March 13,2003
CAN THE U.N. ASSEMBLY STOP THE
WAR?
From 'Democracy Now' today:
The Security Council adopted Resolution 377 so
the UN can act even if the Security Council is
stalemated. Resolution 377 states that if there
is a 'threat to peace, breach of the peace, or act
of aggression' and the permanent members of the
Security Council can't agree on action, the
General Assembly can convene and recommend
measures to 'maintain or restore international
peace and security.'
The 'Uniting for Peace' mechanism has been used
ten times. It was most recently invoked by the US.
When Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956,
Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt and
began advancing on the Suez Canal. U.S. President
Dwight D. Eisenhower demanded that the invasion
stop. Resolutions in the UN Security Council
called for a cease-fire-but Britain and France
vetoed them. Then the US appealed to the General
Assembly and proposed a resolution calling for a
cease-fire and a withdrawal of forces. The General
Assembly held an emergency session and passed the
resolution. Britain and France withdrew from Egypt
within a week."
[Interview with people who have been meeting with
United Nations delegations about this little-known resolution -
Michael Ratner, President, Center for Constitutional Rights,
and Stephen Sawyer, Political Adviser for Greenpeace
International. Sawyer has spent the last 25 years
working on issues from climate change to peace and
disarmament issues. Yesterday, he spent the day
meeting with governments at the UN to talk
about the Uniting for Peace resolution.]
http://www.webactive.com/pacifica/demnow/dn20030313.html
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