VZCZCXYZ0022
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUCNDT #0991/01 3131923
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091923Z NOV 07
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3045

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000991 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR IO/UNP EDMONDSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: UNGA UNGA
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: SIXTH COMMITTEE DRAFT RESOLUTION 
ON THE PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE 
 
 
¶1. ACTION REQUEST: USUN requests instructions from the 
Department to join consensus on the Sixth Committee's draft 
resolution on the UN Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, 
Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International 
Law (agenda item 79) contained in para 3, or substantially 
similar text.  The text of all draft resolutions are due in 
the Sixth Committee by November 9.  USUN expects the Sixth 
Committee to take action on draft resolutions shortly 
thereafter.  USUN point of contact for this resolution is 
Elizabeth Wilcox, (212) 415-4220, WilcoxE@state.gov. END 
ACTION REQUEST. 
 
¶2. BACKGROUND/COMMENT:  As discussed, the text in para 3 does 
not differ substantially from the resolution on this item 
adopted by the Sixth Committee during the sixtieth session 
(A/60/514).  New preamble paragraphs PP1 - PP4 and PP10 - 
PP11 underscore the Programme's contribution to the subject 
of international law, the importance of maintaining a 
balanced representation of major legal systems and 
geographical regions in the Programme's seminars, and the 
desirability that Member States and international 
organizations make available, to the extent possible, 
facilities and resources for the Programme's implementation. 
New operative paragraphs OP9 - OP13 welcome the dissemination 
of more legal information on the Internet, the establishment 
of a Programme website, the development and maintenance of an 
audiovisual library, and technical assistance and training by 
the Secretariat's Office of Legal Affairs.  The text notes 
that funding for these activities should be provided within 
available resources and through voluntary contributions.  Per 
OP21, the United States would be appointed to serve on the 
twenty-five member Advisory Committee on the Programme of 
Assistance for a four-year term beginning January 1, 2008. 
USUN has discussed the potential extrabudgetary implications 
of draft resolution with the Secretariat, in particular OP7 
and OP8 concerning publications and OP9 and OP10 concerning 
the dissemination of information via the Internet.  The 
Secretariat has assured USUN that the activities covered by 
 
SIPDIS 
these paragraphs will be conducted within existing resources 
and that the resolution does not have extrabudgetary 
financial implications.  END BACKGROUND/COMMENT. 
 
¶3. Text of draft resolution on the UN Programme of Assistance 
in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation 
of International Law: 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
 
Sixty-second session 
Sixth Committee 
Agenda Item 79 
 
Draft Resolution 
UN Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, 
Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law 
 
The General Assembly, 
 
Reaffirming its commitment to the purposes and principles of 
the Charter of the United Nations and international law and 
to an international order based on the rule of law and 
international law, which is essential for peaceful 
coexistence and cooperation among States, 
 
Recalling its resolution 2099 (XX) of 20 December 1965 which 
established the Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, 
Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International 
Law to contribute towards a better knowledge of international 
law as a means of strengthening international peace and 
security and of promoting friendly relations and cooperation 
among States, 
 
Noting the significant contribution of the Programme of 
Assistance to a better knowledge of international law for 
more than four decades as envisaged in the above resolution, 
 
Considering nevertheless that much remains to be done in this 
field, 
 
Taking note with appreciation of the report of the 
Secretarty-General on the implementation of the United 
 
SIPDIS 
Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, 
Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law and 
the recommendations made to the Secretary-General by the 
Advisory Committee on the Programme of Assistance, which are 
contained in that report, 
 
Considering that international law should occupy an 
appropriate place in the teaching of legal disciplines at all 
universities, 
 
 
Noting with appreciation the efforts made by States at the 
bilateral level to provide assistance in the teaching and 
study of international law, 
 
Convinced, nevertheless, that States and international 
organizations and institutions should be encouraged to give 
further support to the Programme and increase their 
activities to promote the teaching, study, dissemination and 
wider appreciation of international law, in particular those 
activities which are of special benefit to persons from 
developing countries, 
 
Reaffirming also the hope that, in appointing lecturers for 
the seminars to be held within the framework of the 
fellowship programmes in international law, account would be 
taken of the need to secure the representation of major legal 
systems and balance among various geographical regions, 
 
¶1. Approves the guidelines and recommendations contained in 
section III of the report of the Secretary-General, I as well 
as the recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on the 
Programme of Assistance, in particular those designed to 
achieve the best possible results in the administration of 
the Programme of Assistance within a policy of maximum 
financial restraint; 
 
¶2. Authorizes the Secretary-General to carry out in 2008 and 
2009 the activities specified in his report, including the 
provision of: 
 
(a) A number of international law fellowships in both 2008 
and 2009, to be determined in the light of the overall 
resources for the Programme of Assistance and to be awarded 
at the request of Governments of developing countries; 
 
(b) A minimum of one scholarship in both 2008 and 2009 under 
the Hamilton Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the 
Law of the Sea, subject to the availability of new voluntary 
contributions made specifically to this fellowship fund; 
 
(c) Subject to the overall resources for the Programme of 
Assistance, assistance in the form of a travel grant for one 
participant from each developing country, who would be 
invited to possible regional courses to be organized in 2008 
and 2009; 
 
and to finance the above activities from provisions in the 
regular budget, when appropriate, as well as from voluntary 
financial contributions earmarked for each of the activities 
concerned, which would be received as a result of the 
requests set out in paragraphs 18 to 20 below; 
 
