Special Plan of Economic Co-operation for Central America : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 42/1 of 7 October 1987, in which it expressed its firmest support for the agreement on "Procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace in Central America", signed by Central American Presidents at Guatemala City on 7 August 1987, at the Esquipulas II summit meeting, and its resolution 42/204 of 11 December 1987, in which it requested the Secretary-General to formulate, in consultation with the Governments of the region and the appropriate organs and organizations of the United Nations system, a special plan of co-operation for Central America to be submitted for consideration by the General Assembly at the current session,

Bearing in mind the Joint Declaration of Central American Presidents, issued at San Jose, on 16 January 1988, and the agreement adopted at Guatemala City on 7 April 1988 by the Executive Commission, composed of the Central American Ministers for Foreign Affairs in accordance with the agreement concluded at the Esquipulas II summit meeting,

Reiterating its appreciation to the Contadora Group and the Support Group for their contribution to the peace process in Central America,

Noting with satisfaction the Joint Political Declaration and the Joint Economic Communique adopted by the European Community and the States parties to the General Treaty on Central American Economic Integration and Panama at the Ministerial Conference on Political Dialogue and Economic Co-operation between the European Community and its member States, and the States of Central America and of the Contadora Group, held at Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany, on 29 February and 1 March 1988,

Considering that fulfilment of the agreement concluded at the Esquipulas II summit meeting and the implementation of a special plan of economic co-operation for Central America require political will and determination so that peace and development can be consolidated in the region,

Reaffirming its conviction that peace and development are inseparable,

Deeply concerned about the emergency situation in Central America and alarmed by the seriousness of the economic and social crisis it is facing,

Aware of the complexity and seriousness of the situation of the refugees and displaced persons in the Central American region, and of its effect on the social and economic development of the area,

Convinced of the urgent need for concerted action by the international community in support of the commitments made by the Central American countries to improve the living conditions of their peoples and to achieve social justice as a foundation for a stable and lasting peace,

1.         Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for formulating and submitting the special plan of economic co-operation for Central America, prepared in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 42/1 and 42/204;

2.         Also expresses its appreciation for the important support provided by the United Nations Development Programme, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and the various regional integration and co-operation bodies in the preparation of the special plan;

3.         Requests the Secretary-General, with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme and in close co-ordination with the Governments of Central America and in consultation with donors, to use his best efforts in the promotion, co-ordination, monitoring and follow-up of the special plan and to make, as soon as possible, institutional arrangements in order to facilitate the fulfilment of the commitments of the international community;

4.         Emphasizes the urgent need to provide the Central American countries with financial resources on concessional and favourable terms, in addition to those they are already receiving from the international community;

5.         Requests all bodies, organs and organizations of the United Nations system, taking into account the emergency situation faced by the Central American countries, to take immediate steps to mobilize additional financial resources and to participate actively in the implementation of the activities supporting the goals and objectives of the special plan;

6.         Urges the organs and specialized agencies of the United Nations system, in particular the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children's Fund, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the United Nations Population Fund, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, to continue and expand, to the extent possible, their assistance programmes on a priority basis, and to co-operate with the Secretary-General in the implementation of the activities supporting the goals and objectives of the special plan;

7.         Urges the international community and international organizations to increase their technical, economic and financial co-operation with the Central American countries for the implementation of the activities supporting the goals and objectives of the special plan, as a way of assisting the efforts being made under the agreement concluded at the Esquipulas II summit meeting to attain peace and development;

8.         Recognizes the vital importance of the Central American economic integration process as a fundamental element for the economic and social development of the region and urges all Governments and international organizations to contribute to strengthen this process;

9.         Decides to review and evaluate the progress in the implementation of the special plan of economic co-operation for Central America at its forty-fourth session and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on the implementation of the present resolution with whatever recommendations are deemed appropriate.