Recalling its resolutions 1815 (XVII) of 18 December 1962, 1966 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963 and 2103 (XX) of 20 December 1965, which affirm the importance of the progressive development and codification of the principles of international law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among States,

Recalling further that among the fundamental purposes of the United Nations are the maintenance of international peace and security and the development of friendly relations and co-operation among States,

Considering that the faithful observance of the principles of international law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations is of paramount importance for the maintenance of international peace and security and the improvement of the international situation,

Considering further that the progressive development and codification of those principles, so as to secure their more effective application, would promote the realization of the purposes of the United Nations,

Bearing in mind that the Second Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, which met at Cairo in 1964, recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of a declaration on these principles as an important step towards their codification,

Being convinced of the significance of continuing the effort to achieve general agreement in the process of the elaboration of the seven principles of international law set forth in General Assembly resolution 1815 (XVII), but without prejudice to the applicability of the rules of procedure of the Assembly, with a view to the adoption of a declaration which would constitute a landmark in the progressive development and codification of those principles,

Having considered the report of the 1966 Special Committee on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation, among States,/3 which met in New York from 8 March to 25 April 1966, and having considered specifically that it was noted in that Committee that the differences between the various points of view on the formulation of the principles had been materially reduced and that among the factors which hampered the achievement by the Committee of a greater measure of agreement was lack of sufficient time for additional deliberation and negotiation,

1.Takes note of the report of the 1966 Special Committee on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States;

2.Expresses its appreciation to that Committee for the valuable work it has performed;

3.Takes note also of the formulations of the 1966 Special Committee concerning the principle that States shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered and the principle of sovereign equality of States, and of the Special Committee's decision that with regard to the principle of non-intervention it will abide by General Assembly resolution 2131 (XX) of 21 December 1965;

4.Decides to ask the Special Committee, as reconstituted by General Assembly resolution 2103 (XX), to continue its work;

5.Requests the Special Committee, in the light of the debate which took place in the Sixth Committee during the seventeenth, eighteenth, twentieth and twenty-first sessions of the General Assembly and in the 1964 and 1966 Special Committees, to complete the formulations of:

1. The principle that States shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations;

2. The duty of States to co-operate with one another in accordance with the Charter;

3. The principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples;

4. The principle that States shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the Charter;

6.Requests the Special Committee to consider proposals on the principle concerning the duty not to intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter, with the aim of widening the area of agreement already expressed in General Assembly resolution 2131 (XX);

7.Requests the Special Committee, having considered, as a matter of priority, the principles referred to in paragraphs 5 and 6 above, to examine any additional proposals with a view to widening the areas of agreement expressed in the formulations of the 1966 Special Committee concerning the principle that States shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered and the principle of sovereign equality of States;

8.Requests the Special Committee, having regard to the work already accomplished by the 1966 Special Committee, as specified in paragraph 3 above, to submit to the General Assembly at its twenty-second session a comprehensive report on the principles entrusted to it for study and a draft declaration on the seven principles set forth in Assembly resolution 1815 (XVII) which will constitute a landmark in the progressive development and codification of those principles;

9.Requests the Special Committee to meet at Geneva or at any other suitable place for which the Secretary-General receives an invitation;

10.Requests the Secretary-General to co-operate with the Special Committee in its task and to provide all the services, documentation and other facilities necessary for its work;

11.Decides to include an item entitled "Consideration of principles of international law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations" in the provisional agenda of its twenty-second session.

1489th plenary meeting
12 December 1966