EU Presidency Statement - Role of the UN in pacific settlements

Mr. President,

Since this is the first time we are speaking under your Presidency, allow me first to congratulate you on the assumption of your duties. I would also like to extend our congratulations to the previous President, Mexico, for his excellent job.

Mr. President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The acceding countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the associated countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, as well as the EFTA country member of the European Economic Area, Iceland, declare that they align themselves with this statement.

Mr. President,

The maintenance of international peace and security is a major concern for the European Union. In this respect, we firmly support all efforts made in the United Nations and within regional organizations to strengthen mechanisms for the prevention and removal of disputes which might threaten international peace and security and for the peaceful settlement of such disputes.

The European Union is fully committed to the implementation of the existing international instruments as well as respective principles and rules concerning the peaceful settlement of international disputes.

We strongly uphold the principle that States should act so as to prevent in their international relations the emergence or aggravation of disputes or situations, in particular by fulfilling their obligations under international law.

Likewise, we believe that it is the duty of all States, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, to use peaceful means to settle any dispute to which they are parties and the continuance of which is likely to endanger international peace and security.

In this respect, the European Union attaches great importance to Chapter VI of the Charter and, in particular, to the various methods for the prevention and settlement of disputes which are incorporated in its Articles 33 to 38. We consider, however, that States should make the most effective use of these procedures and methods as was also indicated in resolution 55/217 of the G.A. We would also like to emphasize the importance of judicial mechanisms in the prevention and resolution of legal disputes. In our view the early and more frequent resort to these mechanisms and, in particular to the International Court of Justice and the International Tribunal of Law of the Sea, would greatly contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security and the promotion of the primacy of international law in international relations.

Mr. President,

The European Union wishes to underline the primary role of the Security Council in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations in the area of the peaceful settlement of disputes, or any situation the continuation of which is likely to endanger international peace and security.

In this connection, we would like to stress the obligation of States, in accordance with the Charter, to refer to the Security Council a dispute to which they are parties if they fail to reach an early solution by any of the means indicated in the Article 33 of the Charter.

In "An Agenda for Peace - Preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peacekeeping'' the Security Council was urged to take full advantage of the opportunities provided for by the Charter in order to recommend appropriate procedures or methods for dispute settlement as well as make recommendations to parties for a pacific settlement of the dispute. We fully support this recommendation which is also in line with Article 36 of the Charter.

We are also of the view that the Security Council should act without delay, in accordance with its functions and powers, particularly in cases where international disputes develop into armed conflicts.

The Security Council should also emphasize the importance of peaceful settlement of internal conflicts, the number of which has increased significantly during the last decade.

The European Union considers the role of the General Assembly in relation to the peaceful settlement of disputes to be an important one, in particular by developing recommendations, as appropriate, or by calling the attention of the Security Council to situations that are likely to endanger international peace and security. We think that this body should make a most effective use of its relevant competences under the Charter.

We also believe that the Secretary General is entrusted with important responsibilities in relation to the peaceful settlement of disputes. We commend him for his activities already deployed in this area, and we urge him to continue to make full use of these responsibilities, particularly by bringing to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.

Mr. President,

The European Union is of the view that preventive diplomacy and early warning can prevent the emergence and escalation of disputes and wishes to underline the important role played in this respect by the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Secretary General, and we are convinced that these bodies should continue to play that role and should further enhance it.

Likewise, we support the declarations and resolutions of the G.A. concerning dispute prevention that call for the strengthening of the capacity of the UN to respond effectively and efficiently in matters relating to dispute prevention, including through the strengthening of cooperative mechanisms for information-sharing, planning and development of a comprehensive plan for a revived early -warning and prevention system for the UN; training intended to support such enhanced capabilities in these areas; and cooperation with regional organizations.

The European Union is of the view that regional arrangements and agencies play also important role in the field of peaceful settlement of local disputes and in the prevention and removal of such disputes. Some of these regional arrangements have elaborated significant political and legal instruments providing for mechanisms for the peaceful resolution of disputes. The European Union urges States parties to such arrangements or members of such agencies to try to achieve a pacific settlement of their disputes through such mechanisms, in accordance with Articles 33 and 52 of the Charter.

The European Union believes that there is a need to increase regional responses to local disputes by strengthening the dispute settlement mechanisms and capacities of regional arrangements and agencies. In this respect a greater cooperation and coordination with the United Nations will benefit both and will contribute to lasting peace and security.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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