Observer status of national liberation movements recognized by the Organization of African Unity and/or by the League of Arab States

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 35/167 of 15 December 1980, 37/104 of 16 December 1982, 39/76 of 13 December 1984 and 41/71 of 3 December 1986,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,

Recalling its resolution 3237 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, by which it granted observer status to the Palestine Liberation Organization,

Recalling further its resolution 31/152 of 20 December 1976, by which it granted observer status to the South West Africa People's Organization,

Desirous of enhancing the effective role played by these national liberation movements,

Bearing in mind the necessity of facilitating the work of these organizations,

1.         Decides that the Palestine Liberation Organization and the South West Africa People's Organization are entitled to have their communications relating to the sessions and work of the General Assembly issued and circulated directly, and without intermediary, as official documents of the Assembly;

2.         Decides also that the Palestine Liberation Organization and the South West Africa People's Organization are entitled to have their communications relating to the sessions and work of all international conferences convened under the auspices of the General Assembly of the United Nations issued and circulated directly, and without intermediary, as official documents of these conferences;

3.         Authorizes the Secretariat to issue and circulate as official documents of the United Nations, under the appropriate symbol of other organs or conferences of the United Nations, communications submitted directly, without intermediary, by the Palestine Liberation Organization and the South West Africa People's Organization, on matters relative to the work of these organs and conferences;

4.         Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps for the implementation of the present resolution.

B

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolutions 35/167 of 15 December 1980, 37/104 of 16 December 1982, 39/76 of 13 December 1984 and 41/71 of 3 December 1986,

Recalling also its resolutions 3237 (XXIX) of 22 November 1974, 3280 (XXIX) of 10 December 1974 and 31/152 of 20 December 1976,

Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,

Bearing in mind the resolution of the United Nations Conference on the Representation of States in Their Relations with International Organizations relating to the observer status of national liberation movements recognized by the Organization of African Unity and/or by the League of Arab States,

Noting that the Vienna Convention on the Representation of States in Their Relations with International Organizations of a Universal Character, of 14 March 1975, regulates only the representation of States in their relations with international organizations,

Taking into account the current practice of inviting the above-mentioned national liberation movements to participate as observers in the sessions of the General Assembly, specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system and in the work of the conferences held under the auspices of such international organizations,

Convinced that the participation of the national liberation movements referred to above in the work of international organizations helps to strengthen international peace and co-operation,

Desirous of ensuring the effective participation of the above-mentioned national liberation movements as observers in the work of international organizations and of regulating, to that end, their status and the facilities, privileges and immunities necessary for the performance of their functions,

Noting that many States have recognized those national liberation movements and have granted them facilities, privileges and immunities in their countries,

1.         Urges all States that have not done so, in particular those which act as host to international organizations or to conferences convened by, or held under the auspices of, international organizations of a universal character, to consider as soon as possible the question of ratifying, or acceding to, the Vienna Convention on the Representation of States in Their Relations with International Organizations of a Universal Character;

2.         Calls once more upon the States concerned to accord to the delegations of the national liberation movements recognized by the Organization of African Unity and/or by the League of Arab States and accorded observer status by international organizations, the facilities, privileges and immunities necessary for the performance of their functions, in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on the Representation of States in Their Relations with International Organizations of a Universal Character;

3.         Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session on the implementation of the present resolution.