my CClltinue to play a paeitive role on the international scene and to be a beacon in a world .darkened by many political, economic, social and other problems, and a reliable instrument in th2 preservation of international peace and security. The study that has been presented by the secretariat of the COJll1littee contains a c:aaprehensive evaluation of thited Nations activities in various fields. It draws attention to certain areas in whim imprOl7ing the functioning of the Organization and dealing with shortcomings in the oaited Nations Charter would be desirable. A second point relates to humanitarian and social questions. In that regard, certain norms have bean established by the thited Nations. However, implementation has not been successful because Member States apply different cr iter la in regard to the application of those norms. Hence, co-ordination between the norms established by the O1ited Nations and those considered necessary by certain Member States is required. The study divides ecaaomic questions into two c:ate9cxies~ tec:bnical and financial assistance to developing countries in accordance with the United Nations Development Programme~ &"1d t."le restructuring of the wa:ld ecmOlllic order. With regard to legal questions, the study deals with the difficulties facing the pr incipal organs of the thited Nations. A marked development has taken place in the activities of the C01!IIlittee, which has participated in several calferences and numerous \\?'coetings under the auspices of the Olited Nations and its agencies. Many results were achieved at the last two sessions of the Committee, held in Katmandu in 1985 and Arusha this year. Close co~peration continues wib'l the International Court of Justice and the . International Law Commissicn. we should "lso keep in mind the most helpful contributiUls of former Presidents of the General Assembly to the Coumittee's acttvi ties. Whatever the results of the activities of the CODIIIittee may be, it can never become a magic wand that solves all the intractable accumulated problems at a stroke, but it is one of the genuine means to that end. The developments facing our organizatioo prove that it needs such initiatives, which are indeed worthy of a ttention and appreciation by Member States • The Arab countries have always reaffirmed, through their deeds and through sta tements before the General Assembly or other pr incipal organs of the united Na tions, that they support all well-thought-out and constructive measures to preserve the United Nations, sustain it and pro~O'1g its existence, either through effective participation in the solution of internatiooal problems QC in activities aimed at fulfilment of the aspirations to independence and freedom of peoples still under the yoke of colm ial ism. (Hr. M-Bina!, ODan) The Olited N!1tions was established to solve the intractable problems of the wor ld~ therefore the internatio.nal coJmtlunity must close ranks to find solutions which may help the QrganizatiQl to OITercome its present difficulties. Otherwise the situation of the Organization itself will become an intract.able problem in need of a solutiQl, thereby propelling us into a vicious circle. That was the very premise from which the wer k of the AALCC was launched in a bid to enhance co-operation vi th the thited Ni!tions. We support the secretary-General's report (A/41/653) of 29 September 1986 rela ting to the agenda item Ql co-opera tion between the tbi ted Na Hons and the Asian-African Legal Coosultative Conmittee. The Arab States support the draft resolutim presentGd by a nunber of sponsors, including my country, the Sultanate of Qnan, to continue and increase such co-operation. Indeed, many Arab States have sponsored the draft resolution. We hope that such co-operation will prOlTe fruitful and beneficial to all. Mr. WlJEWARDANE (Sri Lanka)~ It gives me great pleasure to speak on agenda item 30, "Co-operation between the tbited Nations and the Asian-African regal Coosultative Cormnittee". My de-legate is a co-sponsor of draft resolution A/4l/L.6, which I trust will be aoopted by consensus. The Asian-African Legal Coosultative Conmittee (AALCC) celebrates its th irtieth anniversary this year and has an impress ive record of achievements dur ing those 30 years. Its fruitful co-operation with the united Nations formally commenced at the thirty-fifth session of the General Assenbly when it was accorded the status of Permanent a>server, but the relationship of the Conmi ttee with the Menber States of the tbi ted Nations goes back nuch fur ther. There is much to be coJmlended in the war k of the AALCC, which with a limited budget and resources has prOlTided a very valuable service since its inception in 1956 as the Asian Legal Consultative Committee. In its formative years the (Mc. Al-Hinai, Qnan) Committee devoted itself to studies on issues and subjects of special importance to newly independent States, such as citizenship and nationality, succession of States, treatment of foreigners and so on. The Committee, which had initially taken upon itself an advisory role with regard to its seven original participating States, has over the years extended its activities to meet the varying needs of a membership which now exceeds 40. The beginnings of the AALCC are linked to the historic Bandung Conference. It has emerged as a useful forum for co-operation between the Asian and African regions in several areas of common concern. Its contribution to economic co-operation and matters related to trade law are outstanding examples of its services. The continuing work dona by the AALCC has an impact on the work of the United Nations, particularly because of the global impact its work has had over the y~ars. During the fortieth session of the General Assembly, which was a time for both celebration and sober reflection