regional intergovernmental organisations like the OAU
or the League of Arab States recognising, as NLMS, terrorist
groups outside their region. It is not inconceivable, for
example, that the Libyans might be able to persuade the League of Arab States to accord such recognition to a terrorist group to whom they are, or have been, supplying arms, eg the PIRA.
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5. In addition to according observer status to representatives of NLMS by the inclusion of those formulae in resolutions and Rules of Procedure relating to specific meetings and conferences, there are also 'standing invitations' which permit permanent participation as observers to various groups
of NLMS. The principal ones are contained in Resolution
3237 (XXIX) which relates to the PLO and Resolution 3280 (XXIX)
- which relates to NLMS recognised by the OAU. The latter Resolution only accords observer status but omits the wording 'in its region' from the operative paragraph dealing with recognition. These blanket invitations will normally be referred to by such wording as 'Representatives designated
by organisations that have received a standing invitation from
the General Assembly to participate in the sessions and work
of all international conferences convened under the
auspices of the General Assembly'.
6.
The Rules of Procedure of some UN organs are (perhaps deliberately) ambiguous and imprecise on the question of
observer status for NLMs. ECOSOC's Rules of Procedure, for
example, state that the Council *
may invite any NLM
recognised by or in accordance with the resolutions of the
General Assembly
Although the rules goes on to say that
.
•
•
•
NLMS do not have the right to vote it is not precise in
according them merely observer status.
PROPOSALS FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION MOVEMENTS TO
SIGN, ACCEDE TO OR RATIFY TREATIES
7.
Proposals that national liberation movements (NLMs) should become 'party' to treaties under consideration in international fora are becoming increasingly commonplace, regardless of whether or not the subject matter is of direct
concern to NLMs.
8. We have an important interest in preserving the distinction between states and non-states in international organisations
MUIDEN JAL
/and