Review article
Charter of the United Nations — The outdated constitution of the World Organisation
Budislav Vukas
Abstract
Notwithstanding the enormous changes in international relations and in the world community during the last sixty years, the United Nations Charter has almost not been changed since its singing in San Francisco, in June 1945. It was natural that the five main Powers, winning the war against the Nazi alliance, proclaimed themselves permanent members of the Security Council, but it is unnatural that six decades after the drafting of the Charter, those States still pretend to be the only leading powers of the contemporary world. The extension of the number of the members of the Security Council, including the number of permanent members, has been proposed for many years. However, the actual permanent members have for the time being prevented any change in the composition of the Council. The author is against the extension of the number of permanent members; he considers that the status of permanent members should generally be eliminated, as it is contrary to one of the basic principles of the United Nations - the sovereign equality of all the Members of the Organisation. The article also refers to suggestions of the 2005 World Summit held at the United Nations General Assembly concerning the necessary interventions in the Charter: the deletion of Chapter XIII dealing with the Trusteeship Council; the reconsideration of the role of the Military Staff Committee by the Security Council; and the deletion of provisions referring to »enemy States«. Finally, the author pleads for finding another State for the headquarters of the United Nations. There is no provision in the Charter or any other basis for favouring forever the United States and the English language. Such a situation is contrary to the sovereign equality of the Members and the equality of the six official languages used in the Organisation.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
83560
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2005.
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