¶3. Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for 
his constructive efforts to promote training and assistance 
in international law within the framework of the Programme of 
Assistance in 2006 and 2007, in particular for the 
organization of the forty-second and forty-third sessions of 
the International Law Seminar, held at Geneva in 2006 and 
2007, respectively, and for the activities of the Office of 
Legal Affairs of the Secretariat related to the International 
Law Fellowship Programme and to the Hamilton Shirley 
Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea, 
carried out, respectively, through its Codification Division 
and its Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea; 
 
¶4. Requests the Secretary-General to consider admitting, for 
participation in the various components of the Programme of 
Assistance, candidates from countries willing to bear the 
entire cost of such participation; 
 
¶5. Also requests the Secretary-General to consider the 
relative advantages of using available resources and 
voluntary contributions for regional, subregional or national 
courses, as against courses organized within the United 
Nations system; 
 
¶6. Further requests the Secretary-General to continue to 
provide the necessary resources to the programme budget for 
the Programme of Assistance for the next and the future 
bienniums with a view to maintaining the effectiveness of the 
Programme of Assistance; 
 
¶7. Recognizes the importance of the United Nations legal 
publications prepared by the Office of Legal Affairs, and 
strongly encourages their continued publication; 
 
¶8. Welcomes the efforts undertaken by the Office of Legal 
Affairs to bring up to date the United Nations legal 
publications; 
 
¶9. Welcomes also the placing on the Internet of the Reports 
 
 
of International Arbitral Awards, the Summaries of Judgments, 
Advisory Opinions and Orders of the International Court of 
Justice, and other legal information, as well as the 
expansion of the website of the International Law Commission 
to include all its documentation; 
 
¶10. Welcomes further the establishment of the website on the 
Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination 
and Wider Appreciation of International Law; 
 
¶11. Notes the need to safeguard and preserve the audiovisual 
history of legal developments within the United Nations, 
which constitutes an invaluable resource for promoting a 
better knowledge of international law; 
 
¶12. Notes with satisfaction the efforts made by the 
Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs to 
revitalize, within available resources, the United Nations 
Audiovisual Library of International Law and urges States to 
make voluntary contributions to enable the Codification 
Division to develop and maintain this Audiovisual Library; 
 
¶13. Welcomes the training and technical assistance activities 
in international law undertaken by the Office of Legal 
Affairs in the framework of the Programme of Assistance, as 
described in the report of the Secretary-General, and 
encourages the continuation of such activities within 
available resources; 
 
¶14. Expresses its appreciation to the United Nations 
Institute for Training and Research for its participation in 
the Programme of Assistance through the activities described 
in the report of the Secretary-General; 
 
¶15. Also expresses its appreciation to the United Nations 
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its 
participation in the Programme of Assistance through the 
activities described in the report of the Secretary-General; 
 
¶16. Further expresses its appreciation to The Hague Academy 
of International Law for the valuable contribution it 
continues to make to the Programme of Assistance, which has 
enabled candidates under the International Law Fellowship 
Programme to attend and participate in the Fellowship 
Programme in conjunction with the Academy courses; 
 
¶17. Notes with appreciation the contributions of The Hague 
Academy to the teaching, study, dissemination and wider 
appreciation of international law, and calls upon Member 
States and interested organizations to give favorable 
consideration to the appeal of the Academy for a continuation 
of support and a possible increase in their financial 
contributions, to enable the Academy to carry out its 
activities, particularly those relating to the summer 
courses, regional courses and programmes of the Centre for 
Studies and Research in International Law and International 
Relations; 
 
¶18. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to publicize 
the Programme of Assistance and periodically to invite Member 
States, universities, philanthropic foundations and other 
interested national and international institutions and 
organizations, as well as individuals, to make voluntary 
contributions towards the financing of the Programme of 
Assistance or otherwise to assist in its implementation and 
possible expansion; 
 
¶19. Reiterates its request to Member States and to interested 
organizations and individuals to make voluntary 
contributions, inter alia, for the International Law Seminar, 
the International Law Fellowship Programme, the Hamilton 
Shirley Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowship on the Law of the Sea 
and the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International 
Law, and expresses its appreciation to those Member States, 
institutions and individuals that have made voluntary 
contributions for this purpose; 
 
¶20. Urges in particular all Governments to make voluntary 
contributions for the organization of regional courses in 
international law by the Codification Division of the Office 
of Legal Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations 
Institute for Training and Research, especially with a view 
to covering the amount needed for the financing of the daily 
subsistence allowance for up to twenty-five participants in 
each regional course, thus alleviating the burden on 
prospective host countries and making it possible to continue 
to organize the regional courses; 
 
¶21. Decides to appoint twenty-five Member States, six from 
Africa, five from Asia, three from Eastern Europe, five from 
Latin America and the Caribbean and six from Western Europe 
 
 
and other States, as members of the Advisory Committee on the 
United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, 
Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International 
Law, for a period of four years beginning on 1 January 2008; 
 
¶22. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General 
Assembly at its sixty-fourth session on the implementation of 
the Programme of Assistance during 2008 and 2009 and, 
following consultations with the Advisory Committee on the 
Programme of Assistance, to submit recommendations regarding 
the execution of the Programme of Assistance in subsequent 
years; 
 
¶23. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its 
sixty-fourth session the item entitled "United Nations 
Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination 
and Wider Appreciation of International Law." 
 
END TEXT. 
Khalilzad