Statement by 

H.E. Mr. A. J. Jacovides

 Ambassador, Special Adviser 

Representative of the Republic of Cyprus

 to the Sixth (Legal) Committee

 at the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly

on agenda item 149: 

"United Nations Programme of Assistance

 in the Training, Study, Dissemination and

 Wider Appreciation of International Law"

New York, 4 November 2003

Mr. Chairman,

The purpose of my brief statement is to place on record our recognition of the value of the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law; to express our deep appreciation for the efforts of the UN Secretariat (and in particular Mr. George Korontzis), of UNITAR and UNESCO; and to reaffirm our support for the Programme.

Allow me, Mr. Chairman, to recall that we have been among those who, recognizing the desirability and need for such a Programme, together with such legal luminaries and then members of the International Law Commission Codjo Dadzie and Abdul Tabibi took the initiative more than three and a half decades ago to establish it through General Assembly resolution 2099 (XX) in 1965. Cyprus has served on the Advisory Committee for the bulk of this period and we have endeavoured, in our very modest way, to contribute to its successful conduct financially and through its inclusion under the UN Decade of International Law (1990-1999), of which it formed an important part.

Having myself had first hand knowledge of how some parts of the Programme function, including lecturing twice at the Geneva International Law Seminar as a member of the International Law Commission1 and the Hague International Law Fellowship Programme2 conducted by UNITAR, among other such activities, I am convinced of its great value for advanced students, law professors and government officials, primarily from developing countries, in updating and deepening their knowledge of developments in international law, in exchanging and sharing information and in familiarizing themselves with the legal work of the United Nations and its associated bodies. Of particular interest are also the Programme’s activities concerning the Law of the Sea and Ocean Affairs, notably the Amerasinghe Memorial Fellowships on the Law of the Sea and those concerning Trade Law and the valuable work of UNCITRAL.

Indeed, all the activities of the Programme, as summarized in the Secretary-General’s Report (A/58/446), deserve the support of Member States. We endorse the recommendations regarding the continuation of the Programme in the biennium 2004-2005 and we urge its full financial backing, both through the UN regular budget and through voluntary contributions by States.

Additionally, in our view, the possibility should be seriously considered, explored and promoted of obtaining voluntary contributions from foundations, institutions and individuals who can be convinced of the utility and importance of the Programme, under the appropriate modalities. Much is contributed yearly, especially by foundations, for other worthy purposes. Why not also towards the teaching, study, dissemination and wider appreciation of international law, thereby contributing towards international legal order and the rule of law among nations? Should these efforts prove fruitful, we would envisage a substantial expansion of the Programme’s activities in the years ahead.

Finally, we shall be pleased to support the draft resolution just proposed by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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