The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 41/11 of 27 October 1986, in which it solemnly declared the Atlantic Ocean, in the region situated between Africa and South America, the "Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic",
Recalling also its subsequent resolutions on the matter, including resolutions 45/36 of 27 November 1990 and 46/19 of 25 November 1991, in which it reaffirmed the determination of the States of the zone to enhance and accelerate their cooperation in the political, economic, scientific, technical, cultural and other spheres,
Reaffirming that the questions of peace and security and those of development are interrelated and inseparable, and considering that cooperation among all States, in particular those of the region, for peace and development is essential to promote the objectives of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic,
Aware of the importance that the States of the zone attach to the preservation of the region's environment and recognizing the threat that pollution from any source poses to the marine and coastal environment, its ecological balance and its resources,
Noting the concern expressed on the use of fishing methods and practices that cause the over-exploitation of living marine resources, especially of highly migratory and straddling fish stocks, and that it has an adverse impact on the conservation and management of living resources of the marine environment, both within and beyond the exclusive economic zones,
1. Reaffirms the purpose and objective of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic;
2. Takes note of the report submitted by the Secretary-General, in accordance with its resolution 46/19;
3. Welcomes the recent initiatives aimed at the full entry into force of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (Treaty of Tlatelolco) and stresses the relevance of such initiatives for the advancement of the objectives and principles of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic;
4. Affirms the importance of the South Atlantic to global maritime and commercial transactions and its determination to preserve the region for all activities protected by relevant international law, including the freedom of navigation in the high seas;
5. Stresses the importance for the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic of the results of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, particularly the principles of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the programmes set forth in Agenda 21, as well as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity, in the conviction that their implementation will strengthen the basis for cooperation within the zone and for the benefit of the international community as a whole;
6. Notes with interest the hope expressed by the countries of the zone to welcome in the near future a non-racial democratic South Africa into the community of South Atlantic States and, in that connection, urges all parties concerned in South Africa to cooperate with a view to ending the continuing violence and thereby create an atmosphere conducive to negotiations leading to the establishment of a non-racial democratic and united South Africa;
7. Expresses its appreciation to the international community for its support of the Peace Plan for Liberia of the Economic Community of West African States, most recently through the adoption of Security Council resolution 788 (1992) of 19 November 1992, and hopes that the continuing efforts made at the subregional and international levels aimed at a peaceful resolution of the Liberian conflict will, within the shortest possible time, lead to national reconciliation, reconstruction and development;
8. Calls upon the parties to the Peace Accords for Angola to respect all the commitments undertaken in accordance with these accords, in particular with regard to the confinement of their troops and weapons, demobilization, and the formation of the unified national armed force, and to refrain from any act that might heighten tension, impair the conduct of the electoral process and threaten the territorial integrity of the country;
9. Also calls upon the international community to increase humanitarian assistance to both Angola and Liberia;
10. Takes note with satisfaction of the initiative of the Government of Namibia to host a meeting of the Ministers of Trade and Industry of the countries of the zone at Windhoek in the first half of 1993;
11. Requests the relevant organizations, organs and bodies of the United Nations system to render all appropriate assistance which States of the zone may seek in their joint efforts to implement the declaration of the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic;
12. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the implementation of resolution 41/11 and other subsequent resolutions on the matter under review and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its forty-eighth session, taking into account, inter alia, the views expressed by Member States;
13. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its forty-eighth session the item entitled "Zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic".
85th plenary meeting
14 December 1992
