From April 19 to April 23. GRi?s MAWULI SOGBEY sat through the session which attracted 150 delegates from the two continents.

Below is his report on the deliberations during the five days:

African, Asian lawyers brainstorm in Accra

By MAWULI SOGBEY

The 38th session of the African Asian legal consultative Committee meeting which has just ended in Accra with the member countries re-affirming their conviction to the ideals and aspirations of the committee.

This year?s week-long summit opened at the Accra International Conference Centre April 19th and ended on Friday April 23rd 1999.

The President of the republic of Ghana Flt. Lt. J.J. Rawlings who was the guest of honour delivered the inaugural address which was witnessed by 150 delegates from some 43 African and Asian countries.

Ghana last hosted this summit in 1970 and after almost 30 years, decided to play host to members of this august body from the Asian and African continent once again.

Among some of the numerous Agenda that characterised this years summit were some topical issues hindering development on both continents. This included:





Organisational matter of the consultative committee

Matters Relating to the International Law Commission

Status of Treatment of Refugees

Deportation of Palestinians and other Israeli practises

Law of the sea

Legal Protection of migrant workers

Extraterritorial Application of National legislation

Matters of common concern having legal implication

Trade Law matters

Report concerning the legislative Activities of the United Nations and other International Organisations in the field of International Trade Law.



The agenda was chosen in relation to some common interests and aspirations of both continents. With the fledgling democracies on both continents, and their often marginalisation in international affairs, the organizers deemed it necessary to come to a compromise on matters that were of relevant interest to both continents for the close of the 21st Century. They hoped that the challenges which the next millennium poses will be taken in the broad context of some of the topics discussed.

President Rawlings in his opening address called on all delegates to advocate measures that will promote access of the disadvantaged to decent health, education, housing and employment in addition to civic and political rights. He said the catastrophe which engulfed Central Africa might have been averted if traditional views of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs of other countries had not been unduly stretched.

During committee meetings Ghana?s team to the conference which was led by Mr Martin Amidu, deputy minister of justice and included Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, a senior state attorney, forcefully presented their case on a number of international issues:

On International Environment law, they pledged Ghana?s pledged commitment to efforts aimed at enhancing the enforcement and compliance with international environmental obligations.

Ghana?s delegates reiterated that the county is party to the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change (UNFCCC) and has sought to meet some of its commitments through external funding. For instance a national inventory of authropogenic emissions by sources and removal by sinks has been prepared as required in the Vienna Convention and the Montreal protocol.

On dispute settlement, Ghana stated its support to dispute settlement mechanisms contained in international environmental treaties to which it is a party and pledged to work and co-operate with the international community to find amicable solutions to disputes in international environmental law.

In its resolution the consultative committee expressed its satisfaction on the work of the International law commission at its 50th session. It also affirmed the significance of the contribution of the International law Council (ILC) to the progressive development of international Law and its codification.

On legal protection of Migrant Workers, the Committee requested the secretary-general to convene an "Open Ended Working Group" for an in-depth consideration of issues related to Migrant Workers. The committee also decided to place the item "Legal Protection of Migrant Workers" on the agenda of its 39th session.

On the law of the sea, the committee reminded member states to give timely consideration to the need for adopting a common policy and strategy for the interim period. This was necessary before the commercial exploitation of the deep seabed minerals becomes feasible. It urged member-states to take an evolutionary approach, especially to the "initial function" of the International seabed Authority so as to make it useful to the international community and developing countries.

The committees expressed appreciation at the work of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and expressed its appreciation to India for co-sponsoring the seminar relating to the functioning of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and Allied matters.

The committee also directed the secretariat to monitor the developments relating to the third WTO Ministerial conference, scheduled for November/December 1999 and report on the outcome to the thirty-ninth (39th) session of the committee.

The committee expressed its gratitude to Ghana for hosting the special Meeting on Environmental law and commended the United Nations Environmental Programme and other experts for their contribution to the success of the meeting.

The committee expressed the hope that a just and durable solution will soon be found to the conflict between Palestine and Israel, and that Palestinians. The committee also affirmed that Palestinians have a legitimate right to statehood.

It decided to place the "Deportation of Palestinians" and "Massive Immigration and settlement of Jews in occupied Territories" in violation of International law, on the agenda of its 39th session.

Ghana?s deputy Minister of Justice, Mr Martin Amidu was elected President of the conference for a term of one year.

GRi?/