S/PV.2826 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Security Council is meeting today in accordance with the understanding reached in the Council's prior (The President) consultations. Members of the Council have before them document S/21093, which has been prepared in the course of the Council's consultations. The Secretary-General of the United Nations wishes to make a statement, and 1 now call upon him.

It is my honour to inform the members of the Security Council that the Kingdom of MOrOCCO and the . . . POLISARIO Front, parties to the conflict in Western Sahara, while making remarks and comments, have, on 30 August 1988, in Geneva, given their agreement to the brOpOSalS for a peaceful settlement submitted by the current Chairman of the 1 Organization of African Unity and myself within the framework of my mission Of good offices. Those proposals are aimed at the promotion of a just and definitive solution of the question of Western Sahara in accordance with General Assembly reSdUtion ‘, 1514 (Xv). The proposals were drawn up following a lengthy series of discussions which successive Chairmen of the Organization of African Unity and I held with the parties to the conflict under the mandate conferred upon me by the General Assembly in its resolution 4O/SO. The proposals aimed at the restoration of peace in the region provide a framework for the conclusion of a cease-fire and the establishment of conditions necessary for the organization of a credible referendum that will make it possible for the people of Western Sahara to'exercise its inalienable right to self-determination without military or administrative constraints. The referendum will be organized and monitored by the United Nations in co-operation with the Grganization of African Unity. -~. The peace proposals will be implemen.ted under the guidance of a Special ._ Representative of the Secretary-General with the assistance of a sufficiently large Support Group comprising a civilian unit , a military unit and a security unit in order to enable him to fulfil his organizational and monitoring functions. The composition of those units will be determined in due course by the Secretary-General in consultation with the parties to the conflict and having regard.to what is required for the organisation and control of the referendum. (The Secretaiy-General) Dut ing the transition period between the installation of the cease-f ire and the announcement of the results of the referendum, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative will be the sole and exclusive authority, particularly with regard t0 all questions pertaining to the referendum, including the organisation, monitoring and conduct of the referendum. In that capacity he will be empowered to take any measures he deems necessary to guarantee the impartiality of the referendum, freedom of movement and the security of the population. The peace proposals also provide for the deployment of a contingent of United Nations observers whose responsibility it will be to verify the cessation of has til i ties, the implementation of the cease-fire, the exchange of prisoners, the determining of the positions of the parties at the time of the cease-f ire and the COnSigning of their troops to sites to be determined by the Special Representative. The establishment and functioning of the Observer Group will be governed by the general principles applicable to United Nations peace-keeping operations. The peace proposals also advocate a cease-fire and the complete cessation of hostilities so that the referendum process will be free from any interference Or. intimidation before the organisation of the’referendum and during its conduct. The proposals also provide that the Kingdom of Morocco will carry out an appropriate, substantial and gradual reduction of its troops in Western Sahara. The r ema inder of the Moroccan troops will be stationed at sites designated by the Special Representative and will be placed under the surveillance of the United Nations Observer Group. Similarly, the troops of the POLISARIO Front will be stationed under the surveillance of the United Nations Observer Group at sites indicated by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative. (The Secretary-General) At the present stage of our efforts, the current Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity and I are working hard to finalize certain practical details of the peace plan for the settlement of the question of Western Sahara. The progress already made to that end is a preliminary and favourable result, which it is extremely important to consolidate in order to preserve the momentum of the prOCeSSo That is why, I request the Se&r ity Council at this stage to author ize me to proceed to the appointment of a Special Representative for Western Sahara, who would thus be enabled to gain familiarity with’ the facts of the question and with the peace plan. At a subsequent stage , after finalization of the settlement plan for the question .of Western Sahara, and with a detailed elaboration of the degree of United Nations intervention .in the field - that is an assessment of the required number of observers and civilian and military personnel - I propose to return to the Security Council to request the adoption of necessary measures.

It is my understanding that the Council is ready to proceed to the vote on the draft resolution before it. Unless I hear any objection, I shall put the draft resolution to the vote now. There being no objection, it is so decided. A vote was taken by show of hands. In favour: Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Federal . . . _, Republic of, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Senegal, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Yugoslavia, Za&ia

There were 15 votes in favour. The draft resolution has therefore been adopted unanimously as resolution 621 (1988). The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on the agenda. The meetina rose at 21-10 a-m _ ~~ - -- --_-- --....