23 November 1982

Question of Western Sahara

The General Assembly,

Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara,

Recalling 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 1 September 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,

Recalling its resolutions 35/19 of 11 November 1980 and 36/46 of

24 November 1981 on the question of Western Sahara,

Having considered 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,

Having heard the statements made on the question of Western Sahara, in particular the statement of the representative of the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro,

Recalling its resolution 36/80 of 9 December 1981 on co-operation between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity,

Recalling all the decisions of the Organization of African Unity on the question of Western Sahara,

Recalling also the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its eighteenth ordinary session, held at Nairobi from 24 to 27 June 1981, to organize throughout the Territory of Western Sahara a general and free referendum on self-determination,

Taking note of the various decisions adopted by the Implementation Committee on Western Sahara of the Organization of African Unity concerning the establishment of appropriate machinery to enable the people of Western Sahara to express themselves freely and democratically on their future,

1. Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, the Charter of the Organization of African Unity and the objectives of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), as well as with the relevant resolutions of the Assembly and the Organization of African Unity;

2. Welcomes the efforts of the Organization of African Unity with a view to promoting a just and definitive solution to the question of Western Sahara;

3. Remains convinced that only negotiation between Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro could create the objective conditions for the return of peace in north-west Africa and would guarantee the fair conduct of a general, free and orderly referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara;

4. Appeals, to that end, to the two parties to the dispute, Morocco and the Frente Popular para La Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de Rio de Oro, to enter into negotiations with a view to achieving a cease-fire in accordance with General Assembly resolution 36/46 and the decisions of the Organization of African Unity;

5. Reaffirms the determination of the United Nations to co-operate fully with the Organization of African Unity in the fair and impartial organization of the referendum;

6. Requests, to that end, the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps to ensure that the United Nations participates effectively in the organization and conduct of the referendum and to report to the General Assembly and the Security Council on this subject and on the measures requiring a decision by the Council;

7. Urges the Secretary-General to co-operate closely with the Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity with a view to the implementation of the pertinent decisions of the Organization of African Unity and of the present resolution;

8. 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 as a matter of priority and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its thirty-eighth session.