The General Assembly,
Recalling the statement of 31 January 1992, adopted at the conclusion of the first meeting held by the Security Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, in which the Secretary-General was invited to prepare, for circulation to the States Members of the United Nations by 1 July 1992, an "analysis and recommendations on ways of strengthening and making more efficient within the framework and provisions of the Charter the capacity of the United Nations for preventive diplomacy, for peacemaking and for peace-keeping",
Welcoming the timely presentation of the forward-looking report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace", in response to the summit meeting of the Security Council, as a set of recommendations that deserve close examination by the international community,
Recognizing the need to maintain the increased interest in and momentum for revitalization of the Organization to meet the challenges of the new phase of international relations in order to fulfil the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,
Stressing that the implementation of the concepts and proposals contained in "An Agenda for Peace" should be in strict conformity with the provisions of the Charter, in particular its purposes and principles,
Recalling also its resolution 2625 (XXV) of 24 October 1970, the annex to which contains the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, and its resolution 43/51 of 5 December 1988, the annex to which contains the Declaration on the Prevention and Removal of Disputes and Situations Which May Threaten International Peace and Security and on the Role of the United Nations in this Field,
Emphasizing that international peace and security must be seen in an integrated manner and that the efforts of the Organization to build peace, justice, stability and security must encompass not only military matters, but also, through its various organs within their respective areas of competence, relevant political, economic, social, humanitarian, environmental and developmental aspects,
Stressing the need for international action to strengthen the socio-economic development of Member States as one of the means of enhancing international peace and security and, in this regard, recognizing the need to complement "An Agenda for Peace" with "An Agenda for Development",
Acknowledging that timely application of preventive diplomacy is the most desirable and efficient means of easing tensions before they result in conflict,
Recognizing that preventive diplomacy may require such measures as confidence-building, early-warning, fact-finding and other measures in which consultations with Member States, discretion, confidentiality, objectivity and transparency should be combined as appropriate,
Emphasizing the need to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations in the field of preventive diplomacy, through, inter alia, allocating appropriate staff resources and financial resources for preventive diplomacy, in order to assist Member States to resolve their differences in a peaceful manner,
Reaffirming the fundamental importance of a sound and secure financial basis for the United Nations in order, inter alia, to enable the Organization to play an effective role in preventive diplomacy,
Emphasizing the importance of cooperation between the United Nations and regional arrangements and organizations for preventive diplomacy within their respective areas of competence,
Emphasizing also that respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States is crucial to any common endeavour to promote international peace and security,
Recalling further other resolutions adopted by the Assembly during its forty-seventh session concerning various aspects of "An Agenda for Peace",
Emphasizing the need for all organs and bodies of the United Nations, as appropriate, to intensify their efforts to strengthen the role of the Organization in preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peace-keeping and peace-building and to continue the discussion of the report of the Secretary-General with a view to adequate action being taken,
Stressing the need for adequate protection of personnel involved in preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peace-keeping and humanitarian operations, in accordance with relevant norms and principles of international law,
Noting the definition of preventive diplomacy provided by the Secretary-General in his report entitled "An Agenda for Peace",
Emphasizing the need to promote the peaceful settlement of disputes,
1. Invites Member States to seek solutions to their disputes at an early stage through such peaceful means as provided for in the Charter of the United Nations;
2. Decides to explore ways and means for a full utilization of the provisions of the Charter whereby the General Assembly may recommend measures for the peaceful adjustment of any situation, regardless of origin, which is deemed likely to impair the general welfare or friendly relations among nations;
3. Encourages the Security Council to utilize fully the provisions of Chapter VI of the Charter on procedures and methods for peaceful settlement of disputes and to call upon the parties concerned to settle their disputes peacefully;
4. Encourages the Secretary-General and the Security Council to engage at an early stage in close and continuous consultation in order to develop, on a case-by-case basis, an appropriate strategy for the peaceful settlement of specific disputes, including the participation of other organs, organizations and agencies of the United Nations system, as well as regional arrangements and organizations as appropriate, and invites the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly on such consultations;
Recognizing the need to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations for early-warning, collection of information and analysis,
1. Encourages the Secretary-General to set up an adequate early-warning mechanism for situations which are likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, in close cooperation with Member States and United Nations agencies, as well as regional arrangements and organizations, as appropriate, making use of the information available to these organizations and/or received from Member States, and to keep Member States informed of the mechanism established;
2. Invites the Secretary-General to strengthen the capacity of the Secretariat for the collection of information and analysis to serve better the early-warning needs of the Organization and, to that end, encourages the Secretary-General to ensure that staff members receive proper training in all aspects of preventive diplomacy, including the collection and analysis of information;
3. Invites Member States and regional arrangements and organizations to provide timely early-warning information, on a confidential basis when appropriate, to the Secretary-General;
4. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue, in accordance with Article 99 of the Charter of the United Nations, to bring to the attention of the Security Council, at his discretion, any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security, together with his recommendations thereon;
5. Invites Member States to support the efforts of the Secretary-General in preventive diplomacy, including by providing assistance he may require;
6. Encourages the Secretary-General, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter, to notify the General Assembly, as appropriate, of any situation which is potentially dangerous or might lead to international friction or dispute;
