VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #1049/01 3241851
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201851Z NOV 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3149
INFO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0706
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2945

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001049 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP EDMONDSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNGA UNGA
SUBJECT: SIXTH COMMITTEE ADOPTS 14 ITEMS AND CONCLUDES 
SESSION 
 
REF: A. USUN 991 
 
     ¶B. WILCOX/KIINGI/EDMONDSON EMAIL 9 NOV 07 
     ¶C. STATE 156953 
     ¶D. USUN 993 
     ¶E. USUN 990 
     ¶F. USUN 988 
     ¶G. STATE 154995 
     ¶H. USUN 987 
     ¶I. KIINGI/WILCOX EMAIL 14 NOV 07 
     ¶J. USUN 989 
     ¶K. USUN 992 
     ¶L. STATE 155041 
     ¶M. USUN 1017 
     ¶N. USUN 998 
     ¶O. STATE 157739 
     ¶P. USUN 1018 
     ¶Q. STATE 157040 
     ¶R. MATTLER/EDMONDSON/WILCOX EMAILS 16 NOV 07 
     ¶S. USUN 1020 
     ¶T. STATE 157645 
     ¶U. EDMONDSON/WILCOX EMAIL 16 NOV 07 
 
¶1. On November 19, 2007, the Sixth Committee adopted without 
a vote 12 draft resolutions and two draft decisions, thereby 
concluding the consideration of its agenda for the 62nd UNGA 
session.  Per reftels, USUN joined consensus in the adoption 
of these resolutions.  The resolutions will be presented to 
the General Assembly for adoption at a later date, most 
likely in December.  The relevant agenda items and their 
corresponding UN document numbers are provided below (UN 
documents are available online at: http://documents.un.org). 
 
¶2. Agenda Item 79: United Nations Programme of Assistance in 
the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of 
International Law (Refs A, B and C, A/C.6/62/L.12).  Among 
other things, this resolution recommends that the General 
Assembly reappoint the United States to the Advisory 
Committee on the Programme of Assistance for a four-year term 
that would expire on December 31, 2011. 
 
¶3. Agenda Item 83: Diplomatic Protection (Refs C and D, 
A/C.6/62/L.13). 
 
¶4. Agenda Item 85: Report of the Special Committee on the 
Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the 
Role of the Organization (Refs C and E, A/C.6/62/L.11).  In a 
statement on financial implications, the Secretariat stated 
that the adoption of the resolution would result in no 
additional requirements under the proposed 2008-2009 budget. 
 
¶5. Agenda Item 80: Criminal Accountability of United Nations 
Officials and Experts on Mission (Refs F and G, 
A/C.6/62/L.10).  In an explanation of position after the 
adoption of the draft resolution, Canada (on behalf of 
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) noted the resolution's 
stern message to take action against UN officials on mission 
who commit serious crimes, and in doing so, damage the 
reputation of the United Nations.  In a statement on 
financial implications, the Secretariat stated that the 
adoption of the resolution would result in no additional 
requirements under the proposed 2008-2009 budget. 
 
¶6. Agenda Item 78: Responsibility of States for 
Internationally Wrongful Acts (Refs C and H, A/C.6/62/L.20). 
 
¶7. Agenda Item 82: Report of the International Law Commission 
on the work of its fifty-ninth session (Refs C, I, and J, 
A/C.6/62/L.18). 
 
¶8. Agenda Item 84: Prevention of Transboundary Harm from 
Hazardous Activities and Allocation of Loss in the Case of 
such Harm (Refs K and L, A/C.6/62/L.19) 
 
¶9. Agenda Item 86: The Rule of Law at the National and 
International Levels (Refs P, Q, and R, A/C.6/62/L.9).  The 
coordinator of the resolution (Liechtenstein) introduced two 
changes to the draft text from the floor, discussed 
previously by email with IO/UNP and L/UNA (ref Q).  Preamble 
paragraph 6 was edited in line 5 to add the phrase "Chapter 
VI of" to modify the reference to the UN Charter to read "in 
accordance with Chapter VI of the Charter".  In operative 
paragraph 5, the reference to the selection of a subtopic for 
the Sixth Committee to discuss during its 63rd session was 
deleted.  The coordinator said no consensus was reached on 
the selection of a subtopic; however, Sixth Committee would 
continue the issue's consideration during the sixty-third 
session.  In an explanation of position after the adoption of 
the resolution, Germany noted this year's text did not invite 
the Secretary-General to seek the views of governments on the 
 
 
rule of law as it did in last year's resolution.  Germany 
stated its view that the present resolution would not 
preclude the Secretary-General from considering the views of 
governments already provided pursuant to resolution A/61/39. 
 
