Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic : resolution / adopted by the General Assembly

The General Assembly,

Recalling its resolution 41/11 of 27 October 1986, in which it solemnly declared the Atlantic Ocean, in the region situated between Africa and South America, the "Zone of peace and co-operation of the South Atlantic",

Recalling also its resolution 42/16 of 10 November 1987, in which it urged States of the region to continue their actions aiming at fulfilling the goals of the declaration, especially through the adoption and implementation of specific programmes for this purpose, and its resolution 43/23 of 14 November 1988, in which it commended initiatives by States of the zone to promote peace and regional co-operation in the South Atlantic,

Reaffirming that the questions of peace and security and those of development are interrelated and inseparable, and considering that co-operation among all States, in particular those of the region, for peace and development is essential to promote the objectives of the zone of peace and co-operation of the South Atlantic,

Aware of the importance that the States of the zone attach to the preservation of the region's environment and recognizing the threat that pollution from any source poses to the marine and coastal environment, its ecological balance and its resources,

Noting with appreciation the efforts of States of the zone towards fulfilling the goals of the declaration,

1.         Takes note of the report submitted by the Secretary-General in accordance with resolution 43/23;

2.         Calls upon all States to co-operate in the promotion of the objectives of peace and co-operation established in the declaration of the zone of peace and co-operation of the South Atlantic and to refrain from any action inconsistent with those objectives, particularly actions which may create or aggravate situations of tension and potential conflict in the region;

3.         Welcomes the beginning in April 1989 of the implementation of the United Nations plan for the independence of Namibia and looks forward to receiving Namibia very soon as a member of the community of the States of the zone;

4.         Emphasizes the imperative need to preserve the environment of the region and urges all States to take the necessary measures in order to ensure its protection from environmental damage;

5.         Urges all States to abstain from transferring to and disposing in the region hazardous, toxic and nuclear wastes;

6.         Welcomes the assistance that the Office for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea of the Secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme are extending towards the convening by the States of the zone of two seminars, to be held in the Congo in 1990 and in Uruguay in 1991, devoted to the review of the development and implementation of the legal regime established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;

7.         Requests the Secretary-General to keep the implementation of resolution 41/11 under review and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its forty-fifth session, taking into account, inter alia, the views expressed by Member States;

8.         Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-fifth session the item entitled "Zone of peace and co-operation of the South Atlantic".