The General Assembly,
 
      Having considered in depth the question of Western Sahara,
 
      Reaffirming the inalienable right of all peoples to self-determination
and independence, in accordance with the principles set forth in the Charter
of the United Nations and in General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14
December 1960, containing the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to
Colonial Countries and Peoples,
 
      Recalling its resolution 50/36 of 6 December 1995,
 
      Recalling also the agreement in principle given on 30 August 1988 by the
Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia
el-Hamra y de R!o de Oro to the proposals of the Secretary-General of the
United Nations and the then Chairman of the Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of the Organization of African Unity in the context of their joint
mission of good offices,
 
      Recalling further Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) of 27 June
1990 and 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, by which the Council approved the
settlement plan for Western Sahara,
 
      Recalling all the Security Council resolutions relating to the question
of Western Sahara, in particular resolutions 621 (1988) of 20 September 1988,
725 (1991) of 31 December 1991, 809 (1993) of 2 March 1993, 907 (1994) of 29
March 1994, 973 (1995) of 13 January 1995, 995 (1995) of 26 May 1995, 1002
(1995) of 30 June 1995, 1017 (1995) of 22 September 1995, 1033 (1995) of 19
December 1995 and 1042 (1996) of 31 January 1996, as well as all General
Assembly resolutions relating to the question of Western Sahara,
 
      Recalling with satisfaction the entry into force of the ceasefire in
Western Sahara on 6 September 1991, in accordance with the proposal of the
Secretary- General, and stressing the importance it attaches to the
maintenance of the ceasefire as an integral part of the settlement plan,
 
      Reaffirming the responsibility of the United Nations towards the people
of Western Sahara, as provided for in the settlement plan,
 
      Taking note of Security Council resolution 1056 (1996) of 29 May 1996,
by which the Council decided to suspend the identification process and to
reduce the military component of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum
in Western Sahara owing to the absence of progress in the implementation of
the settlement plan,
 
      Seriously concerned about the risks that this impasse has on the
implementation process of the settlement plan for the holding of a free, fair
and impartial referendum for self-determination of the people of Western
Sahara and on the peace and stability of the region,
 
      Stressing the importance and usefulness of the resumption of direct
talks between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion
de Saguia el-Hamra y de R!o de Oro in order to create an atmosphere of mutual
confidence necessary for overcoming the obstacles to the implementation of the
settlement plan,
 
      Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special
Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the
Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,
 
      Having also examined the report of the Secretary-General,
 
      1.    Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General;
 
      2.    Reiterates its support for further efforts of the
Secretary-General for the organization and supervision by the United Nations,
in cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, of a referendum for
self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, in conformity with
Security Council resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991), by which the Council
approved the settlement plan for Western Sahara;
 
      3.    Reaffirms that the goal on which all were agreed consists of the
holding of a free, fair and impartial referendum for the people of Western
Sahara, organized and conducted by the United Nations in cooperation with the
Organization of African Unity and without any military or administrative
constraints, in conformity with the settlement plan;
 
      4.    Expresses its serious concern about the persistence of obstacles
to the implementation of the settlement plan;
 
      5.    Takes note of Security Council resolution 1056 (1996), by which
the Council decided to suspend the identification process and to reduce the
military component of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western
Sahara owing to the absence of progress in the implementation of the
settlement plan;
 
      6.    Reaffirms the responsibility of the United Nations towards the
people of Western Sahara, as provided for in the settlement plan, and in this
regard fully subscribes to the commitment of the Security Council and the
Secretary-General concerning the fulfilment of their respective mandates,
consisting of the holding of a free, fair and impartial referendum for
self-determination of the people of Western Sahara;
 
      7.    Declares its conviction of the importance and usefulness of direct
contacts between the two parties with a view to overcoming their differences
and creating propitious conditions for a speedy and effective implementation
of the settlement plan, and encourages in this regard the Kingdom of Morocco
and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-Hamra y de R!o de Oro
to start direct talks as soon as possible;
 
      8.    Requests the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the
Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial
Countries and Peoples to continue to consider the situation in Western Sahara,
bearing in mind the ongoing referendum process, and to report thereon to the
General Assembly at its fifty-second session;
 
      9.    Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at
its fifty-second session a report on the implementation of the present
resolution.