§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they accept the dicta of the World Court in June that (a) the use of force other than as authorised by the UN Security Council is forbidden; (b) the UN Security Council alone is responsible for peacekeeping and international security; and (c) all relevant humanitarian conventions must be observed at all times. [HL3756]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)The noble Lord's references to the cases brought by the FRY against 10 NATO states do not exactly reflect the orders issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 2 June 1999. The ICJ emphasised that all parties appearing before it must act in conformity with their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law, including humanitarian law. The Court also stressed that where a dispute gives rise to a threat to the peace, a breach of the peace, or an act of aggression, the Security Council has special responsibilities under Chapter VII of the Charter. The Government do, of course, accept these statements by the Court.