Convention on safety of UN personnel, terrorism declaration adopted.

• Position: Report on the UN General Assembly Sixth Committee

The General Assembly on 9 December adopted and opened for signature, ratification and acceptance a 29-article Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel.

In adopting resolution 49/59, the Assembly also underlined the importance of speedily concluding a comprehensive review of arrangements for compensation for death, disability, injury or illness attributed to peace-keeping services, with a view to developing equitable and appropriate arrangements and ensuring expeditious reimbursement. States were urged to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of such personnel within their territory.

The Convention obliges States parties to establish jurisdiction over crimes, including murder, kidnapping or threat of attack, against UN and associated personnel. It defines the duties of States to ensure the safety and security of such personnel and to release or return those captured or detained. It calls on host States and the UN to quickly conclude agreements on the status of the UN operation and personnel. Transit States are required to facilitate unimpeded transit of such personnel. The Convention also addresses such issues as prosecution or extradition of alleged offenders.

Terrorism condemned

The Assembly also adopted a fourarticle Declaration, set out in resolution 49/60, which condemned all acts and practices of terrorism as criminal and unjustifiable, wherever and by whomever they were committed. States were urged to take measures at the national and international levels to eliminate international terrorism, and to make every effort to ensure that the Declaration was widely known, observed and fully implemented.

The Secretary-General was asked to assist in the Declaration's implementation by taking practical measures to enhance international cooperation in order to prevent and suppress international terrorism.

In resolution 49/57, the Assembly approved another Declaration--on the enhancement of cooperation between the UN and regional arrangements or agencies in the maintenance of international peace and security. The 12-operative paragraph text encourages States participating in regional arrangements or agencies to consider the possibility of using, establishing or improving at the regional level procedures and mechanisms for the early detection, prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes, in close coordination with the UN's preventive efforts.

In all, 14 resolutions and four decisions were adopted...