United Nations Security Council Resolution 1541
Encyclopedia
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
(2003), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara
(MINURSO) until October 31, 2004 with a view to reducing its size.
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. It further supported the Baker Plan
as a political settlement between Morocco
and the Polisario Front
. Both parties were urged to co-operate with the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
and his Personal Envoy James Baker III.
Finally, the Secretary-General was requested to report on the situation at the end of MINURSO's mandate and to provide an evaluation of the size of MINURSO necessary for it to carry out its mandated
tasks, with a view to its gradual reduction.
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"....
1541, adopted unanimously on April 29, 2004, 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 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), 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, 2004 with a view to reducing its size.
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. It further supported the Baker Plan
Baker Plan
The Baker Plan is a United Nations initiative to grant self-determination to Western Sahara...
as a political settlement between 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...
. Both parties were urged to co-operate with 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...
and his Personal Envoy James Baker III.
Finally, the Secretary-General was requested to report on the situation at the end of MINURSO's mandate and to provide an evaluation of the size of MINURSO necessary for it to carry out its mandated
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
tasks, with a view to its gradual reduction.
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 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)
- 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)