Problem of remnants of war.

35. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED ON THE REPORTS OF THE SECOND COMMITTEE
71. Problem of remnants of war

The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 2995 (XXVII), 2996 (XXVII) and 2997 (XXVII) of 15 December 1972, pertaining to co-operation between States in the field of the environment, the international responsibility of States in protecting the environment and the establishment of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, Recalling also its resolution 3435 (XXX) of 9 December 1975, Recalling further its resolution 31/111 of 16 December 1976, in which it noted the interim report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme on the study of the problem of material remnants of war, particularly mines, and their effect on the environment,[1] and requested the Governing Council to ensure its completion, Taking note of resolution 32 of 19 August 1976 of the Fifth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, regarding compensation for the material remnants of war,[2] Recalling also decisions 80 (IV) of 9 April 1976[3] and 101 (V) of 25 May 1977[4] of the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme, Taking note also of resolution 26/11-P, concerning the right to compensation for the effects of wars and mines, adopted by the Eleventh Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, held at Islamabad from 17 to 22 May 1980,[5] Recognizing that most developing countries have been subjected to foreign occupation and exposed to wars waged by certain colonial Powers, thus incurring tremendous loss of life and property, Recognizing also that the presence of material remnants of war, particularly mines, on the territories of certain developing countries seriously impedes their development efforts and entails loss of life and property, Convinced that the removal of those remnants of war should be the responsibility of the countries that implanted them and should be carried out at their expense,

1. Regrets that no real action has been taken to solve the problem despite the various resolutions and decisions adopted by both the General Assembly and the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme;

2. Calls upon those States which took part in those wars to make available forthwith to the affected States all information on the areas in which such mines were placed, including maps indicating the position of those areas, and information concerning the types of mines;

3. Supports the demand of the States affected by the implantation of mines on their lands for compensation for the losses incurred from the States which planted the mines;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to consult with the States concerned to find ways and means, including the possibility of convening a conference under the auspices of the United Nations, for solving the problem of material remnants of war, particularly mines, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth session;

5. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth session on the steps taken towards the implementation of the above-mentioned resolutions and decisions and on the obstacles he has faced in that regard.

83rd plenary meeting
5 December 1980

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[1] A/31/210. [2] See A/31/197. [3] See Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-first Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/31/25), annex I. [4] Ibid., Thirty-second Session, Supplement No. 25 (A/32/25), annex I. [5] See A/35/419-S/14129, annex I.