United Nations Security Council Resolution 1598
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1598, adopted unanimously on April 28, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara
, including resolutions 1495
(2003), 1541
(2004) and 1570
(2004), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
(MINURSO) until October 31, 2005.
The Security Council reaffirmed the need for a durable and mutual solution to the Western Sahara problem, which would provide for the self-determination
of the people of the territory. Both Morocco
and the Polisario Front
were urged to co-operate with the United Nations to end the political impasse and reach a solution to the long-running dispute. The Polisario Front was further called upon to release all prisoners of war
in accordance with international humanitarian law
while it, along with Morocco, had to co-operate with the International Committee of the Red Cross
to determine the fate of missing persons. All military agreements concluded with MINURSO had to be respected.
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was requested to report on the situation and MINURSO, including a review of its structure. Member States were called upon to consider contributing towards confidence-building measures to facilitate greater person-to-person contact, such as family visits.
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"....
1598, adopted unanimously on April 28, 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in 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...
, including resolutions 1495
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1495
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1495, adopted unanimously on July 31, 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly Resolution 1429 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara ...
(2003), 1541
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1541
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1541, adopted unanimously on April 29, 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly Resolution 1495 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara ...
(2004) and 1570
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1570
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1570, adopted unanimously on October 28, 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly resolutions 1495 and 1541 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in...
(2004), 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 October 31, 2005.
The Security Council reaffirmed the need for a durable and mutual solution to the Western Sahara problem, which would provide for the 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...
of the people of the territory. Both 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...
were urged to co-operate with the United Nations to end the political impasse and reach a solution to the long-running dispute. The Polisario Front was further called upon to release all prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in accordance 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...
while it, along with Morocco, had to co-operate with the International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is a private humanitarian institution based in Geneva, Switzerland. States parties to the four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 and 2005, have given the ICRC a mandate to protect the victims of international and...
to determine the fate of missing persons. All military agreements concluded with MINURSO had to be respected.
Meanwhile, 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...
was requested to report on the situation and MINURSO, including a review of its structure. Member States were called upon to consider contributing towards confidence-building measures to facilitate greater person-to-person contact, such as family visits.
See also
- Baker PlanBaker PlanThe Baker Plan is a United Nations initiative to grant self-determination to Western Sahara...
- 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 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)
- Moroccan WallMoroccan WallThe Berm of Western Sahara is an approximately 2,700 km-long defensive structure, mostly a sand wall , running through Western Sahara and the southeastern portion of Morocco...
- 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...