Question of Western Sahara.

33. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FOURTH COMMITTEE*
31. Question of Western Sahara

A

The General Assembly, Having considered the question of Western Sahara, Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Having considered the relevant chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples[1] Having heard the statements on the subject of Western Sahara, including the statements by the representative of the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro,[2] Recalling the conclusions of the 1975 United Nations Visiting Mission to Western Sahara,[3] Recalling the advisory opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice on 16 October 1975[4]5on the question of Western Sahara, particularly in relation to the principle of the right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination, Bearing in mind the profound concern of the United Nations, the Organization of African Unity and the non-aligned countries regarding the decolonization of Western Sahara and the right of the people of that Territory to self-determination, Recalling its resolution 32/19 of 11 November 1977 regarding co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity, Recalling the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirteenth ordinary session, held at Port Louis from 2 to 6 July 1976, to hold an extra ordinary session devoted to the question of Western Sahara,[5] Taking note of the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its fifteenth ordinary session, held at Khartoum from 18 to 22 July 1978, to establish an ad hoc committee of Heads of State to consider all the data on the question of Western Sahara, including the exercise of the right of the people of that Territory to self-determination,[6] Reiterating its fervent hope that, by the time of the thirty-fourth session of the General Assembly, the Organization of African Unity will have found, pursuant to the resolutions and decisions which it adopted at its thirteenth, fourteenth[7] and fifteenth ordinary sessions on the question of Western Sahara, a solution to this problem in accordance with the right of peoples to self-determination set forth in resolution 1514 (XV), Welcoming the unilateral cease-fire decision taken on 12 July 1978 by the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro, with a view to promoting a drive towards peace in Western Sahara,

1. Reaffirms its commitment to the principle of self-determination of peoples in accordance with the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;

2. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence;

3. Reaffirms the responsibility of the United Nations with regard to the decolonization of Western Sahara, in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of the Declaration;

4. Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to keep developments in this matter under active review with a view to the full and speedy implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) and to report thereon to the Assembly at its thirty-fourth session;

5. Requests the Administrative Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity to keep the Secretary-General of the United Nations informed of the progress achieved with regard to the implementation of the decisions of the Organization of African Unity concerning Western Sahara;

6. Invites the Secretary-General to submit a report on the question of Western Sahara to the General Assembly at its thirty-fourth session.

81st plenary meeting
13 December 1978

B

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 and 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960, Recalling its relevant resolutions and those of the Organization of African Unity concerning the question of Western Sahara, Considering the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirteenth ordinary session, held at Port Louis from 2 to 6 July 1976, to hold an extraordinary session devoted to the question of Western Sahara,[8] Considering also the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its fifteenth ordinary session, held at Khartoum from 18 to 22 July 1978, to establish an ad hoc committee of Heads of State to consider all the data on the question of Western Sahara,[9] Recalling the part of the Political Declaration adopted by the Fifth Conference of Heads of State and Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Colombo from 16 to 19 August 1976, relating to Western Sahara,[10] Taking note of the appeal addressed to States Members of the United Nations by the current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity,[11] Recalling its resolution 32/19 of 11 November 1977, regarding co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity,

1. Takes note of the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its fifteenth ordinary session to establish an ad hoc committee of Heads of State;

2. Expresses its confidence that the ad hoc committee will consider all the data on the question of Western Sahara with a view to convening an extraordinary summit meeting of the Organization of African Unity;

3. Invites the Organization of African Unity to take prompt action to find a just and equitable settlement of the question of Western Sahara;

4. Appeals to all States in the region to refrain from any action that might impede the efforts of the Organization of African Unity to arrive at a just and peaceful solution of the problem;

5. Requests the Administrative Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity to inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the results achieved by the ad hoc committee and invites the Secretary-General of the United Nations to report thereon to the General Assembly.

81st plenary meeting 13 December 1978

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[1] Ibid., vol. 11, chap. IX [2] Ibid., Thirty-third Session, Fourth Committee, 22nd meeting, paras. 78-93, and 30th meeting, paras. 57-65. For the full text, see A/C.4/33/L.22 and L.31. [3] Ibid., Thirtieth Session, Supplement No. 23 (A/10023/ Rev.1), vol. III, chap. XIII, para. 11. [4] Western Sahara, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1975, p. 12. For the note of transmittal to the members of the General Assembly, see A/10300. [5] See A/31/136-S/12141, annex II, resolution AHG/Res.81 (XIII). For the printed text, see Official Records of the Security Council, Thirty-first Year, Supplement for July, August and September 1976. [6] A/33/235 and Corr.1, annex II, resolution AHG/Res.92 (XV) [7] A/32/310, annex II, AHG/,Dec. 110 (XIV). [8] See A/31/136-S/12141, annex II, resolution AHG/ Res.81 (XIII). For the printed text, see Official Records of the Security Council, Thirty-first Year, Supplement for July, August and September 1976. [9] A/33/235 and Corr.1, annex II, resolution AHG/Res.92 (XV) [10] A/31/197, annex I, para. 35. [11] See the letter dated 7 November 1978 from the Permanent Representative of the Sudan (A/33/364).