United Nations 50th Anniversary (Hansard, 24 January 1995)

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, the Government will hold a major commemoration ceremony in Westminster Hall on 26th June to mark the United Nations 50th anniversary.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his reply. Has not the Security Council system, despite its limitations, helped to prevent world war, the main intention in the Charter? But is not further international agreement now needed, because the Charter excludes United Nations intervention in civil wars, and they are now the causes of much distress, destruction and slaughter? In these present difficult circumstances, will my noble friend convey congratulations to General Rose at the end of his daunting mission, and good wishes to General Smith, his successor?

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his comments and, of course, we shall pass congratulations to General Rose and warm wishes to his successor. Equally, it is the case that during the period of its existence the United Nations has been a very significant element in the avoidance of widespread war 971 around the globe. My noble friend points to the problem posed by the increasing threats to order in the world from civil war. The United Nations is addressing that problem, as are the member states, as can be seen from the kind of thinking that is contained in the document Agenda for Peace and the recently published supplement to Agenda for Peace.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, I appreciate the points made by the noble Lord in favour of the United Nations and what it is doing and I also recognise the generally co-operative nature of the Foreign Office in planning the events for 1995. But will the Minister accept that the group of people who need to be educated and influenced most of all are young people in schools? Will the Government ensure that the United Nations Association and the Council for Education in World Citizenship are effectively enabled with some financial support to ensure that they can bring the message to young people in their schools?

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his helpful remarks. I understand that Her Majesty's Government are offering £25,000 to the National Committee, which is part of the UK United Nations Association, to be used to provide information and to try to disseminate the kind of facts to which the noble Lord has referred.

§ Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn
My Lords, can my noble friend confirm that the conditions set by Her Majesty's Government for the re-entry of Great Britain into UNESCO have now been met and, indeed, have been met for some considerable time? Can he think of any better way of celebrating 50 years of the United Nations than the re-entry of Great Britain into the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation?

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, I am not in a position, because I simply do not know the answer, to give a definitive yes or no to my noble friend. But I shall certainly pass on his message to those who are responsible for this matter.

§ Lord Callaghan of Cardiff
My Lords, I support exactly what has just been said and I heard with some gratitude what is proposed. I wonder whether nearer the time the Government will consider having a debate on the future of the United Nations. We have had them before but I think it is most imperative that we should recognise the position at the end of this 50 years.

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Callaghan, for his comments and his suggestion. It is my understanding that this is essentially a matter for the usual channels of this House. I also understand that the Government would not wish to stand in the way of this proposal.

§ Lord Beloff
My Lords, does my noble friend the Minister agree that the principal difficulty that the United Nations faces in its proper task of maintaining world peace is the lack of financial resources because 972 of countries not paying their dues? In those circumstances will a collection be taken at the service which is proposed?

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, I thank my noble friend Lord Beloff for his comments about the financial problems which are besetting the United Nations. He is correct in that one of the greatest difficulties facing the United Nations at present is collecting the contributions which it is owed. Indeed, as my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary said at the General Assembly in September last year, the UN works miracles with what we do not pay it". It is the case that the contributions must be collected. The British Government are also anxious to make sure that contributions are assessed on a capacity-to-pay basis. As regards my noble friend's suggestion of taking the hat round, I dare say that that is a matter best dealt with by the voluntary sector.

§ Baroness Blackstone
My Lords, perhaps I should declare an interest as one of the vice-presidents of the United Nations Association's anniversary celebrations this year. Is the Minister aware that November marks the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the constitution of UNESCO? Following what the noble Lord, Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn, has said, have the Government any plans to celebrate that anniversary?

§ Lord Inglewood
My Lords, I understand that it is intended that there will be a service in Westminster Abbey on, I believe, 26th November. I hope that that answers the noble Baroness's question.