UN role in crisis prevention discussed; wider role for World Court sought.

Wider role for World Court sought

The United Nations must demonstrate its capacity to function as "guardian of the world security", stated Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar in his 1989 report on the work of the Organization. His appeal for renewed efforts to "activate the potential of the Organization for averting wars" was warmly welcomed during the discussions in the Sixth Committee (Legal) and other fora.

There was a growing recognition that the UN role in preventing and peacefully settling disputes must be enhanced, including resort to and full respect for the International Court of Justice.

The Secretary-General on 1 November announced the establishment of a Trust Fund to assist States in settling disputes through the World Court. Its main purpose is to assist parties with cases before the Court who lack funds for legal expertise.

The Assembly on 4 December urged (44/31) all States to observe and promote in good faith provisions of the Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes.

The Special Committee on the Charter of the UN and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization was asked to give priority in 1990 to the question of maintenance of international peace and security and, in that context, to consider the issue of fact-finding activities by the United Nations. The elaboration of a draft handbook on peaceful settlement of disputes among States was to continue. The Assembly also drew attention to a new document on the resort to a commission of good offices, mediation or conciliation within the UN. Preventive diplomacy 

The Secretary-General reported on specific ideas to further the preventive role of the UN, including using modern technology to collect information on potential conflict situations, and holding periodic high-level Security Council meetings to consider the state of international peace and security in different regions.

Austria proposed establishing a system that would assist States in preventing possible, or in settling existing environmental disputes and helping investigate situations threatening what has been called the "global commons".

The USSR proposed (A/44/602) creating a multilateral centre for reduction of the threat of war, with links to UN Headquarters, capitals of Security Council permanent members and the Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement-, regional centres for preventing the threat of war; a multilateral agreement to prevent incidents beyond territorial waters; and an international monitoring and control system and an international survey satellite agency. It also favoured emergency economic and humanitarian assistance, including dispatch of volunteers to help prevent and remove tension created by internal socio-economic and other causes.

The Soviet Union also wanted (A/44/585) a comprehensive international strategy for "establishing the primacy of law in relations between States". Under it, existing safeguards against circumvention of international law and machinery for the peaceful settlement of disputes would be strengthened. Also, efforts to replace one-sided interpretations of principles of international law by a uniform interpretation in the common interests of mankind was favoured.

The USSR also proposed a comprehensive instrument for the peaceful settlement of disputes, offering to host a plenipotentiary conference in Moscow, for its adoption.