Background Information

          In 1989, an initiative was taken by the Legal Advisers of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Canada, India, Mexico, Poland and Sweden to bring together the Heads of Legal Departments of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Member States of the United Nations. As a result, informal discussions have been held among these persons at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the margin of the meetings of the Sixth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly.

          The term "Legal Adviser" in this context is a short form for "Head of the Office responsible for International Legal Services". By this is meant the person who is responsible for international legal matters within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and for formulating instructions to the representatives of his or her country in the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly or for supervising this activity.

Nicolas Michel

The next informal meeting of Legal Advisers of Ministries of Foreign Affairs will be held as follows:

29 and 30 October 2007 from 3pm to 6pm, respectively, in the  Trusteeship Council Chamber.  Please note that the venue may still be subject to change.