ABSTRACT
PREAMBLE The General Assembly Reaffirming in the terms of the Charter that the maintenance of international peace and security and the development of friendly relations and co-operation between nations are among the fundamental purposes of the United Nations, Recalling that the peoples of the United Nations are determined to practise tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours, Bearing in mind the importance of maintaining and strengthening international peace founded upon freedom, equality, justice and respect for fundamental human rights and of developing friendly relations among nations irrespective of their political, economic and social systems or the levels of their development, Bearing in mind also the paramount importance of the Charter of the United Nations in the promotion of the rule of law among nations. Considering that the faithful observance of the principles of international law concerning friendly relations and co-operation among states and the fulfilment in good faith of the obligations assumed by states, in accordance with the Charter, is of the greatest importance for the maintenance of international peace and security and for the implementation of the other purposes of the United Nations, Noting that the great political, economic and social changes and scientific progress which have taken place in the world since the adoption of the Charter of the United Nations give increased importance to these principles and to the need for their more effective application in the conduct of states wherever carried on, Recalling the established principle that outer space, including the moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claims of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means, and mindful of the fact that consideration is being given in the United Nations to the question of establishing other appropriate provisions similarly inspired, Convinced that the strict observance by states of the obligation not to intervene in the affairs of any other state is an essential condition to ensure that nations live together in peace with one another, since the practice of any form of intervention not only violates the spirit and letter of the Charter, but also leads to the creation of situations which threaten international peace and security, Recalling the duty of states to refrain in their international relations from military, political, economic or any other form of coercion aimed against the political independence or territorial integrity of any state,
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, Considering it equally essential that all states shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the Charter, Reaffirming, in accordance with the Charter, the basic importance of sovereign equality and stressing that the purposes of the United Nations can be implemented only if states enjoy sovereign equality and comply fully with the requirements of this principle in their international relations, Convinced that the subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation constitutes a major obstacle to the promotion of international peace and security, Convinced that the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples constitutes a significant contribution to contemporary international law, and that its effective application is of paramount importance for the promotion of friendly relations among states, based on respect for the principle of sovereign equality, Convinced in consequence that any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and territorial integrity of a state or country or at its political independence is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter, Considering the provisions of the Charter as a whole and taking into account the role of the relevant Resolutions adopted by the competent organs of the United Nations relating to the content of the principles, Considering that the progressive development and codification of the following principles:
(a) 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;
(b) 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;
(c) The duty not to intervene in matters within the domestic jurisdiction of any state, in accordance with the Charter;
(d) The duty of states to co-operate with one another in accordance with the Charter;
(e) The principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples; (f) The principle of sovereign equality of states; (g) The principle that states shall fulfil in good faith the obligations assumed
by them in accordance with the Charter; so as to secure their more effective application within the international community would promote the realisation of the purposes of the United Nations, Having considered the principles of international law relating to friendly relations and co-operation among states,
The principle that states shall refrain in their international relations from 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 Every state has the duty to refrain in its 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. Such a threat or use of force constitutes a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations and shall never be employed as a means of settling international issues. A war of aggression constitutes a crime against the peace, for which there is responsibility under international law. In accordance with the Purposes and Principles of the United Nations, states have the duty to refrain from propaganda for wars of aggression. Every state has the duty to refrain from the threat or use of force to violate the existing international boundaries of any state or as a means of solving international disputes, including territorial disputes and problems concerning frontiers of states. Every state likewise has the duty to refrain from the threat or use of force to violate international lines of demarcation, such as armistice lines, established by or pursuant to an international agreement to which it is a party or which it is otherwise bound to respect. Nothing in the foregoing shall be construed as prejudicing the positions of the parties concerned with regard to the status and effects of such lines under their special regimes or as affecting their temporary character. States have a duty to refrain from acts of reprisal involving the use of force. Every state has the duty to refrain from any forcible action which deprives peoples referred to in the elaboration of the principle of equal rights and selfdetermination and freedom and independence. Every state has the duty to refrain from organising or encouraging the organisation of irregular forces or armed bands, including mercenaries, for incursion into the territory of another state. Every state has the duty to refrain from organising, instigating, assisting or participating in acts of civil strife or terrorist acts in another state or acquiescing in organised activities within its territory directed towards the commission of such acts, when the acts referred to in the present paragraph involve a threat or use of force. The territory of a state shall not be the object of military occupation resulting from the use of force in contravention of the provisions of the Charter. The territory of a state shall not be the object of acquisition by another state resulting from the threat or use of force. No territorial acquisition resulting from the threat or use of force shall be recognised as legal. Nothing in the foregoing shall be construed as affecting:
(a) provisions of the Charter or any international agreement prior to the Charter regime and valid under international law; or
(b) the powers of the Security Council under the Charter. All states shall pursue in good faith negotiations for the early conclusion of a universal treaty on general and complete disarmament under effective international control and strive to adopt appropriate measures to reduce
recognised principles and rules of international law with respect to the maintenance of international peace and security, and shall endeavour to make the United Nations security system based on the Charter more effective. Nothing in the foregoing paragraphs shall be construed as enlarging or diminishing in any way the scope of the provisions of the Charter concerning cases in which the use of force is lawful.
