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New York UN

STATEMENT BY MR NATHANIEL KHNG, COUNSELLOR (LEGAL), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 85, ON RESPONSIBILITY OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, SIXTH COMMITTEE, 19 OCTOBER 2023

19 October 2023

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1 Singapore participated actively in the important debate generated by the Commission’s work on this topic in 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2020.  We welcome this opportunity to do so again.  This time, Singapore has benefited from the two additional reports by the Secretary-General in documents A/78/83 and A/78/135.   That said, our position has not changed.  Singapore does not support the elaboration of a convention on the basis of the draft articles on the topic.


2 First, Singapore is still not convinced that the draft articles, taken as a whole, embody consensus views on the law relating to the responsibility of international organisations.  We have reviewed the two additional reports prepared by the Secretary-General which were issued in 2023.  These reports do not suggest that there has been any material change in the overall view on the question of the form that might be given to the draft articles since the Sixth Committee last considered this topic in 2020, or show that the draft articles have been cited as a reflection of existing law by courts and tribunals.


3 Second, my delegation notes that consensus has yet to be reached on a convention based on the similar articles on responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts.  While such lack of consensus persists, we remain of the view that it would not be appropriate to elaborate a convention based on the draft articles on responsibility of international organisations.


4 Singapore values the Commission’s contribution to progressive development of the law in the form of the draft articles and their commentaries. However, given the lack of significant developments on the question of the form that might be given to the draft articles, Singapore maintains the view that it is not necessary for the item to be included in the agenda of future sessions of the General Assembly.


5 Thank you for your attention.


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