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A/RES/17/1815 



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General Assembly

Distr: General
18 December 1962
Original: English

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Seventeenth session
Agenda item 75

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly

1815 (XVII). Consideration of principles of international law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations

The General Assembly,

Recalling that the Charter records the determination of the peoples of the United Nations to practise tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours,

Convinced of the paramount importance of the Charter in the progressive development of international law and in the promotion of the rule of law among nations,

Taking into account that the great political, economic, social and scientific changes that have occurred in the world since the adoption of the Charter have further emphasized the vital importance of the purposes and principles of the United Nations and of their application to present-day conditions,

Recognizing the urgency and importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon freedom, equality and social justice, and therefore of developing peaceful and neighbourly relations among States, irrespective of their differences or the relative stages or nature of their political, economic and social development,

Considering that the conditions prevailing in the world today give increased importance to the fulfilment by States of their duty to co-operate actively with one another and to the role of international law and its faithful observance in relations among nations,

Convinced that the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and co-operation,

Mindful of the close relationship between the progressive development of international law and the establishment of conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained through the promotion of international co-operation in economic, social and related fields and through the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms,

Considering it essential that all States shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations, that disputes be settled by peaceful means in accordance with the Charter, that the arms race be eliminated and general and complete disarmament achieved under effective international control,

Conscious of the significance of the emergence of many new States and of the contribution which they are in a position to make to the progressive development and codification of international law,

Recalling its authority to consider the general principles of co-operation in the maintenance of international peace and security and to make recommendations for the purpose of encouraging the progressive development of international law and its codification,

1.Recognizes the paramount importance, in the progressive development of international law and in the promotion of the rule of law among nations, of the principles of international law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among States and the duties deriving therefrom, embodied in the Charter of the United Nations which is the fundamental statement of those principles, notably:

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

  2. 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;

  3. The duty not to intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter;

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

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

  6. The principle of sovereign equality of States;
  7. The principle that States shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed by them in accordance with the Charter;

2.Resolves to undertake, pursuant to Article 13 of the Charter, a study of the principles of international law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among States in accordance with the Charter with a view to their progressive development and codification, so as to secure their more effective application;

3.Decides accordingly to place the 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" on the provisional agenda of its eighteenth session in order to study:

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

  2. 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;

  3. The duty not to intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of any State, in accordance with the Charter;

  4. The principle of sovereign equality of States; and to decide what other principles are to be given further consideration at subsequent sessions and the order of their priority;

4.Invites Member States to submit in writing to the Secretary-General. before 1 July 1963, any views or suggestions that they may have on this item, and particularly on the subjects enumerated in paragraph 3 above, and requests the Secretary-General to communicate these comments to Member States before the beginning of the eighteenth session.

1196th plenary meeting
18 December 1962