Resolution 56/29
(November 29, 2001)
The General Assembly,
Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject,
including resolution 55/38 of 20 November 2000,
Reaffirming the primary role of the Mediterranean
countries in strengthening and promoting peace, security and cooperation
in the Mediterranean region,
Bearing in mind all the previous declarations
and commitments, as well as all the initiatives taken by the riparian
countries at the recent summits, ministerial meetings and various forums
concerning the question of the Mediterranean region,
Recognizing the indivisible character of security
in the Mediterranean and that the enhancement of cooperation among Mediterranean
countries with a view to promoting the economic and social development
of all peoples of the region will contribute significantly to stability,
peace and security in the region,
Recognizing also the efforts made so far and
the determination of the Mediterranean countries to intensify the process
of dialogue and consultations with a view to resolving the problems
existing in the Mediterranean region and to eliminating the causes of
tension and the consequent threat to peace and security, and their growing
awareness of the need for further joint efforts to strengthen economic,
social, cultural and environmental cooperation in the region,
Recognizing further that prospects for closer
Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in all spheres can be enhanced by positive
developments worldwide, in particular in Europe, in the Maghreb and
in the Middle East,
Reaffirming the responsibility of all States
to contribute to the stability and prosperity of the Mediterranean region
and their commitment to respecting the purposes and principles of the
Charter of the United Nations, as well as the provisions of the Declaration
on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and
Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United
Nations, 1/
Noting the peace negotiations in the Middle
East, which should be of a comprehensive nature and represent an appropriate
framework for the peaceful settlement of contentious issues in the region,
Expressing its concern at the persistent tension
and continuing military activities in parts of the Mediterranean that
hinder efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the region,
Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General,
2/
1. Reaffirms that security in the Mediterranean
is closely linked to European security as well as to international peace
and security;
2. Expresses its satisfaction at the continuing
efforts by Mediterranean countries to contribute actively to the elimination
of all causes of tension in the region and to the promotion of just
and lasting solutions to the persistent problems of the region through
peaceful means, thus ensuring the withdrawal of foreign forces of occupation
and respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity
of all countries of the Mediterranean and the right of peoples to self-determination,
and therefore calls for full adherence to the principles of non-interference,
non-intervention, non-use of force or threat of use of force and the
inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by force, in accordance
with the Charter and the relevant resolutions of the United Nations;
3. Commends the Mediterranean countries for
their efforts in meeting common challenges through coordinated overall
responses, based on a spirit of multilateral partnership, towards the
general objective of turning the Mediterranean basin into an area of
dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, guaranteeing peace, stability and
prosperity, and encourages them to strengthen such efforts through,
inter alia, a lasting multilateral and action-oriented cooperative dialogue
among States of the region;
4. Recognizes that the elimination of the economic
and social disparities in levels of development and other obstacles,
as well as respect and greater understanding among cultures in the Mediterranean
area will contribute to enhancing peace, security and cooperation among
Mediterranean countries through the existing forums;
5. Calls upon all States of the Mediterranean
region that have not yet done so to adhere to all the multilaterally
negotiated legal instruments related to the field of disarmament and
non-proliferation, thus creating the necessary conditions for strengthening
peace and cooperation in the region;
6. Encourages all States of the region to favour
the necessary conditions for strengthening the confidence-building measures
among them by promoting genuine openness and transparency on all military
matters, by participating, inter alia, in the United Nations system
for the standardized reporting of military expenditures and by providing
accurate data and information to the United Nations Register of Conventional
Arms; 3/
7. Encourages the Mediterranean countries to
strengthen further their cooperation in combating terrorism in all its
forms and manifestations, taking into account the relevant resolutions
of the United Nations, and in combating international crime and illicit
arms transfers and illicit drug production, consumption and trafficking,
which pose a serious threat to peace, security and stability in the
region and therefore to the improvement of the current political, economic
and social situation and which jeopardize friendly relations among States,
hinder the development of international cooperation and result in the
destruction of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the democratic
basis of pluralistic society;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to submit
a report on means to strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean
region;
9. Decides to include in the provisional agenda
of its fifty-seventh session the item entitled "Strengthening of
security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region".
68th plenary meeting
29 November 2001
Notes:
1. Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex.
Sources: The United Nations |