Resolution 57/99
(November 22, 2002)
The General Assembly,
Recalling its previous
resolutions on the subject, including resolution
56/29 of 29 November 2001,
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, encourages them to strengthen
such efforts through, inter alia, a lasting
multilateral and action-oriented cooperative
dialogue among States of the region, and recognizes
the role of the United Nations in promoting
regional and international peace and security;
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. Call 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-eighth session the item
entitled "Strengthening of security and
cooperation in the Mediterranean region".
57th plenary meeting
22 November 2002
Notes:
1. Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex.
2. A/57/91.
3. See resolution 46/36 L.
Sources: The United Nations |