International Instruments: Violations

asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they consider the United States is authorised and, if so, by what authority to act unilaterally against violations of international non-proliferation standards; and if so, what limits the Charter of the United Nations puts on such unilateral actions. [HL921]

Whether or not authority exists for unilateral action taken in response to a violation of international non-proliferation standards would depend on the precise circumstances both of the violation and the response.

asked Her Majesty's Government:In respect of the proposal made by the United States delegation to the most recent plenary meeting of the North Atlantic Assembly (in the context of NATO actions out of area), that member states should be required to act merely "in the spirit" of international instruments such as the United Nations Charter, United Nations Security Council Resolutions and Resolutions of the North Atlantic Council, instead of in accordance with them:

(a) whether they support this proposal;

(b) when they would expect to judge whether actions were "in the spirit" of such instruments; and

(c) whether they intend to introduce this concept into the domestic law of the United Kingdom. [HL923]

Member states of NATO must act in accordance with international law.

Volume 597: debated on Thursday 18 February 1999