United Nations Security Council Resolution 1720

UN Security Council
Resolution 1720
UN Security Council ; Resolution 1720
	Western Sahara
Date	31 October 2006
Meeting no.	5,560
Code	S/RES/1720 (Document)
Subject	The situation concerning Western Sahara
Voting summary	15 voted for; None voted against; None abstained;
Result	Adopted
Security Council composition
Permanent members	China ; France ; Russia ; United Kingdom ; United States ;
Non-permanent members	Argentina ; Rep. of the Congo ; Denmark ; Ghana ; Greece ; Japan ; Peru ; Qatar ; Slovakia ; Tanzania ;

Last updated July 06, 2021

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1720, adopted unanimously on October 31, 2006, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, including resolutions 1495 (2003), 1541 (2004) and 1675 (2006), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for six months until April 30, 2007.^[1]

Of the fifteen members of the Security Council, 14 approved a draft resolution that included a provision expressing concern about Moroccan human rights abuses in the occupied territory; only France objected, and thus the paragraph was omitted from the final text.^[2] The United States had suggested wrapping up the mission during discussions prior to the adoption of Resolution 1720.^[3]

Resolution

Observations

The Security Council reaffirmed the need for a durable and mutual solution to the Western Sahara problem, which would provide for the self-determination of the people of the territory.^[4] Both Morocco, the Polisario Front and regional states were urged to co-operate with the United Nations to end the political impasse and reach a solution to the long-running dispute.

Acts

All parties were called upon to respect military agreements reached with MINURSO regarding a ceasefire.^[4] Member States were called upon to consider contributing towards confidence-building measures to facilitate greater person-to-person contact, such as family visits. The mandate of MINURSO was extended and the Secretary-General Kofi Annan instructed to report on the situation in Western Sahara. Furthermore, he was also instructed to ensure greater compliance with the zero-tolerance sexual exploitation policy among MINURSO personnel.

Related Research Articles

The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara is the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara, established in 1991 under United Nations Security Council Resolution 690 as part of the Settlement Plan, which had paved way for a cease-fire in the conflict between Morocco and the Polisario Front over the contested territory of Western Sahara.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1495, adopted unanimously on 31 July 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly Resolution 1429 (2002), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 October 2003 and supported the Baker Plan put forth by James Baker III, who was at that time the Special Representative for Western Sahara of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan, as a replacement of the 1991 Settlement Plan. The resolution, adopted after significant changes to the original draft, was welcomed by the Polisario Front, which supported the Baker Plan, but not by Morocco, which resisted it.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1675, adopted unanimously on April 28, 2006, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, including resolutions 1495 (2003), 1541 (2004) and 1634 (2005), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until October 31, 2006.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1754, adopted unanimously on April 30, 2007, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for six months until October 31, 2007.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1920, adopted unanimously on April 30, 2010, after reaffirming all previous resolutions on the Western Sahara including 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008) and 1871 (2009), the Council discussed prospects for a settlement of the dispute and extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until April 30, 2011.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1185, adopted unanimously on 20 July 1998, after reaffirming all previous resolutions on the Western Sahara, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 21 September 1998 so that it could proceed with voter identification tasks.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1198, adopted unanimously on 18 September 1998, after reaffirming all previous resolutions on the Western Sahara, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 October 1998.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1342, adopted unanimously on 27 February 2001, after recalling all previous resolutions on Western Sahara, in particular resolutions 1108 (1997), 1292 (2000), 1301 (2000), 1309 (2000) and 1324 (2000), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 April 2001.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1406, adopted unanimously on 30 April 2002, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation on Western Sahara, particularly Resolution 1394 (2002), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 July 2002.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1429, adopted unanimously on 30 July 2002, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly resolutions 1359 (2001) and 1394 (2001), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for six months until 31 January 2003.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1463, adopted unanimously on 30 January 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly Resolution 1429 (2002), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for two months until 31 March 2003.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1469, adopted unanimously on 25 March 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly Resolution 1429 (2002), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for two months until 31 May 2003.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1485, adopted unanimously on 30 May 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly Resolution 1429 (2002), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for two months until 31 July 2003.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1513, adopted unanimously on 28 October 2003, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly Resolution 1495 (2003), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 January 2004.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1523, adopted unanimously on 30 January 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly Resolution 1495 (2003), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 April 2004.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1541 United Nations Security Council resolution

United Nations Security Council resolution 1541, adopted unanimously on 29 April 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly Resolution 1495 (2003), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 October 2004 with a view to reducing its size.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1570, adopted unanimously on 28 October 2004, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, particularly resolutions 1495 (2003) and 1541 (2004), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 April 2005.

United Nations Security Council resolution 1598, adopted unanimously on 28 April 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, including resolutions 1495 (2003), 1541 (2004) and 1570 (2004), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 31 October 2005.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1634, adopted unanimously on 28 October 2005, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Western Sahara, including resolutions 1495 (2003), 1541 (2004) and 1598 (2005), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 30 April 2006.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1979, adopted unanimously on April 27, 2011, after reaffirming all previous resolutions on the Western Sahara including 1754 (2007), 1783 (2007), 1813 (2008), 1871 (2009) and 1920 (2010), the Council discussed prospects for a settlement of the dispute and extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until April 30, 2012.

References

↑ "Security Council extends mandate of United Nations mission in Western Sahara for six months". United Nations. October 31, 2006.
↑ "UN shuns W. Sahara rights plea after France objects". Reuters. 31 October 2006.
↑ Zoubir, Yahia H. (2008). North Africa: politics, region, and the limits of transformation. New York: Routledge. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-415-42921-4.
1 2 Slomanson, William R. (2010). Fundamental Perspectives on International Law (6th ed.). Boston: Cengage Learning. p. 288. ISBN 978-0-495-79719-7.

External links

Works related to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1720 at Wikisource
Text of the Resolution at undocs.org

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[un-1] "Security Council extends mandate of United Nations mission in Western Sahara for six months". United Nations. October 31, 2006.

[2] "UN shuns W. Sahara rights plea after France objects". Reuters. 31 October 2006.

[3] Zoubir, Yahia H. (2008). North Africa: politics, region, and the limits of transformation. New York: Routledge. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-415-42921-4.

[fp-4] 1 2 Slomanson, William R. (2010). Fundamental Perspectives on International Law (6th ed.). Boston: Cengage Learning. p. 288. ISBN 978-0-495-79719-7.

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