Assembly considers measures to stop international terrorism.

Measures to eliminate international terrorism highlighted the work of the General Assembly's Sixth Committee (Legal) which almost finalized a draft convention for the suppression of nuclear terrorism and initiated work on a convention to stop terrorist financing.

On 8 December, in adopting 14 drafts submitted by the Committee, the Assembly also acted on such matters as the International Criminal Court, the International Law Decade, protection of victims of armed conflicts and protection of diplomatic and consular staff.

Committee Chairman Jargalsaikhany Enkhsaikhan of Mongolia hailed the "constructive atmosphere" prevailing throughout the session. He commended coordinators of the draft texts and delegations for their "spirit of cooperation, hard work and pragmatism", and recalled the first-ever in-session dialogue held between the International Law Commission and the Sixth Committee as "a trend to be encouraged and continued".

The two draft conventions - on the suppression of nuclear terrorism and on terrorist financing - were part of a practical sectoral approach to combating terrorism adopted by the international community. So far, 11 international instruments have been established dealing with specific manifestations of terrorism, such as hijacking, bombings and hostage-taking.

The draft convention on nuclear terrorism defined the offences considered as terrorist acts and outlined a prosecution or extradition scheme for offenders. One major issue that remained to be settled was whether official activities of armed forces would be excluded from acts defined as nuclear terrorism.

With regard to terrorist financing, the Assembly decided that its Ad Hoc Committee on international terrorism would elaborate on the draft submitted by France.

Deeply disturbed by the persistence of terrorist acts, the Assembly strongly condemned criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror for political purposes. It urged all States to become parties to relevant anti-terrorist conventions and protocols, including the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, and enact domestic legislation necessary to ensure the prosecution of perpetrators of terrorist acts. Further, the Assembly indicated that it would consider at its fifty-fourth session the question of convening a high-level United Nations conference in the year 2000 to formulate a collective response of the international community to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

By another resolution, the Assembly asked the Secretary-General to convene the Preparatory Commission for the International Criminal Court, in order to finalize practical arrangements for the Court's functioning.

It decided that the Commission would meet for three sessions in 1999-16 to 26 February; 26 July to 13 August; and 29 November to 17 December - with a view to completing its work by 30 June 2000. The Commission was to submit proposals and draft texts on rules of procedure and evidence, the elements of crimes, the relationship between the Court and the United Nations, a headquarters agreement with the host country (the Netherlands) and its budget for the first financial year.

With regard to protection of diplomats and representatives of consular missions, the Assembly urged States to strictly observe, implement and enforce the principles and rules of international law governing diplomatic and consular relations. States were also asked to take all measures at the national and international levels to prevent acts of violence against missions, representatives or other diplomatic officials. The Assembly expressed its alarm about recent violence which had endangered or taken innocent lives and seriously impeded the normal work of consular missions. It urged States to ensure that such acts are fully investigated and offenders brought to justice.

In calling upon all States to become parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, the Assembly also welcomed the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the field of international humanitarian law, including promotion of information exchange and protection of victims of armed conflict.

With reference to the United Nations Decade of International Law, which would end in 1999, the Assembly appealed for contributions to help carry out the planned programme of activities. It also reviewed the implementation of the programme of action dedicated to the centennial of the first International Peace Conference. Presented by the Governments of the Netherlands and the Russian Federation, that programme sought to further develop the themes of the first and second International Peace Conferences, held in 1899 and 1907. The Assembly encouraged other States to participate in the activities and requested that the two Governments prepare reports on the outcome of the centennial celebrations at The Hague and St. Petersburg.

In related action, the Assembly reaffirmed such principles relevant to international negotiations as sovereign equality of all States, duty of States not to intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of others, and settlement of their international disputes by peaceful means.