Implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security.

  • Author: UN General Assembly (35th sess. : 1980-1981)
  • Document source:
  • Date:
    12 December 1980

35. RESOLUTION ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE FIRST COMMITTEE
158. Implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security

The General Assembly, Having considered the item entitled "Review of the Implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security" and the report[1] of the Secretary-General prepared with the assistance of the Group of Governmental Experts on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security, Taking note of the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security[2] and the important role it has played in consolidating peace and security and promoting co-operation among States on the basis of the purposes and principles of the United Nations, Noting with satisfaction that the vast majority of Member States has adhered and actively contributed to the implementation of the provisions and principles of the Declaration, Profoundly disturbed by the escalation of acts of violation of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles and provisions embodied in the Declaration by recourse to the threat or use of force, military intervention, interference and occupation, resulting in breaches of the peace and threats to international peace and security, Deeply concerned at the continued existence of crises and focal points of tension, the emergence of new conflicts among States endangering international peace and security, the continuation and escalation of the arms race, particularly the nuclear-arms race, and the further increase of military expenditure, the pursuance of the policy of rivalry, the confrontation and struggle for the division of the world into spheres of influence and domination, the continuance of colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism in all its manifestations and apartheid, the further aggravation of the international economic situation and the widening of the gap between the developed and the developing countries, which remain the main obstacles to the strengthening of international peace and security, Noting that, increasingly, the Security Council has not been able to act in accordance with its mandate under the Charter and that in several instances the General Assembly has been called upon in special and emergency special sessions to consider critical international problems affecting or threatening international peace and security, Noting with deep concern that the process of relaxation of international tensions, which has evolved during the decade since the adoption of the Declaration, has remained limited, both in scope and in its geographical application, and has encountered a serious setback,

1. Solemnly reaffirms, on the occasion of the thirty-fifth anniversary of the United Nations and the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security, the universal and unconditional validity of purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations as the basis of relations among States, irrespective of their size, geographical location, level of development or their political, economic, social or ideological systems, as a basic way to ensure international peace and security;

2. Strongly condemns any act of violation of the Charter, particularly of its principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of States and of the inalienable rights of peoples under colonial or racist régimes, foreign occupation and alien domination to self-determination and independence in pursuance of their national destiny, in accordance with their political, economic, social and ideological aspirations, by the use of military force or intervention and interference or by more subtle and insidious means of subversion and destabilization, or by any form of political, economic, military, psychological, financial or ideological pressure;

3. Urges all States to abide strictly, in their international relations, by their commitments under the Charter and, to that end, to implement consistently the principles and provisions of the Declaration;

4. Commends all efforts of Member States directed towards the consolidation of political and legal foundations for strengthening international peace and security and the peaceful coexistence of States on the basis of the Charter, particularly those in respect of the consolidation of the principles of the non-use of force in international relations, non-intervention and non-interference and the peaceful settlement of disputes between States, the early completion of which would contribute to the strengthening of peace and security and promote mutually beneficial co-operation and friendly relations among States;

5. Again invites all States to reject any support for or encouragement of any form of intervention or interference in the internal or external affairs of States for any reason whatsoever and to refuse recognition of situations brought about by the threat or use of force against any Member State;

6. Urges all States, particularly the permanent members of the Security Council, to take all the necessary steps to prevent further erosion or disruption of the process of détente and to refrain from any act which may aggravate the international situation, impede the resolution of crises and the elimination of focal points of tension in various regions of the world and hamper the implementation of the decisions and recommendations adopted at the tenth special session of the General Assembly[3] on halting and reversing the arms race, particularly the nuclear-arms race, which are essential for the preservation of international peace and security;

7. Reaffirms the decision, taken at its tenth special session, by which it called upon the Security Council to take appropriate effective measures to prevent the non-fulfilment of the objectives of the denuclearization of Africa,[4] and notes with alarm that the nuclear capability of South Africa poses a serious danger to the security of African States and to international peace and security;

8. Expresses its satisfaction that the process of decolonization is nearing its end and reaffirms the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples under colonial or racist régimes, foreign domination and alien occupation to achieve self-determination and independence, and urges Member States to increase their support for and solidarity with them and their national liberation movements and to take urgent and effective measures for the speedy completion of the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;[5]

9. Reaffirms the objectives of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace[6] and commends the decision of the permanent members of the Security Council and major maritime users of the Indian Ocean to serve on the expanded Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean to prepare for the Conference on the Indian Ocean scheduled to be held in 1981 at Colombo;[7]

10. Commends again the convening at Madrid of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe and expresses the hope that it will result in further strengthening the security and co-operation of States in Europe in all spheres, including reduction of armaments and armed forces and halting the arms race in both nuclear and conventional fields, thus contributing to the preservation and furtherance of the process of détente in Europe and to peace and stability in the world;

11. Urges all States to co-operate in efforts aimed at transforming the region of the Mediterranean into a zone of peace and co-operation on the basis of the principles of equal security, sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, non-intervention and non-interference, non-violation of international frontiers, non-use of force, peaceful solution of disputes and respect for sovereignty over natural resources and the inalienable rights of peoples under colonial or racist régimes, foreign occupation or alien domination to self-determination and independence;

12. Considers that the achievement of real progress towards the establishment of a new international economic order and an accelerated economic development of the developing countries has become a central element of a peaceful and secure world, and expresses the hope that global negotiations will lead to a significant revival of the world economy and restructuring of international economic relations;

13. Considers also that the current deterioration of the international situation requires an effective Security Council and, to that end, emphasizes the great urgency of the need to examine all existing mechanisms in order to enhance the authority and enforcement capacity of the Council, in accordance with the Charter, and the possibility of holding periodic meetings of the Council at the ministerial or higher governmental level in specific cases to consider and review outstanding problems and crises or actions which would enable the Council to play a more active role in preventing potential conflicts;

14. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General and, in view of the important role that the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security has played in international life since its adoption, urges all Member States to contribute to the implementation of all the provisions of the Declaration which have not yet been implemented, particularly those relating to the strengthening of the capacity of the Security Council to exercise its responsibility under the Charter;

15. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to the Security Council and invites the Council to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth session on the steps taken to implement the provisions of paragraphs 13 and 14 above;

16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-sixth session the item entitled "Review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security".

94th plenary meeting
12 December 1980


[1] A/35/505 and Add. 1-3. [2] Resolution 2734 (XXV). [3] See resolution S-10/2. [4] Ibid., para. 63 (c). [5] Resolution 1514 (XV). [6] Resolution 2832 (XXVI). [7] See resolution 35/150 above.
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