United Nations Security Council Resolution 1359
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1359, adopted unanimously on June 29, 2001, after recalling all previous resolutions on Western Sahara
, in particular Resolution 1108
(1997), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
(MINURSO) until November 30, 2001.
The Security Council reiterated its support for efforts by MINURSO and the United Nations and agreements adopted by Morocco
and the Polisario Front
to hold a free and fair referendum
on self-determination
for the people of Western Sahara in accordance with the Settlement Plan
. It noted proposals by the Polisario Front to overcome obstacles between the two parties and also took a memorandum
by Algeria
into account.
Extending MINURSO's mandate
, the resolution supported the efforts of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
to invite all parties to talks to discuss a framework agreement and negotiate any changes. It emphasised that nothing overall would be agreed until everything had been agreed between the parties. The parties were urged to resolve the issue of missing people and release those detained since the start of the conflict in compliance with international humanitarian law
.
Finally, the Secretary-General was required to provide an assessment at the end of its current mandate and on the future of MINURSO.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1359, adopted unanimously on June 29, 2001, after recalling all previous resolutions on Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
, in particular Resolution 1108
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1108
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1108, adopted unanimously on May 22, 1997, after reaffirming all previous resolutions on the Western Sahara, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara until September 30, 1997.The Security Council...
(1997), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
MINURSO is the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara. The name is a French acronym for "Mission des Nations Unies pour l'Organisation d'un Référendum au Sahara Occidental" — United Nations Mission for the organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara.-Purpose of the mission:MINURSO...
(MINURSO) until November 30, 2001.
The Security Council reiterated its support for efforts by MINURSO and the United Nations and agreements adopted by Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and the Polisario Front
Polisario Front
The POLISARIO, Polisario Front, or Frente Polisario, from the Spanish abbreviation of Frente Popular de Liberación de Saguía el Hamra y Río de Oro is a Sahrawi rebel national liberation movement working for the independence of Western Sahara from Morocco...
to hold a free and fair referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
on self-determination
Self-determination
Self-determination is the principle in international law that nations have the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no external compulsion or external interference...
for the people of Western Sahara in accordance with the Settlement Plan
Settlement Plan
The Settlement Plan was an agreement between the Polisario Front and Morocco on the organization of a referendum, which would constitute an expression of self-determination for the people of Western Sahara, leading either to full independence, or integration with the kingdom of Morocco...
. It noted proposals by the Polisario Front to overcome obstacles between the two parties and also took a memorandum
Memorandum
A memorandum is from the Latin verbal phrase memorandum est, the gerundive form of the verb memoro, "to mention, call to mind, recount, relate", which means "It must be remembered ..."...
by Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
into account.
Extending MINURSO's mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
, the resolution supported the efforts of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
to invite all parties to talks to discuss a framework agreement and negotiate any changes. It emphasised that nothing overall would be agreed until everything had been agreed between the parties. The parties were urged to resolve the issue of missing people and release those detained since the start of the conflict in compliance with international humanitarian law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
.
Finally, the Secretary-General was required to provide an assessment at the end of its current mandate and on the future of MINURSO.
See also
- Free Zone (region)Free Zone (region)The Free Zone or Liberated Territories is a term used by the Polisario Front to describe the part of Western Sahara that lies to the east of the Moroccan Berm and west and north of the borders with Algeria and Mauritania, respectively...
- Legal status of Western Sahara
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1301 to 1400 (2000 – 2002)
- Sahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicSahrawi Arab Democratic RepublicThe Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a partially recognised state that claims sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony. SADR was proclaimed by the Polisario Front on February 27, 1976, in Bir Lehlu, Western Sahara. The SADR government controls about...
- Wall (Western Sahara)