 
¶10. Agenda Item 108: Measures to Eliminate International 
Terrorism (Refs C and M, A/C.6/62/L.14).  In an explanation 
of position before the adoption of the draft resolution, 
Egypt, Algeria, and Iran expressed their dissatisfaction with 
the inclusion of NATO in preamble paragraph 21, which they 
asserted was a military organization and therefore did not 
belong.  Furthermore, Algeria called the resolution a "meager 
result" of the deliberations on this item.  Uganda noted the 
absence of the East African Community in PP21 and asked for 
its inclusion.  Speaking after the adoption of the draft 
resolution, Venezuela, Sudan, and Cuba echoed those who 
opposed the reference to NATO in PP21.  Venezuela also 
complained that the negotiation of the resolution was carried 
out by a limited group of delegations and asked for more 
openness and transparency at the next session.  (COMMENT: 
This was interesting because Venezuela had been included in 
the limited group.  END COMMENT.)  Tunisia said the 
focused-text approach that the coordinator of the resolution 
(Canada) recommended at the outset of negotiations should be 
revisited next year.  In a statement on financial 
implications, the Secretariat stated that the adoption of the 
resolution would result in no additional requirements under 
the proposed 2008-2009 budget. 
 
¶11. Agenda Item 81: Report of the United Nations Commission 
on International Trade Law on the work of its forty-ninth 
session (Refs N and O, A/C.6/62/L.16 and A/C.6/62/L.17).  The 
Sixth Committee adopted two draft resolutions under this 
agenda item: the annual omnibus resolution and a resolution 
to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Convention on the 
Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, done 
at New York on 10 June 1958.  USUN delivered the explanation 
of position in ref O after the adoption of the omnibus 
resolution.  In an explanation of position, Canada said that 
while the inclusion of developing states in the review of 
UNCITRAL working methods was a welcome transparency measure, 
Canada does not see a need to "revamp" UNCITRAL working 
methods.  France stated its position that a review of 
UNCITRAL working methods would not prejudice the framework to 
be discussed in Vienna this December. 
 
¶12. Agenda Item 137: Administration of Justice at the United 
Nations (Refs S, T, and Q, A/C.6/62/L.22).  In a statement on 
financial implications, the Secretariat stated that the 
adoption of the draft decision would result in no additional 
requirements under the proposed 2008-2009 budget. 
 
¶13. Agenda Item 121 and 129: Revitalization of the Work of 
the General Assembly, Programme Planning (Ref U, 
A/C.6/62/L.21)  In an explanation of position before the 
adoption of the draft decision, the Dominican Republic (on 
behalf of the Rio Group) urged the Chairman and the 
Secretariat to do more to ensure that meetings of the Sixth 
 
SIPDIS 
Committee do not overlap with negotiations of the Law of the 
Sea and Fisheries resolutions.  When meetings overlap, he 
said, small delegations are at disadvantage as they cannot be 
in two places at the same time.  The Dominican also urged the 
Bureau to schedule all negotiations on resolutions in the 
Trusteeship Council Chamber to ensure that such meetings were 
open to all States.  Uganda, Egypt, Trinidad and Tobago (on 
behalf of the Caribbean Community), New Zealand, Sierra 
Leone, Portugal (on behalf of the EU), El Salvador, the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Morocco aligned 
themselves with the Rio Group statement. 
 
¶14. Agenda Item 5: Election of Officers.  The Sixth Committee 
Chairman (Moldova) reminded delegations that, in accordance 
with the rules of procedure, the Committee must elect a new 
chairperson, three vice-chairs and a rapporteur at least 
three months in advance of its next session.  The Chairman 
recommended regional groups begin their informal 
consideration of potential candidates. 
Khalilzad