Whats New

Self Determination: principle & the law

Having considered the question of Western Sahara,

Reaffirming 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 47/25 of 25 November 1992,

Recalling also the agreement in principle given on 30 August 1988 by the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberación de Saguia el-Hamra y de Río de Oro to the proposals 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 in the context of their joint mission of good offices,

Recalling further Security Council resolutions 621 (1988) of 20 September 1988, 658 (1990) of 27 June 1990, 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991 and 725 (1991) of 31 December 1991 relating to the question of Western Sahara,

Recalling with satisfaction the entry into force of the cease-fire in Western Sahara on 6 September 1991, in accordance with the proposal of the Secretary-General accepted by the two parties,

Noting the adoption by the Security Council on 2 March 1993 of resolution 809 (1993),

Taking note of the letter dated 4 August 1993 from the President of the Security Council addressed to the Secretary-General, 1/

Considering that the holding of talks between the two parties at Laayoune from 17 to 19 July 1993 is a positive development,

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, 2/

Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General, 3/

1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General;

2. Pays tribute to the Secretary-General and to his Special Representative for their action with a view to settling the question of Western Sahara by the implementation of the settlement plan;

3. Reiterates its support for further efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and supervision by the United Nations, in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in conformity with Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991) by which the Council adopted the settlement plan for Western Sahara;

4. Endorses the contents of the letter dated 4 August 1993 from the President of the Security Council to the Secretary-General 1/ in which the members of the Council, inter alia, fully supported the efforts of the Secretary-General to make swift progress on the preparations for holding a referendum in accordance with Council resolution 809 (1993), noted that the Identification Commission had begun its preparatory work, welcomed the reaffirmation by the two parties of their commitment to the implementation of the peace plan in its entirety, in particular their encouraging responses to the compromise proposal of the Secretary-General concerning the interpretation and application of the criteria, and shared his hope that direct talks between the two parties will soon resume; 

5. 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, bearing in mind the ongoing referendum process, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session;

6. Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its forty-ninth session a report on the implementation of the present resolution.

1/ S/26239.

2/ A/48/23 (Part V), chap. IX.

3/ A/48/426.