17 December 1981

Specific action related to the particular needs and problems of land-locked developing countries

The General Assembly,

Reiterating the specific actions related to the particular needs of the land-locked developing countries stated in resolutions 63 (III) of 19 May 1972, 98 (IV) of 31 May 1976 and 123 (V) of 3 June 1979 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,

Recalling the provisions of its resolutions 31/157 of 21 December 1976, 32/191 of 19 December 1977, 33/150 of 20 December 1978, 34/198 of 19 Decmeber 1979 and 35/58 of 5 December 1980 and other resolutions of the United Nations relating to the particular needs and problems of land-locked developing countries,

Bearing in mind various other resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, its related organs and the specialized agencies, emphasizing special and urgent measures in favour of land-locked developing countries,

Recalling the relevant provisions of the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade,

Recognizing that the lack of territorial access to the sea, aggravated by remoteness and isolation from world markets, and the prohibitive transit, transport and transshipment costs impose serious constraints on the socio-economic development of land-locked developing countries,

Noting with concern that the measures taken so far in favour of land-locked developing countries and the assistance given fall far short of their needs,

1. Reaffirms the right of land-locked developing countries to free access to and from the sea and their right to freedom of transit;

2. Appeals to all States, international organizations and financial institutions to implement, a a matter of urgency and priority, the specific actions related to the particular needs and problems of land-locked developing countries envisaged in resolutions 63 (III), 98 (IV) and 123 (V) of the United Nations Conferece on Trade and Development, in the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade, in the Substantial New Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the 1980s and in other relevant resolutions of the United Nations;

3. Urges all donor countries, as well as those in a position to do so, and the international organizations concerned, to provide land-locked developing countries with appropriate financial and technical assistance in the form of grants or concessional loans for the construction and improvement of their transport and transit infrastructures and facilities;

4. Urges also the international community and multilateral and bilateral financial institutions to intensify efforts in raising the net flow of resources to land-locked developing countries to help offset the adverse effects of their disadvantageous geographical situation on their economic development efforts, in keeping with the over-all development needs of each land-locked developing country;

5. Invites the transit countries to co-operate effectively with the land-locked developing countries in harmonizing transport planning and promoting other joint ventures in the field of transport at the regional, subregional and bilateral levels;

6. Commends the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and other United Nations agencies for their work and the assistance they have provided to the land-locked developing countries and invites them to continue to take appropriate and effective measures to respond to the specific needs of those countries;

7. Further invites the international community to give financial support to interested transit and land-locked developing countries in the construction of alternative routes to the sea;

8. Recommends continued and intensified activities relating to the conducting of necessary studies and the implementation of special actions and action programmes for the land-locked developing countries, including those in the area of economic co-operation among developing countries, as well as those that have been envisaged in the programme of work of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the regional commissions and other programmes and activities at the regional and subregional levels.