The situation in Central America: threats to international peace and security and peace initiatives

The General Assembly,

Recalling Security Council resolutions 530 (1983) of 19 May 1983, 562 (1985) of 10 May 1985 and 637 (1989) of 27 July 1989 and its resolutions 38/10 of 11 November 1983, 39/4 of 26 October 1984, 41/37 of 18 November 1986, 42/1 of 7 October 1987 and 43/24 of 15 November 1988, as well as the initiative of the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and of the Organization of American States of 18 November 1986,

Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General of 26 June and 17 October 1989, submitted in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 43/24,

Convinced that the peoples of Central America wish to achieve peace, reconciliation, development and justice, without outside interference, in accordance with their own decision and their own historical experience, and without sacrificing the principles of self-determination and non-intervention,

Aware that the agreement on "Procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace in Central America" signed at Guatemala City on 7 August 1987 by the Presidents of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, at the Esquipulas II summit meeting, is the outcome of the decision by Central Americans to take up fully the historical challenge of forging a peaceful destiny for Central America,

Aware also of the political will which inspires them to settle their differences by means of dialogue, negotiation and respect for the legitimate interests of all States, establishing commitments to be fulfilled in good faith, through the verifiable performance of actions aimed at achieving peace, democracy, security, co-operation and respect for human rights,

Welcoming the joint declarations adopted by the Central American Presidents at Alajuela, Costa Rica, on 16 January 1988, and at Costa del Sol, El Salvador, on 14 February 1989,

Taking note with special satisfaction of the agreements reached by the Central American Presidents at Tela, Honduras, on 7 August 1989, comprising the Tela Declaration, the Joint Plan for the voluntary demobilization, repatriation or relocation in Nicaragua or third countries of the members of the Nicaraguan resistance and their families, as well as assistance for the demobilization of all those involved in armed actions in the countries of the region, when such persons voluntarily request it, and the agreement signed by Honduras and Nicaragua with the moral support of the leaders of Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala,

Noting the action taken by the Secretaries-General of the United Nations and of the Organization of American States in support of the agreements of the Central American Presidents, in particular those relating to the establishment and functioning of the International Verification and Follow-up Commission entrusted with the implementation of the Joint Plan for the voluntary demobilization, repatriation or relocation of the members of the Nicaraguan resistance and their families, and of other irregular forces when they request it,

Recognizing the importance of the action taken by the Secretary-General for the establishment of the United Nations Observer Group in Central America at the request of the Governments of the region, with a view to the adoption of the necessary measures for setting in motion the on-site verification machinery in fulfilment of the security commitments emanating from the agreement signed at the Esquipulas II summit meeting and subsequent declarations,

Noting the importance attached by the Central American Presidents to the function of international verification of the electoral processes in the region, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement signed at the Esquipulas II summit meeting, and the declaration adopted at Costa del Sol,

Welcoming the invitation extended through a sovereign decision by the Government of Nicaragua to the Secretary-General to establish, within the context of the Central American peace process, a group of observers to verify each and every stage of the electoral process in Nicaragua, a process that is to culminate in national elections scheduled for 25 February 1990, as well as the positive response of the Secretary-General,

Noting with interest the agreement signed on 15 September 1989 at Mexico City by the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional to continue the process of dialogue in an effort to reach an understanding through political agreements that would put an end to the armed conflict by political means in the shortest possible time, as well as to encourage the democratization of the country and to reunify Salvadorian society, and the decision of the Secretary-General to accept the invitation extended to him by the above-mentioned parties for the United Nations to participate as a witness in the meeting held at San Jose from 16 to 18 October 1989,

Recognizing the unfailing determination and the decisive contribution of the Contadora Group and its Support Group in favour of peace in Central America,

Bearing in mind the particular importance which the implementation of its resolution 42/231 of 12 May 1988 concerning the Special Plan of Economic Co-operation for Central America and other relevant resolutions has for the improvement of the living standards of the Central American people,

1.         Commends the desire for peace expressed by the Central American Presidents in signing on 7 August 1987 at Guatemala City the agreement on "Procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace in Central America" and in issuing their subsequent declarations and agreements;

2.         Expresses its strongest support for these agreements;

3.         Exhorts the Governments to continue their efforts to achieve a firm and lasting peace in Central America and expresses its fervent hopes for the effective implementation of the agreements signed at Tela, Honduras, on 7 August 1989;

4.         Appeals to the countries which are outside the region but which have links with it and interests in it to facilitate the implementation of the agreements concluded by the Central American Presidents and to abstain from any action which may impede such implementation;

5.         Fully supports the Secretary-General of the United Nations in the performance of the functions which the Central American Presidents, at the Tela summit meeting, entrusted to him as a member of the International Verification and Follow-up Commission, together with the Secretary General of the Organization of American States;

6.         Requests the Secretary-General to continue to afford the fullest possible support to the Central American Governments in their efforts to achieve peace, especially by taking the measures necessary for the establishment and effective functioning of the verification machinery in respect of security, through the United Nations Observer Group in Central America;

7.         Supports the agreement of the Secretary-General with the Government of Nicaragua concerning the establishment of the United Nations Observer Mission to verify the electoral process in Nicaragua, contained in the letter dated 6 July 1989 from the Secretary-General to the President of the General Assembly;

8.         Requests the Secretary-General to report to it periodically during the present session on the progress of the United Nations Observer Mission to verify the electoral process in Nicaragua, which he established as an extraordinary measure related to the maintenance of international peace and security, as well as on the electoral process in Nicaragua, and to submit a final report to it on the results thereof;

9.         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 goals and objectives of the Special Plan of Economic Co-operation for Central America, as stipulated in General Assembly resolution 42/231, and as a way of assisting the efforts being made by the countries of the region to achieve peace and development;

10.       Requests the Secretary-General to submit a preliminary report to the General Assembly during the first two weeks of December 1989 on progress made in implementing the present resolution and to submit a report thereon to the Assembly at its forty-fifth session;

11.       Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fifth session the item entitled "The situation in Central America: threats to international peace and security and peace initiatives".