Seeking the peaceful settlement of international disputes : the role of the United Nations Secretariat : three case studies

Abstract

This is a study of the way in which the United Nations Secretariat seeks the peaceful settlement of international disputes. Its basic premise is that such a role for the Secretariat is implied in the UN Charter and has become established in practice. The study sets out to examine the nature and development of the Secretariat's role, its limits and its effectiveness. The very nature of that role makes it rather elusive, and an important aim of the study is to document the Secretariat's role through three case studies of international disputes which occurred during the U Thant period, from 1961 to 1971. The case studies are the Yemen dispute in 1963 and 1964, the Bahrain dispute in 1969 and 1970, and the Bangladesh crisis in 1971. In the light of the evidence from these case studies the initial analysis of the Secretariat's role is re-examined. Finally, it is suggested that there are some important implications of this role which might be considered by governments concerned to settle international disputes peacefully while protecting their own interests and sovereignty. Show more