The situation in Central America : threats to international peace and security and peace initiatives : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Recalling Security Council resolutions 530 (1983) of 19 May 1983, 562 (1985) of 10 May 1985, 637 (1989) of 27 July 1989, 644 (1989) of 7 November 1989, 650 (1990) of 27 March 1990, 653 (1990) of 20 April 1990, 654 (1990) of 4 May 1990, 656 (1990) of 8 June 1990 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, 43/24 of 15 November 1988, 44/10 of 23 October 1989 and 44/44 of 7 December 1989,

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,

Welcoming the joint declarations adopted by the Central American Presidents at Alajuela, Costa Rica, on 16 January 1988, Costa del Sol, El Salvador, on 14 February 1989, Tela, Honduras, on 7 August 1989, Montelimar, Nicaragua, on 3 April 1990 and Antigua, Guatemala, on 17 June 1990,

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 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,

Taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General of 21 December 1989 and 8 November 1990 submitted in pursuance of General Assembly resolution 44/10,

Taking note also of the reports of the Secretary-General on the verification of the electoral process in Nicaragua at each and every stage by the United Nations Observer Group in Central America carried out at the request of the Government of Nicaragua and in particular the conclusion by the Group that the electoral process as a whole was orderly, free and fair,

Taking note with satisfaction of the work carried out in the region by the Group in verifying the security commitments entered into by the Central American Governments under the agreement signed at the Esquipulas II summit meeting, and the successful demobilization of the members of the Nicaraguan resistance, and by the International Support and Verification Commission in their repatriation and relocation with the co-operation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Development Programme,

Convinced that the National Conciliation Agreement on Economic and Social Matters reached in Nicaragua on 26 October 1990 constitutes a positive and promising contribution to strengthening the process of democratization, development and peace in Nicaragua and in the region,

Observing with satisfaction the agreements signed by the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional in Geneva on 4 April and at Caracas on 21 May 1990, on the basis of which a negotiating process has been initiated under the auspices of the Secretary-General directed towards the conclusion of political agreements in accordance with an agreed agenda, with a view to putting an end to the armed conflict by political means in the shortest possible time, as well as promoting the democratization of the country, guaranteeing unrestricted respect for human rights and reunifying Salvadorian society,

Taking note with interest of the progress of the talks between the various sectors of Guatemalan society and the Unidad Revolucionaria Nacional Guatemalteca, which have taken place pursuant to the agreement signed at Oslo on 30 March 1990 and under the auspices of the National Reconciliation Commission of Guatemala, in the presence of a representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and with the support of the Guatemalan Government,

Recognizing the unfailing determination of the Rio Group to achieve peace in Central America and the valuable contribution made by its member States throughout the regional peace effort,

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 improving the living standards of the Central American people,

1.         Commends the effort made by the Central American countries to achieve peace through the implementation of the agreement on "Procedures for the establishment of a firm and lasting peace in Central America" signed at Guatemala City on 7 August 1987, as well as of the agreements adopted at subsequent summit meetings;

2.         Expresses its strongest support for these agreements and urges the Governments to continue their efforts to consolidate firm and lasting peace in Central America;

3.         Requests the Secretary-General to continue to afford the fullest possible support to the Central American Governments in their efforts to consolidate peace, especially by taking the measures necessary for the maintenance, establishment and effective functioning of the appropriate verification machinery;

4.         Welcomes the National Conciliation Agreement on Economic and Social Matters reached in Nicaragua and endorses, in particular, the provision concerning exceptional circumstances and the invitation it makes to the international community and the international funding agencies to provide effective and efficient support for the implementation of the Agreement;

5.         Commends the efforts of the Secretary-General to bring about peace in Central America and, in particular, to encourage a negotiated political settlement of the Salvadorian conflict;

6.         Fully endorses the active role being played by the Secretary-General as an intermediary in the context of the mandate which was conferred upon him by the Security Council and which, pursuant to the agreements signed in Geneva and at Caracas, was emphasized on 31 October 1990 by the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional in order to strengthen and accelerate the negotiation process;

7.         Requests the Government of El Salvador and the Frente Farabundo Marti para la Liberacion Nacional to make every possible effort to carry out all the political agreements drawn up in Geneva and Caracas, bearing in mind, especially, the proposals of the Secretary-General in order to expedite the negotiation process and achieve as soon as possible a just and lasting peace in El Salvador;

8.         Requests the Secretary-General to report to it during the forty-fifth session on the conduct of the tasks that the United Nations may undertake as a result of negotiations on El Salvador;

9.         Encourages the Government of Guatemala to continue to support the national reconciliation process by pursuing its dialogue with the various sectors in order to achieve a peaceful settlement of the lengthy confrontation which has been taking place in Guatemala;

10.       Notes with satisfaction the agreements reached at the meetings of the Security Commission, established under the agreement signed at the Esquipulas II summit meeting, held at San Jose in July 1990 and at San Salvador in September 1990, as well as the meeting of the technical sub-committee, held at Guatemala City in October 1990;

11.       Requests the Secretary-General to continue to support the negotiation process and the verification of any agreements that may be adopted on the basis of the work of the Security Commission;

12.       Appeals to the countries which are outside the region but which have links with and interests in it to facilitate the process of peace and democratization in the region and to refrain from any action that might hinder that process;

13.       Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report to the General Assembly at its forty-sixth session on progress made in implementing the present resolution;

14.       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;

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