UN: COMMAND AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS

HL Deb 18 February 1992 vol 535 c44WA

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they favour the revival of the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations, as provided for in the charter, or wish rather to continue with the 1990–91 system under which the President of the United States pro tern was effectively empowered by the Security Council to take initiatives, as in the Gulf War; and if so, what other practices not allowed for in the UN Charter do they envisage.

The Earl of Caithness

We do not see a case at present for the activation of the Military Staff Committee in the role originally envisaged for it in the United Nations Charter. The fact that command and control arrangements for the coalition forces which liberated Kuwait a year ago were left with host nations and contributing countries was a significant factor in the efficiency and despatch with which the operation was conducted. These arrangements were fully consistent with the terms of Security Council Resolution 678, and with the UN Charter.