7. Invites the Secretary-General to bring to the attention of Member States concerned, at an early stage, any matter which in his opinion may adversely affect relations between States;
Recalling the statements made by the President of the Security Council, on behalf of the Council, on 29 October and 30 November 1992, and its own resolutions 1967 (XVIII) of 16 December 1963, 2104 (XX) of 20 December 1965, 2182 (XXI) of 12 December 1966 and 2329 (XXII) of 18 December 1967 on the question of methods of fact-finding,
1. Reaffirms its resolution 46/59 of 9 December 1991, the annex to which contains the Declaration on Fact-finding by the United Nations in the Field of the Maintenance of International Peace and Security, particularly its guidelines;
2. Recommends to the Secretary-General that he should continue to utilize the services of eminent and qualified experts in fact-finding and other missions, selected on as wide a geographical basis as possible, taking into account candidates with the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity;
3. Invites Member States to submit names of suitable individuals whom the Secretary-General might wish to use at his discretion in fact-finding and other missions;
4. Recommends that a request by a Member State for the dispatch of a fact-finding mission to its territory should be considered expeditiously;
5. Invites the Secretary-General to continue to dispatch fact-finding and other missions in a timely manner in order to assist him in the proper discharge of his functions under the Charter of the United Nations;
Recognizing that the application of appropriate confidence-building measures, consistent with national security needs, would promote mutual confidence and good faith, which are essential to reducing the likelihood of conflicts between States and enhancing prospects for the peaceful settlement of disputes,
Recalling its resolutions 43/78 H of 7 December 1988 and 45/62 F of 4 December 1990, as well as its resolution 47/54 D of 9 December 1992 on the implementation of the guidelines for appropriate types of confidence-building measures,
Recognizing that confidence-building measures may encompass both military and non-military matters, including political, economic and social matters,
Stressing the need to encourage Member States, and regional arrangements and organizations where relevant and in a manner consistent with their mandates, to play a leading role in developing confidence-building measures appropriate to the region concerned and to coordinate their efforts in this regard with the United Nations in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations,
1. Invites Member States and regional arrangements and organizations to inform the Secretary-General through appropriate channels about their experiences in confidence-building measures in their respective regions;
2. Supports the intention of the Secretary-General to consult on a regular basis with Member States and regional arrangements and organizations on further confidence-building measures;
3. Encourages the Secretary-General to consult with parties to existing or potential disputes, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, and with other Interested Member States and regional arrangements and organizations, as appropriate, on the possibility of initiating confidence-building measures in their respective regions and to keep Member States informed thereon ln consultation with the parties concerned;
4. Commends such confidence-building measures as the promotion of openness and restraint in the production, procurement and deployment of armaments, the systematic exchange of military missions, the possible formation of regional risk reduction centres, arrangements for the free flow of information and the monitoring of regional arms control and disarmament agreements;
Recalling its resolution 45/100 of 14 December 1990 on humanitarian assistance to victims of natural disasters and similar emergency situations and its resolution 46/182 of 19 December 1991 on the strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations,
Welcoming the increasing role of the United Nations system in providing humanitarian assistance,
Noting that, in certain circumstances, programmes of impartially-provided humanitarian assistance and peace-keeping operations can be mutually supportive,
1. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue to strengthen the capacity of the Organization ln order to ensure coordinated planning and execution of humanitarian assistance programmes, drawing upon the specialized skills and resources of all parts of the United Nations system, as well as those of non-governmental organizations, as appropriate;
2. Also encourages the Secretary-General to continue to address the question of coordination, when necessary, between humanitarian assistance programmes and peace-keeping or related operations, preserving the non-political, neutral and impartial character of humanitarian action;
3. Invites the Secretary-General to bring to the attention of appropriate organs of the United Nations any situation requiring urgent humanitarian assistance in order to prevent its deterioration, which might lead to international friction or dispute;
Recognizing the need for adequate resources in support of the United Nations efforts in preventive diplomacy,
1. Invites Member States to provide political and practical support to the Secretary-General in his efforts for the peaceful settlement of disputes, including early-warning, fact-finding, good offices and mediation;
2. Also invites Member States, on a voluntary basis, to provide the Secretary-General with any necessary additional expertise and logistical resources that he might require for the successful execution of these functions of increasing importance;
Emphasizing that, together with the Security Council and the Secretary-General, it has an important role in preventive diplomacy,
Recognizing that, having an important role in preventive diplomacy, it has to work ln close cooperation and coordination with the Security Council and the Secretary-General in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and consistent with their respective mandates and responsibilities,
Decides to explore ways and means to support the recommendations of the Secretary-General ln his report entitled "An Agenda for Peace" to promote the utilization of the General Assembly, ln accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, by Member States so as to bring greater influence to bear in pre-empting or containing any situation which is potentially dangerous or might lead to international friction or dispute;
Bearing in mind that owing to time constraints lt could not examine all the proposals contained ln the report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace",
1. Decides to continue early in 1993 its examination of other recommendations on preventive diplomacy and related matters contained in the report of the Secretary-General entitled "An Agenda for Peace", including preventive deployment, demilitarized zones and the International Court of Justice, as well as implementation of the provisions of Article 50 of the Charter of the United Nations, in conformity with the Charter and taking into account the relevant developments and practices ln the competent organs of the United Nations;
2. Also decides to discuss and consider other proposals contained in "An Agenda for Peace".
91st plenary meeting
18 December 1992