on the future of the Organization, the AALCC made a signal contribution. Its study ·Strengthening the role of the United Nations through rationalization of function modalities with special reference to the General Assembly· and the seminar it held in September 1985 and its recommendations were, I believe, a valuable input to the review which the Assembly commenced this month on the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations. The Secretary-General's report (A/4l/653) gives a detailed description of the wide range of issues and subjects with which the Committee has concerned itself in the period under review. These range from international trade law and the International Court of Justice to the promotion of investment and refugee law. This year, at its twenty-fifth session, held in Arusha, Tanzania, the Committee stUdied the auestions of delimitation of the exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf, right of access for land-locked States to the liVing (Mr. Wijewardane, Sri Lanka) resources of the zone and ii>'.~f:::1it through co~I.';1:.al States in the context of the United Nations Convention ~~~ ~e taw of the sea. In the same field, at an earlier session in May 1981 in Sri Lanka, a study was initiated on economic, scientific and technical c:o~pera~jon in the use of the Indian O::ean. Since then, following subsequent sessions in Tokyo and Katmandu, that initiative bas led to the fur ther ing of co~peration to ensure optimal use of the ocean and managefllent of its resources. I do not wish to extend this brief statement unduly. The AALCC stands on its record. African and ASian co-mtries in partiCUlar greatly value its contribution to the clarificatial and elucidation of a nUllber of subjects and concerns of vital iIlportance to us. I would like to expcess Sri Lanka's special appreciation of the secretary-General of the Commit'l:ee, Mr. B. Sen, for his .ie\1oted service to the COIlDittee, whidl has now firmly established itself as a major intergovernmental organizaticn playing a si~ificant role in the pcogressive de\1elo~ent and codification of international law. As a sp:msor of the draft resolution, lfW delegation has mum pleasure in canm~ding it for acbption by this Assellb1y by consensus. (Mr. ifijewardane, S,r. i Lanka) Mr. CALERO RODRIGUES (Brazil): The work of the United Nations in general, and in the field of international law in particular, cannot and is not conducted as if it were in closed chambers. Doors must remain open and co-operation should be maintained with the outside bodies and institutions that labour in the same fields and that may well provide an invaluable contribution to the work done at the United Nations. A case in point is the co-operation between our Organization and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee (AALCC). Since that co-operQtion was formally established a few years ago, positive results ~ave been achieved. Both the report of the secretary-General (A/41/653) and the statement of the aecretary-General of the AALCC today give a clear picture of the activities of the Committee and show how much we can profit in the United Nations from its studies, initiatives and suggestions. After 30 years of proficient work, always characterized by a high degree of consciousness and by strict adherence to sound legal principles, the AALCC is to be counted ~oday as an outstanding or9anization in t~ domain of codification and development of international law. The Committee has addressed itself to auestions such as the law of the sea, jurisdictional immunities of States, non-navigational uses of international watercourses, settlement of disputes in economic and commercial transactions, and has lately broadened its activities to include areas as different as the E"'rengthening of the role of the United Nations through the rationalization of functional modalities, the enhancement of international co-operation for development, protection of the environment and the problem of refugees. It is not only the list that is impreasive, but eaually imp~essive is the quality of the work done. A word of praise is in order for the 4U members of the Committee, with an addi~ional enoomium for the Secretariat and for Mr. B. Sen, who has been a splendid driving force and a permanent inspiration to the AALCC in its many accomplishments. The Commit~ee is now studying ways and means to promote wider use of the International Court of Justice and the colloauium recently held under the chairmanship of Judge Nagendra Singh~ President of the Court, hears witness to the relevance of the Committee's work in that field. My delegation will continue to follow with interest the activities of the AALCC, wishing it continued success in its endeavours and supports without reservations all efforts to maintain and improve the co-operation between the Committee and the United Nations. Mr. ORDZHONIKIDZE (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) (interpretation from Russian): As the Assembly is aware, the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee (AALCC) was created at the initiative of an eminent statesman, Mr. Jawaharlal Neh~u, after the Bandung Conference of 1955. Throughout its 30 years of history, the Committee has turned into a major intergovernmental organization which represents an important permanent body on co-operation bPtween Asian and African States. The Soviet union has constantly supported, and continues to support, efforts to implement the Randung principles between the countries of Asia and strengthening peace and security for all peoples. Of particular significance are the current efforts of the Organization, in the greatly changed conditions of the present-day world, the fundamental issue being whether mankind will be able to avert the nuclear danger or whether the policy of confrontation will prevail, leading to the probahility of a nuclear conflict. The Committee did a great deal of work to try to find solutions for urgent international legal problems and has also made a certain contributi.