Question of Western Sahara : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara,

Recalling the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Charter of the United Nations and in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,

Recalling its resolution 42/78 of 4 December 1987 on the question of Western Sahara,

Recalling resolution AHG/Res.104 (XIX) on Western Sahara, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its nineteenth ordinary session, held at Addis Ababa from 6 to 12 June 1983,

Taking note with appreciation of the part concerning Western Sahara of the final documents adopted by the Conference of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the Non-Aligned Countries, held at Nicosia from 5 to 10 September 1988,

Having examined 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,

Having examined the report of the Secretary-General on the question of Western Sahara,

Noting with appreciation the continuation of the joint good offices process initiated in New York on 9 April 1986 by the current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity and the Secretary-General of the United Nations with a view to implementing resolution AHG/Res.104 (XIX) and General Assembly resolution 40/50 of 2 December 1985,

1.         Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on the question of Western Sahara;

2.         Reaffirms that the question of Western Sahara is a question of decolonization which remains to be completed on the basis of the exercise by the people of Western Sahara of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence;

3.         Reaffirms also that the solution of the question of Western Sahara lies in the implementation of resolution AHG/Res.104 (XIX) of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity, in which ways and means were established for a just and definitive political solution to the Western Sahara conflict;

4.         Again requests, to that end, the two parties to the conflict, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro, to undertake direct negotiations in the shortest possible time, with a view to bringing about a cease-fire to create the necessary conditions for a peaceful and fair referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, a referendum without any administrative or military constraints, under the auspices of the Organization of African Unity and the United Nations;

5.         Welcomes the efforts of the current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to promote a just and definitive solution of the question of Western Sahara, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 40/50;

6.         Also welcomes the agreement in principle given on 30 August 1988 by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro to the joint proposals of the current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity and the Secretary-General of the United Nations with a view to the holding of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, organized and supervised by the United Nations in co-operation with the Organization of African Unity;

7.         Further welcomes the unanimous adoption of Security Council resolution 621 (1988) of 20 September 1988, by which the Council authorized the Secretary-General of the United Nations to appoint a special representative for Western Sahara;

8.         Invites the current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to continue to exert every effort to persuade the two parties to the conflict, the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro, to negotiate, in the shortest possible time and in accordance with resolution AHG/Res.104 (XIX), General Assembly resolution 40/50 and the present resolution, the terms of a cease-fire and the modalities for organizing the said referendum;

9.         Expresses its support for the efforts of the current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity and the Secretary-General of the United Nations with a view to promoting a just and lasting solution of the question of Western Sahara, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 40/50;

10.       Appeals to the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro to display the political will necessary to implement resolution AHG/Res.104 (XIX), General Assembly resolutions 40/50 of 2 December 1985, 41/16 of 31 October 1986 and 42/78 of 4 December 1987 and the present resolution;

11.       Reaffirms the determination of the United Nations to co-operate fully with the Organization of African Unity with a view to implementing the relevant decisions of that organization, in particular resolution AHG/Res.104 (XIX);

12.       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 consider the situation in Western Sahara as a matter of priority and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session;

13.       Invites the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity to keep the Secretary-General of the United Nations informed of the progress achieved in the implementation of the decisions of the Organization of African Unity relating to Western Sahara;

14.       Invites the Secretary-General to follow the situation in Western Sahara closely with a view to the implementation of the present resolution and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-fourth session.