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 43/33 of 22 November 1988 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 Ninth Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held in Belgrade from 4 to 7 September 1989,

Recalling Security Council resolution 621 (1988) of 20 September 1988 concerning the question of Western Sahara,

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,

Reiterating its support for 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 promoting a just and definitive solution of the question of Western Sahara, in accordance with 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.         Stresses the importance of 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;

4.         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;

5.         Also welcomes the progress achieved by the joint good offices process and urges 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 and intensify their efforts with a view to resolving the remaining problems, and thus to fulfil the necessary conditions for the holding of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, without any administrative or military constraints, organized and supervised by the United Nations in co-operation with the Organization of African Unity;

6.         Takes note with appreciation of the establishment of a technical commission to assist 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 in their joint good offices with a view to resolving the question of Western Sahara;

7.         Welcomes the talks in Marrakech between His Majesty King Hassan II of Morocco and a high-level delegation from the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro, and endorses the hope of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the current Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity that there will be further meetings of this nature to improve the prospects for the success of the peace process;

8.         Expresses its conviction that the continuation of direct dialogue between the two parties to the conflict could contribute to the completion of the joint good offices process 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 the restoration of peace in Western Sahara and to stability and security in the whole region;

9.         Appeals once again to the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro to display the co-operation and the political goodwill necessary for the success of the joint good offices process 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;

10.       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-fifth session;

11.       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;

12.       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-fifth session.