9 December 1981

Implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security

The General Assembly,

Having considered the item entitled "Review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security",

Noting with concern that the provisions of the Declaration have not yet been fully implemented,

Profoundly disturbed by the escalation of tension in the world, the ever more frequent recourse to the threat or use of force, intervention, interference, aggression and foreign occupation, continued stalemate in the solution of crimes in different regions, the continuous escalation of the arms race and military build-up, the pursuance of the policy of rivalry, the confrontation and struggle for the division of the world into spheres of influence and domination, the persistence of colonialism, racism and apartheid, and the lack of solution of the economic problems of developing countries, all of which endanger international peace and security,

Deeply concerned that the process of relaxation of international tension has reached a point of deep crisis owing to the lack of progress in the settlement of international problems and conflicts and stalemate in the process of disarmament,

Stressing the need for the main organs of the United Nations responsible for the maintenance of peace and security, particularly the Security Council, to contribute more effectively to the promotion of international peace and security by seeking solutions to the unresolved problems and crises in the world,

Emphasizing that, in its 20 years of existence, the movement of non-aligned countries has significantly contributed to the efforts of the United Nations towards the promotion of international peace and security and towards democratization of international relations, the development of international co-operation and the establishment of a system of international relations based on justice, sovereign equality and equal security of all States and peoples, in accordance with the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and the principles and policy of non-alignment,

1. Expresses its deep concern over the aggravation of focal points of international tension and crises in the world, more frequent recourse to force and increasing violations of the Charter of the United Nations;

2. Reaffirms once more the universal and unconditional validity of the purposes and principles of the Charter as the firm basis for relations among all States, irrespective of size, geographical location, level of development or political, economic, social or ideological systems;

3. Urges all States to abide strictly, in their international relations, by their commitment to the Charter and, to that end:

(a) To refrain from any threat of use of force, intervention, interference, aggression, foreign occupation or measures of political and economic coercion which violate the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and security of other States or their right freely to dispose of their natural resources;

(b) To refrain from supporting or encouraging any such act for any reason whatsoever;

(c) To reject and refuse recognition of situations brought about by them;

4. Calls upon all States to contribute effectively to the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security;

5. Urges all States, in particular, the permanent members of the Security Council, to undertake all necessary measures to prevent the further aggravation of the international situation and disruption of the process of detente and, to this end: to seek the peaceful settlement of disputes and the resolution of the focal points of crises and tensions; to start serious, meaningful and effective negotiations on disarmament and on the halting of the arms race, particularly the nuclear-arms race, on the basis of the recommendation of the General Assembly at its tenth special session;

to contribute to an urgent solution of international economic problems and the establishment of the new international economic order; to accelerate economic development of developing countries, particulary the least developed ones; and to proceed without any delay to a global consideration of ways and means for a revival of the world economy and for the restructuring of international economic relations within the framework of the global negotiations;

6. Takes note of the fact that the Security Council has failed to report to the General Assembly on steps taken to implement the provisions of paragraphs 13 and 15 of Assembly resolution 35/158 of 12 December 1980;

7. Requests the Security Council to consider ways and means to ensure the implementation of the provisions of paragraph 5 above as well as to examine all existing mechanisms and to propose new ones aimed at enhancing the authority and enforcement capacity of the Council in accordance with the Charter, and to explore also the possibility of holding periodic meetings of the Council, in conformity with Article 28 of the Charter, at the ministerial or higher level in specific cases, so as to enable it to play a more active role in preventing potential conflicts and to present the Council's conclusions to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session;

8. Reiterates the need for the Security Council, particularly its permanent members, to ensure the effective implementation of its own decisions in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations;

9. Considers that the respect for and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms in their civil, political, economic, social and cultural aspects contributes to the strengthening of international peace and security;

10. Reaffirms again the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples under colonial domination, foreign occupation or racist regimes and their inalienable rights to self-determination and independence, and urges Member States to increase their support for and solidarity with them and their national liberation movements and to take urgent and effective measures for the speedy completion of the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and for the final elimination of colonialism, racism and apartheid;

11. Calls upon the Security Council to take appropriate effective measures to promote the fulfilment of the objectives of the denuclearization of Africa in order to avert the serious danger which the nuclear capability of South Africa constitutes to the African States, in particular the front-line States, as well as to international peace and security;

12. Reiterates its support for the Declaration of the Indian Ocean

as a Zone of Peace and expresses the hope that the Conference on the Indian Ocean, which is an important stage in the realization of the objectives of that Declaration, will be held not later than in the first half of 1983 and, to this end, calls upon all States to contribute effectively to the success of this Conference;

13. Calls upon all States participating in the Madrid Meeting of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, to take all possible measures and exert every effort in order to ensure substantial and balanced results of this meeting in the implementation of the principles and goals established by the Final Act of the Conference at Helsinki; as well as the continuity of the multilateral process initiated by the Conference which has great significance for the strengthening of peace and security in Europe and in the world;

14. Considers that further efforts are necessary for the transformation of the Mediterranean into a zone of peace and co-operation on the basis of the principles of equal security, sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, non-intervention and non-interference, non-violation of international frontiers, non-use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes and just and viable solutions of the existing problems and crises in the area on the basis of the Charter and relevant resolutions of the United Nations, respect for sovereignty over natural resources, and the right of peoples to make independently and without any outside pressure or intimidation their own decisions;

15. Calls upon all Governments to submit to this effect, before the thirty-seventh session of the General Assembly their views on the question of the strengthening of security and co-operation in the region of the Mediterranean and requests the Secretary-General to submit the report thereon to the Assembly at its thirty-seventh session;

16. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-seventh session the item entitled "Review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security".