-- to a number of conferences, for ex&mple, the Vienna Conference on Diplomatic Relations and the ~onference on the Law of the Sea, and recently the Committee participated as an observer in the work of numerous bodies of the united Nations, such as the General Assembly, the International Law Commission, the United Nations Commission (Mr. Calero Rodrigues, Brazil) on Internatiaaal Trade Law, the Ecmomic and Social Council and the Preparatcxy Ccmmissim for the International sea-Bed Authority and for the International Tribmal for the taw of the sea. The COII!littee also considers a nunber of international legal ~cbl_s, including sudl important issues as the creation of zmes of peace, the questio" of the law of the sea, and prop3sals to include in a legal instrument elements on fr iendly and good-neighbourly r elations of states in Asia and the Paci fic • By considering the legal aspects, we believe the Ccmmittee will be able to play a more active and positive role in the future in the crea tion of Cl systell of security in the AlSian and Pacific region. The Ccmmittee will also promote a broader recognition and ratification of legal Q)cuments concluded within the thited Nations, for example, the Convention on the taw of the sea. The COImDittee also conments on a nunber of documents and treaties of interest to the countries of that regime At the mcst recent meeting in Arusha, i t wa~ propt;)sed that the secretary-General help to prOllOte the process of ratifica tion of the existing Convention on the taw of the sea. We also comnend the activities of the Conmittee in considering the legal aspects of the new in ternatiooal ecooomic order. At the same time, as far as the studies on strengthening the role of the United Natioos and illprOV'ing the work of the General Assenbly are concerned, as we see it the COIIUIittee should take a more balanced and realistic approach aimed,' fir st and foremost, at carrying out the main task of the thited Nations, that of maintaining inte=national peace and security, abCNe all else. In conclusion, I should like to wish the AALCC every success in its activities aimed at strengthening internatiooal legal foundations and creating a safe wodd free from war and weapons. (Kr. Ckdzhonikidze, tSSR) Hr. AL-WITRI (Iraq) (interpretation froa Arabic): At th~ outset, we congratu1ate the Asian-African legal Consultative CClllllittee (AALCC) on the occasion of its oollp1etion of 30 years of legal work within the f~alllework of the Afro-Asian family. My country is prOUd to have been one of the founding _lIIbers of this Coaaittee and participated in its establishment in 1956 within the context of the momentous Bandung CCXlference. We have witnessed the development of this Committee and have watched its membership grow from 7 to 40. It has grown from a small conmittee to an important international committee. My country has played an effective part in the COlllllittee's effor ts to promote the progressive developuent of international law. The Committee has held many meetings in Baghdad, the first of which took place in 1965 ih"'ld the last in 1977. we have followed all its sessions with sympathy an6 The Conmittee has undertaken important legal studies concerning numerous questions, including the question of the privileges and imml.l'lities of diplonatic and consular missions, the question of the law of treaties and other important matters. I wish to mention specifically the many regular and special sessions that the Committee held to study the international law of the sea, to reconcile the different points of view on this question and to arr ive at canpromise solutions of the many problen.s, especially the question of the exploitation of the sea-bed, the exclusive eCCllo:nic zone, the continental shelf and the rights of land-locked States and geographically disadvantaged countr ies. The Collltlittee has wor ked effectively in the field of international trade law. It has participated by submitting important studies concerning the pI"oolems of international CiOlliIlercial arbitration. It has established many regiooal centres in Africa and Asia for this purpose. Furthermore, the Committee has formulated model contracts for internationall sales so as to safeguard the interests of both sellers and buyers in the countries of Africa and Asia. Moreover, theCOIlIDittee has recently expanded its fields of interest by dealing with ecooomic questions, especially the question of developing eoonomic co-operation between member countr ies and questions of development in the developing countries. In addition to this, it has tackled humanitarian questions, foremost among which is the refugee problem. (Mr. Al-Wi tr i, Iraq) This effective COIIl1littee constitutes a labor:atory for the interaction of the ideas and viewpoints of African and Asian muntries and for the formulation of a common opinion at pcoblems facing these colDtries. The African and Asian countries are for the most part developing cauntr ies whim have recently bemme independent and wich took no part in the laying down of the rules of traditional international law. The Ccmmittee has mntributed and continues to contribute to the developnent of these rules in such a way as to establish new international law ~:i.ch would safeguard the interests of its peoples, as well as their legal rights. The year 1981 marked a new p-aase in the development of the Committee, when it entered into co-operation with the United Nations. Credit for this useful co-operation is largely due to the secretary-General of the Utited Nations, as may be seen from his report (A/41/653), as well as to the general secretariat of AALCC itself, which