Philippines chairs UN special committee

The United Nations (UN) elected the Philippines last week to chair a special committee on global peacebuilding and settlement disputes, the Business Mirror reported.

The Philippines currently chairs the Special Committee on the Charter of the UN and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization, gmanews.tv said.

The committee was initiated by the late UN founder and former Philippine Foreign Minister General Carlos P. Romulo in 1975. The committee aimed to examine proposals to bolster the world body's role in maintaining peace and security, to advance cooperation among nations, and to promote international law.

"It is significant that the Philippines will chair this key United Nations body as it observes its 35^th year," Ambassador Hilario G. Davide Jr., Philippine permanent representative to the UN, said in an article posted yesterday on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) website.

“In his long and historic service in the United Nations, General Romulo always gave particular emphasis to the rule of law and the maintenance of peace and security, which are at the heart of the work of the special committee,” DFA said.

The committee started convening March 1 and is expected to complete its work this week. On the agenda for the 2010 session are:

strengthening the role of the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security;
international peace and security and the proper application of sanctions;
peaceful settlement of disputes;
the impact of sanctions and assistance to third States affected by them; and
requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the question of the use of force without prior approval by the Security Council.

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites