The International Court of Justice was told by a representative of the Soviet Government today that Moscow does not consider itself obligated to contribute to the upkeep of the United Nations Emergency Force on the Israel-Egyptian border, because this force had been established by the United Nations as a result of “the British, French and Israeli aggression.”
The argument was presented to the World Court here by Professor G. I. Tunkin, Soviet Foreign Ministry expert on international law, in contrast to arguments by the United States pointing out that, under the United Nations Charter, all UN member states are under obligation to pay the costs of maintaining United Nations peace forces in the Middle East, Congo and elsewhere.
The opposing arguments between the United States and the Soviet Union developed today as the International Court of Justice began its second week of hearings on the issue. The Soviet bloc and a number of other nations have refused to pay their assessments for the expense of maintaining the United Nations Emergency Force on the Israel-Egyptian border and in the Congo. The UN General Assembly asked the world court for an advisory opinion.
Abram L. Chayes, legal adviser of the U. S. State Department, and professor of law at Harvard University, in arguing before the world court today, pointed out that the UN forces have prevented aggression. “In Palestine and Kashmir, on the Gaza Strip, in Lebanon and now in the Congo, armed contingents contributed voluntarily by their own governments and, acting with the consent of all states concerned, have operated successfully under the flag and the command of the United Nations to safeguard international peace and security,” he declared.
The decision of the World Court here may have profound implications on the capacity of the United Nations Emergency Forces to survive. In regard to the United Nations assessments for UNEF, the Soviet Union arrearage as of April 30, 1962, totaled $3,992,661. The Soviet Union has never paid any money for the UNEF maintenance and operations.
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