Resolution 54/59
(December 1, 1999)
The General Assembly,
Recalling its previous resolutions on the subject, including
resolution 53/82 of 4 December 1998,
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 respect 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 efforts by the Mediterranean countries 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, which poses a serious threat to peace, security
and stability in the region and therefore to the improvement of the
current political, economic and social situation;
8. Invites all States of the region to address, through
various forms of cooperation, problems and threats posed to the
region, such as terrorism, international crime and illicit arms
transfers, as well as illicit drug production, consumption and
trafficking, which jeopardize the 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;
9. Requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on means
to strengthen security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region;
10. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its
fifty-fifth session the item entitled "Strengthening of security
and cooperation in the Mediterranean region".
69th plenary meeting
1 December 1999
1/ Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex.
2/ A/54/261.
3/ See resolution 46/36 L.
Sources: The United Nations |