United Nations Security Council Resolution 1495
Encyclopedia
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
(2002), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
(MINURSO) until October 31, 2003 and supported the Baker Plan
put forth by James Baker III, who was at that time the Special Representative for Western Sahara of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
, as a replacement of the 1991 Settlement Plan
. The resolution, adopted after significant changes to the original draft, was welcomed by the Polisario Front
, which supported the Baker Plan, but not by Morocco
, which resisted it.
region. It reaffirmed its commitment to assist the parties in achieving a durable solution which will provide for the self-determination
of the people of Western Sahara. The parties were commended for their respect of the ceasefire
and MINURSO's efforts were also praised.
, the Council supported the Baker Plan as the "optimum political solution" to the dispute and called upon both parties to work towards the acceptance and implementation of the plan. Furthermore, the parties and states in the region were asked to co-operate with the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy.
The resolution called upon the Polisario Front to release all remaining prisoners of war
under international humanitarian law
and for both parties to co-operate with the International Committee of the Red Cross
to resolve the issue of persons unaccounted for since the start of the conflict. The parties were urged to implement confidence-building measures with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) and for the international community
to support the UNHCR and World Food Programme
in overcoming the deteriorating food situation among refugee
s.
Finally, the Secretary-General was asked to provide an assessment of the situation before October 31, 2003.
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"....
1495, adopted unanimously on July 31, 2003, 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...
, particularly Resolution 1429
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1429
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1429, adopted unanimously on July 30, 2002, after recalling all previous resolutionns on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly resolutions 1359 and 1394 , the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western...
(2002), 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, 2003 and supported the Baker Plan
Baker Plan
The Baker Plan is a United Nations initiative to grant self-determination to Western Sahara...
put forth by James Baker III, who was at that time the Special Representative for Western Sahara 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...
, as a replacement of the 1991 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...
. The resolution, adopted after significant changes to the original draft, was welcomed by 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...
, which supported the Baker Plan, but not 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...
, which resisted it.
Observations
The Security Council was concerned at the lack of progress towards a political solution to the dispute between Morroco and the Polisario Front, which remained a potential source of instability to the MaghrebMaghreb
The Maghreb is the region of Northwest Africa, west of Egypt. It includes five countries: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Mauritania and the disputed territory of Western Sahara...
region. It reaffirmed its commitment to assist the parties in achieving a durable solution which will 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 Western Sahara. The parties were commended for their respect of the ceasefire
Ceasefire
A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. Ceasefires may be declared as part of a formal treaty, but they have also been called as part of an informal understanding between opposing forces...
and MINURSO's efforts were also praised.
Acts
Acting under Chapter VI of the United Nations CharterChapter VI of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter deals with peaceful settlement of disputes. It requires countries with disputes that could lead to war to first of all try to seek solutions through peaceful methods such as negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement,...
, the Council supported the Baker Plan as the "optimum political solution" to the dispute and called upon both parties to work towards the acceptance and implementation of the plan. Furthermore, the parties and states in the region were asked to co-operate with the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy.
The resolution called upon the Polisario Front to release all remaining 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...
under 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...
and for both parties 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 resolve the issue of persons unaccounted for since the start of the conflict. The parties were urged to implement confidence-building measures with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
(UNHCR) and for the international community
International community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
to support the UNHCR and World Food Programme
World Food Programme
The World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children...
in overcoming the deteriorating food situation among refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s.
Finally, the Secretary-General was asked to provide an assessment of the situation before October 31, 2003.
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 1401 to 1500 (2002 – 2003)
- 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)