Convention on safety of UN personnel, terrorism declaration adopted.

The General Assembly on 9 December adopted and opened for signature, ratification and acceptance a 29-article Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.

In adopting resolution 49/59, the Assembly also underlined the importance of speedily concluding a comprehensive review of arrangements for compensation for death, disability, injury or illness attributed to peace-keeping services, with a view to developing equitable and appropriate arrangements and ensuring expeditious reimbursement. States were urged to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of such personnel within their territory.

The Convention obliges States parties to establish jurisdiction over crimes, including murder, kidnapping or threat of attack, against UN and associated personnel. It defines the duties of States to ensure the safety and security of such personnel and to release or return those captured or detained. It calls on host States and the UN to quickly conclude agreements on the status of the UN operation and personnel. Transit States are required to facilitate unimpeded transit of such personnel. The Convention also addresses such issues as prosecution or extradition of alleged offenders.

Terrorism condemned

The Assembly also adopted a fourarticle Declaration, set out in resolution 49/60, which condemned all acts and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomever they were committed. States were urged to take measures at the national and international levels to eliminate international terrorism, and to make every effort to ensure that the Declaration was widely known, observed and fully implemented.

The Secretary-General was asked to assist in the Declaration's implementation by taking practical measures to enhance international cooperation in order to prevent and suppress international terrorism.

In resolution 49/57, the Assembly approved another Declaration--on the enhancement of cooperation between the UN and regional arrangements or agencies in the maintenance of international peace and security. The 12-operative paragraph text encourages States participating in regional arrangements or agencies to consider the possibility of using, establishing or improving at the regional level procedures and mechanisms for the early detection, prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes, in close coordination with the UN's preventive efforts.

In all, 14 resolutions and four decisions were adopted by the Assembly on the recommendation of its Sixth Committee (Legal).

International criminal court

It was agreed (49/53) that an ad hoc committee would be established to review major issues arising from the draft statute for an international criminal court and arrangements would be considered to convene an international conference of plenipotentiaries to conclude a convention on the court's establishment.

The Assembly also urged (49/51) resumed work on the draft Code of Crimes against the Peace and Security of Mankind and on State responsibility.

The Assembly voted to consider (49/58) the deletion of the term "enemy-State" from the Charter and asked the Special Committee on the Charter of the UN and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization to recommend at its fiftieth session the most appropriate legal action to be taken on that question.

It was decided that the Sixth Committee would convene (49/52) as a working group a meeting from 7 to 25 October 1996 to elaborate a framework convention on the law of the non-navigational uses of international watercourses, based on draft articles adopted by the International Law Commission (ILC) in light of Member States' written comments, as well as views expressed during the current Assembly session.

By resolution 49/54, the Assembly recommended that, in view of the desirability of the improvement and uniformity of the laws of procurement, States give favourable consideration to the Model Law on Procurement of Goods, Construction and Services when enacting or revising their procurement laws. By resolution 49/55, it stressed the importance of bringing into effect conventions emanating from the Commission's work and urged States to consider signing, ratifying or acceding to those conventions.

The Assembly accepted the ILC's recommendation (49/61) to convene an international conference of plenipotentiaries to consider the articles on jurisdictional immunities of States and their property, and to conclude a convention on the subject.

Concern was expressed (49/56) that financial indebtedness resulting from non-compliance with contractual obligations by certain missions accredited to the UN had increased to alarming proportions, and all permanent missions were reminded of their responsibilities to meet such obligations.

Acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions, as well as representatives of international inter-governmental organizations and officials, were strongly condemned (49/49).