has submitted many documents to the Uti ted Nations, the most important of which are its study on the strengthening of the role of the United Nations (A/40/726 and Corr.l, annex) and its study on the role of the International Court of Justice (document A/40/682, annex). In view of the foregoing, my delegation supports the draft resolution on co-operation between the united Nations and the Comnittee (A/41/L.6). Before conclUding, I wish to pay a tribute to the secretary-General of AALCC, Mr. sen, for his wor It in 9U iding the Comnittee since its inception. He has str iven wi th devotion and dedication to fur ther its activi ties. To him go our thanks and our high esteem. Mr. AL-KBl\SAWNEH (Jordan) (interpretation from Arabic) \ I should like to begin my statement by expressing our thanks to the Secretary-Jeneral of the tllited Nations for his oonprehensive report (A/41/653), in which he has clearly described the state of co-operation between the tlli ted Ha tions and the As ian-African Legal Consultative Coumittee (MLCC). I should like also to expcess our thanks and (Mr. Al-wi tr i, Iraq) appreciation to the secretary-General of the Consultative Committee, Mr. f.en, who has presided over the work of the COIllDittee with great skill for aany yeal:s. It is also my pleasure to express, on behalf of my delegation, our congra1;ulations t.') the Consultative Comittee on coupleting 30 years of existence and particularly to the general secretariat of the Committee for its continuing efforts to BeNe the aims of the Conmittee and for the high qualit.y of the studies issued by the Coauittee. The Consultative Committee is one of many outstanding orgcnizations that provide good service to the cause of international law by spreading increasing understanding of it. This in turn helps to prOlllOte the role of the thited N!tions and regional and international oo~peration. The important role of the Committee in the field of international law has earned it great international prestige and the appreciation of many international organizations and States that are not meDbers of the Committee, particularly becaus~ of the great interest aroused by the studies issued by the COJlBDittee. Here I must mention the two studies prepared by the Committee last ye~, one on the strengthening of the role of the thited Nations (A/40/726 and Corr.l, annex) and the other on the role of the International Court of Justice (A/40/682, annex), both issued as oocuments of the General Assemly at its fortieth session. The Consultativ~ Comittee partic:...pates in the co~rdination of the positions of its mellber States on the issues it discusses. Among these issues, naturally, are some of the items on the agenda of the united Nations General Assembly and its Committees. Furthermore, the studies prepared and issued by AALCC are of g.:eat value to the delegations of its memb~r States. The interest in the role and the work of AALCC has grown with the enlargement of its memership and the increase in the representation of many countries at its sessions at the ministerbl or other high levels, particularly since the General Assembly at its thirty-fifth session granted the status of permanent observer to the Consultative COIllDittee. Interest (Hr. Al-Khasarmehc t Jordan) also increased after the C~ttee expanded its activities to include ecooomic and huunitarian issues. The fact that the General Assembly granted the status of per1lCll1ent observer to the Consultative ComJIittee shows that the mternational co_unity fully appceciates the Cc.ittee's work. Moreover, the fact that an item ! was included in the agenda of the General Assemly concerning co-operation between the ,:,-'"itaJ Naticns and AALCC is further proof of that. (Hr. Al-KhasaW1leh, Jordan) Such co-operation between the United Nations and the Consultative Committee is in the interest of both Organizations. Furthermore, it serves the interests of international law, on the one hand, and inter~ationa1 co-operation on the othe~. My delegation suppo~ts such co-operation and we hope that it will continue to be promoted through consultations, studies and different programmes. I should like here to mention the co11oa~ium held recently at the United Nations Headauarters under the leadership of Mr. Nagendra Singh, President of the International Court of Justice, on the role of the Court in solving international disputes as well as the symposium held by the Committee in Cairo last December on arbitration. We believe that such symposiums and colloauiums are very important and we call for further colloauiums and symposiums to be held in co-operation with the United Nations. We support other steps taken by the Committee in light of the fact that economic issues take up most of its attention, such as the preparation of model bilateral agreements for promoting and protecting investments t~4t can be followed by Member states when entering i~to economic agreements with other States. We also appreciate the fact that it has put forward a system for the settlement of disputes in economic and commercial transactions, drawing inspiration from the debates on commercial arbitration in the United Nations Comm~ssion on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). We wish full success to the working group established by the Committee to study the debt crisis of developing countries. In conclusion, my delegation wishes every success to the AALCC in its work. We hope that co-operation between the Committee and the United Nations will continue and indeed will grow. (Mr. Al-Khasawneh, Jordan)

The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/4l/L.6. May I take it that the General AsseJllbly adopts draft resolutIon A/4l/L.6? Draft resolution A/4l/L.6 was adopted (resolution 41/5).

This concludes our consideration of agenda item 30. The meeting rose at 1.05 p.Jll.