Complete withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territories of the Baltic States : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Having considered the item entitled "Complete withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territories of the Baltic States",

Considering that the United Nations, pursuant to the provisions of its Charter, has a major role to play in, and responsibility for, the maintenance of international peace and security,

Recalling with particular satisfaction that independence was restored in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through peaceful and democratic means,

Recognizing that the stationing of foreign military forces on the territories of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania without the required consent of those countries is a problem remaining from the past that must be resolved in a peaceful manner,

Welcoming recent agreements on the complete withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territory of Lithuania,

Welcoming also the bilateral talks on the complete withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territories of Estonia and Latvia,

Concerned about the continuing absence of any agreements for the complete withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territories of Estonia and Latvia,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace", pursuant to the statement of 31 January 1992 adopted at the conclusion of the meeting held by the Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government,

Mindful that the timely application of preventive diplomacy is the most desirable and efficient means to ease tensions before they result in conflict,

Welcoming the "Helsinki Document 1992 - The Challenges of Change", in particular paragraph 15, agreed upon at the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, held at Helsinki on 9 and 10 July 1992,

Recognizing that the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe is a regional arrangement in the sense of Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, and as such provides an important link between European and global security,

Recognizing also that regional organizations participating in complementary efforts with the United Nations may encourage States outside the region to act supportively,

1.         Expresses support for the efforts made by the States participating in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to remove the foreign military forces stationed on the territories of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania without the required consent of those countries, in a peaceful manner and through negotiations;

2.         Calls upon the States concerned, in line with the basic principles of international law and in order to prevent any possible conflict, to conclude without delay appropriate agreements, including timetables, for the early, orderly and complete withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territories of Estonia and Latvia;

3.         Urges the Secretary-General to use his good offices to facilitate the complete withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territories of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania;

4.         Requests the Secretary-General to keep Member States informed of progress towards the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session;

5.         Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Complete withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territories of the Baltic States".

1.         Takes note with satisfaction of the report of the Secretary-General;

4.         Recommends that the specialized agencies and the international institutions consider the question of the cooperation and coordination of assistance to Non-Self-Governing Territories within the context of the Administrative Committee on Coordination and its subsidiary bodies;

5.         Welcomes the statements made by the representatives of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme, and invites other specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations to participate in future debates of the General Assembly on the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories, with a view to apprising the Assembly of their development programmes in those Territories and thereby facilitating more informed comments on their work;

6.         Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session on the implementation of the present resolution;

7.         Decides to keep this question under review.