Story: "UNITING FOR PEACE": CAN THE UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TRUMP THE
SECURITY COUNCIL BY INVOKING A LITTLE-KNOWN RESOLUTION, AND STOP THE
WAR?

A coalition of lawyers and activists are spearheading an effort to
stop the war by invoking a little-known United Nations resolution
called "United for Peace."

Under the procedure, the UN General Assembly can demand an immediate
ceasefire and withdrawal.

The Security Council adopted Resolution 377 so the UN can act even if
the Security Council is stalemated.

Resolution 377 states that if there is a QUOTE "threat to peace,
breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and the permanent members
of the Security Council can't agree on action, the General Assembly
can convene and recommend measures to "maintain or restore
international peace and security."

The "Uniting for Peace" mechanism has been used ten times. It was most
recently invoked by the US.

When Egypt nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956, Britain, France, and
Israel invaded Egypt and began advancing on the Suez
Canal. U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower demanded that the invasion
stop. Resolutions in the UN Security Council called for a
cease-fire-but Britain and France vetoed them. Then the US appealed to
the General Assembly and proposed a resolution calling for a
cease-fire and a withdrawal of forces. The General Assembly held an
emergency session and passed the resolution. Britain and France
withdrew from Egypt within a week.

We're joined right now by two people who have been meeting with United
Nations delegations about this little-known resolution.

    * Michael Ratner, President, Center for Constitutional Rights.
    * Stephen Sawyer, Political Adviser for Greenpeace
    * International. Sawyer has spent the last 25 years working on
    * issues from climate change to peace and disarmament
    * issues. Yesterday, he spent the day meeting with governments at
    * the UN to talk about the Uniting for Peace resolution. 
[http://www.webactive.com/pacifica/demnow/dn20030313.html]

Related links: