STATEMENT BY MR NATHANIEL KHNG, MINISTER-COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Mdm Chairperson, 

1        My friend and colleague, Pedro Sloboda of Brazil, and I have the honour of having been appointed by the Sixth Committee Bureau to serve as coordinators of the informal consultations on the resolution on strengthening and promoting the international treaty framework. 

2        The Committee would recall that the present agenda item is a biennial item, which was first included in the agenda of the Committee at the 73^rd session in 2018.  The request for this item was made by a group of countries, namely Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Italy and Singapore.  One of the main objectives for this item was to create a dedicated platform for the Committee to review the regulations to give effect to the treaty registration and publication regime under Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.  The review of the regulations was completed by the Committee at the 73^rd and 76^th sessions, with substantive updates being agreed upon by consensus to update and improve the regulations. 

3        With the review of the regulations now completed, the Committee has turned its attention to other objectives for this agenda item—namely, addressing issues related to treaty registration, and engaging in an exchange of views on treaty-making practice, with a view to identifying trends, sharing best practices and discussing other treaty-related matters.  In this connection, a thematic debate for a technical exchange of views has been instituted.  In support of the thematic debate, at the 78^th session, the General Assembly requested the Secretary-General to invite governments and international organizations to submit information on their practice on the topic of the thematic debate, and to provide a report with information on practice related to the topic taking into account these submissions. 

4        Turning to the resolution for the present session, the intention of the coordinators is to circulate, as soon as possible, the zero draft.  The text of the zero draft would be based on the text of General Assembly resolution 78/236 of 22 December 2023, with updates of a technical nature.  In addition, the zero draft would propose updates having regard to views expressed at the debate on this item.  In particular, the draft will include language commending the UN Treaty Section for its important work in organising workshops on treaty law and practice at the national and regional levels as a capacity-building initiative; language expressing appreciation for the regional workshops on treaty law and practice that were conducted during the period of review; and language expressing appreciation to Member States and other stakeholders that made voluntary contributions to the financing of such workshops. 

5        I will conclude by noting that one of the issues for the resolution that delegations will have to consider would be the subtopic for the debate when this item is next considered.  In this regard, at the 78^th session, the General Assembly had requested the Secretariat to maintain a non-exhaustive indicative list of subtopics that had been suggested. The list has already been circulated. Delegations are, of course, at liberty to propose new subtopics for consideration. 

6        Thank you for your attention.  My co-coordinator and I look forward to the constructive discussions ahead.