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 49/44 of 9 December 1994,
 
      Recalling also the agreement in principle given on 30 August 1988 by the
Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberaci"n de Saguia
el-Hamra y de R!o de Oro to the proposals of the Secretary-General of the
United Nations and the current 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 621 (1988) of 20
September 1988, 658 (1990) of 27 June 1990, 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, 725
(1991) of 31 December 1991, 809 (1993) of 2 March 1993 and 907 (1994) of 29
March 1994 relating to the question of Western Sahara,
 
      Recalling with satisfaction the entry into force of the cease-fire in
Western Sahara on 6 September 1991, in accordance with the proposal of the
Secretary- General accepted by the two parties,
 
      Noting the adoption by the Security Council of resolutions 973 (1995) of
13 January 1995, 995 (1995) of 26 May 1995, 1002 (1995) of 30 June 1995 and
1017 (1995) of 22 September 1995,
 
      Welcoming the mission of the Security Council, which visited Western
Sahara and the countries of the region from 3 to 9 June 1995,
 
      Welcoming also the appointment of Mr. Erik Jensen as acting Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara,
 
      Concerned that the parties' continuing suspicion and lack of trust have
contributed to delays in the implementation of the settlement plan,
 
      Noting that, for progress to be achieved, the two parties must have a
vision of the post-referendum period,
 
      Expressing the hope for a rapid resolution of the problems causing
delays in the completion of the identification process, as well as the code of
conduct, the release of political prisoners, the confinement of troops of the
Frente Popular para la Liberaci"n de Saguia el-Hamra y de R!o de Oro and the
arrangements for the reduction of the Moroccan troops in the territory,
 
      Stressing the importance and usefulness of the resumption of direct
talks between the two parties mentioned above in order to create a propitious
atmosphere conducive to a speedy and effective 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 with appreciation of the report of the
Secretary-General;
 
      2.    Pays tribute to the Secretary-General and the personnel of the
United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara for their action
with a view to settling the question of Western Sahara by the implementation
of the settlement plan;
 
      3.    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
adopted the settlement plan for Western Sahara;
 
      4.    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;
 
      5.    Notes with concern the insufficient progress made towards the
fulfilment of the settlement plan, including the identification process, the
code of conduct, the release of political prisoners, the confinement of troops
of the Frente Popular para la Liberaci"n de Saguia el-Hamra y de R!o de Oro
and the arrangements for the reduction of the Moroccan troops in the
territory;
 
      6.    Calls upon the Kingdom of Morocco and the Frente Popular para la
Liberaci"n de Saguia el-Hamra y de R!o de Oro to work with the
Secretary-General and the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western
Sahara in a spirit of genuine cooperation to implement the settlement plan in
accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions;
 
      7.    Takes note of the decision of the Security Council to review the
arrangements for the completion of the identification process on the basis of
the report of the Secretary-General requested by the Council in paragraph 4 of
its resolution 1017 (1995) and to consider at that time any further necessary
measures which might need to be taken to ensure the prompt completion of that
process and of all the other aspects relevant to the fulfilment of the
settlement plan;
 
      8.    Expresses the hope that direct talks between the two parties will
soon resume in order to create a propitious atmosphere conducive to speedy and
effective implementation of the settlement plan;
 
      9.    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-first session;
 
      10.   Invites the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at
its fifty-first session a report on the implementation of the present
resolution.