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.
Miguel de Serpa Soares |