A/RES/55/49 GA

United Nations A/RES/55/49 General Assembly Distr.: General 24 January 2001 Fifty-fifth session Agenda item 38 00 56233 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [without reference to a Main Committee (A/55/L.39)] 55/49. Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 41/11 of 27 October 1986, in which it solemnly declared the Atlantic Ocean, in the region between Africa and South America, a zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic, Recalling also its subsequent resolutions on the matter, including resolution 45/36 of 27 November 1990, in which it reaffirmed the determination of the States of the zone to enhance and accelerate their cooperation in the political, economic, scientific, cultural and other spheres, Reaffirming that the questions of peace and security and those of development are interrelated and inseparable and that cooperation for peace and development among States of the region will promote the objectives of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic, Aware of the importance that the States of the zone attach to the protection of the environment of the region, and recognizing the threat that pollution from any source poses to the marine and coastal environment, its ecological balance and its resources, 1. Reaffirms the importance of the purposes and objectives of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic as a basis for the promotion of cooperation among the countries of the region; 2. Calls upon all States to cooperate in the promotion of the objectives established in the declaration of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic and to refrain from any action inconsistent with those objectives and with the Charter of the United Nations and relevant resolutions of the Organization, in particular actions that may create or aggravate situations of tension and potential conflict in the region; 3. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General,1 submitted in accordance with its resolution 54/35 of 24 November 1999; 1 A/55/476. A/RES/55/49 2 4. Recalls the agreement reached at the third meeting of the States members of the zone, held in Brasilia in 1994, to encourage democracy and political pluralism and, in accordance with the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the World Conference on Human Rights on 25 June 1993,2 to promote and defend all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to cooperate towards the achievement of those goals; 5. Welcomes with satisfaction the holding of the fifth meeting of the States members of the zone in Buenos Aires, on 21 and 22 October 1998, and takes note of the Final Declaration and Plan of Action adopted at the meeting;3 6. Welcomes the progress towards the full entry into force of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco)4 and of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba);5 7. Also welcomes the entry into force of the Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and Other Related Materials, adopted in November 1997,6 and the adoption of the Inter-American Convention on Transparency in Conventional Weapons Acquisitions by the Organization of American States in June 1999; 8. Further welcomes the decision on the illicit proliferation, circulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons taken by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-fifth ordinary session, held in Algiers in July 1999,7 as well as the decisions on the prevention and combating of illicit trafficking in small arms and related crimes taken by the Council of the Southern African Development Community at its nineteenth Summit of Heads of State or Government, held in Maputo in August 1999,8 and the initiatives taken by States members of the Economic Community of West African States to conclude their agreement on a moratorium on the importing, exporting and manufacture of light weapons; 9. Underlines the fact that sustainable peace and security in Sierra Leone can only be achieved through the fulfilment of the broad objectives of the Peace Agreement signed in Lomé on 7 July 1999,9 including full disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, the legitimate exploitation of natural resources of Sierra Leone for the benefit of its people, full respect for the human rights of all, national reconciliation, effective action on the issues of impunity and accountability, the full extension of the authority of the State of Sierra Leone, and a free and inclusive democratic process leading to elections; 10. Reaffirms the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and of all States in the region, and calls 2 A/CONF.157/24 (Part I), chap. III. 3 A/53/650, annex. 4 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 634, No. 9068. 5 See A/50/426, annex. 6 A/53/78, annex. 7 A/54/424, annex II, decision AHG/Dec.137 (XXXV). 8 A/54/488-S/1999/1082, annex. 9 S/1999/777, annex. A/RES/55/49 3 upon all the parties to the conflict to cease the hostilities and to fulfil their obligations under the Ceasefire Agreement signed in Lusaka;10 11. Reaffirms the importance for Member States to contribute by all means at their disposal to an effective and lasting peace in Angola, and in that context reiterates that the primary cause of the present situation in Angola is the failure of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, under the leadership of Jonas Savimbi, to comply with its obligations under the Peace Accords,11 the Lusaka Protocol12 and relevant Security Council resolutions; 12. Views with concern the humanitarian effects on the civilian population of the present situation in Angola, commends in this regard the efforts of Member States, including the Government of Angola, and humanitarian organizations in rendering humanitarian assistance to Angola, and urges them to continue to provide and to increase such assistance; 13. Welcomes the return to constitutional and democratic order in Guinea- Bissau following the holding of free and fair presidential and legislative elections on 16 January 2000, and calls upon the international community and the Government of Guinea-Bissau to support the economic reconstruction of Guinea-Bissau and promote the consolidation of democracy there; 14. Affirms the importance of the South Atlantic to global maritime and commercial transactions and its determination to preserve the region for all peaceful purposes and activities protected by international law, in particular the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;13 15. Calls upon Member States to continue their efforts towards the achievement of appropriate regulation of maritime transport of radioactive and toxic wastes, taking into account the interests of coastal States and in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the regulations of the International Maritime Organization and the International Atomic Energy Agency; 16. Views with concern the increase in drug trafficking and related crimes, including drug abuse, and calls upon the international community and the States members of the zone to promote regional and international cooperation to combat all aspects of the problem of drugs and related offences; 17. Recognizes, in the light of the number, magnitude and complexity of natural disasters and other emergencies, the need to strengthen the coordination of humanitarian assistance by States members of the zone, so as to ensure a timely and effective response; 18. Welcomes the offer by Benin to host the sixth meeting of the States members of the zone; 19. Requests the relevant organizations, organs and bodies of the United Nations system to render all appropriate assistance that States members of the zone may seek in their joint efforts to implement the declaration of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic; 10 S/1999/815, annex. 11 S/22609. 12 S/1994/1441. 13 United Nations publication, Sales No. E.97.V.10. A/RES/55/49 4 20. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the implementation of resolution 41/11 and subsequent resolutions on the matter under review and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its fifty-sixth session, taking into account, inter alia, the views expressed by Member States; 21. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-sixth session the item entitled “Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic”. 74th plenary meeting 29 November 2000

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