UNITED NATIONS

Security Council

S/RES/1238 (1999)

14.05.99

"The Security Council,

"Recalling all its previous resolutions on the question of Western Sahara,

"Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General of 27 April 1999 (S/1999/483 and Add.1) and the observations and recommendations contained therein,

"Welcoming also the acceptance by the Government of Morocco and thePOLISARIO Front of the detailed modalities for the implementation of theSecretary-General's package of measures relating to the identification ofvoters, the appeals process and the revised implementation timetable as agood foundation for the completion of this phase of the Settlement Plan andtaking note of their respective letters (S/1999/554 and S/1999/555),

"1. Decides to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission for theReferendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until 14 September 1999 in order toresume the identification process, start the appeals process and concludeall outstanding agreements needed to implement the Settlement Plan, andreaffirms the rights of the applicants, with an expectation that the appealsprocess will not be turned into a second round of identification;

"2. Supports the proposed increase in staff of the Identification Commissionfrom 25 to 30 members, and the proposed increase also in the necessarysupport activities, in order to strengthen the Commission and enable it tocontinue working with full authority and independence, in accordance withits mandate as authorized by the Security Council, and to accomplish itstasks expeditiously;

"3. Requests the Secretary-General to report every 45 days on significantdevelopments in the implementation of the Settlement Plan, in particular onthe following issues which will form, inter alia, the basis of itsconsideration of a further extension of the mandate of MINURSO; full andunequivocal cooperation of the parties during the resumption of voteridentification and during the start of the appeals process; agreement by theGovernment of Morocco on the modalities of implementing paragraph 42 of theStatus of Forces Agreement; agreement of the parties on the protocolrelating to refugees; and confirmation that the Office of the United NationsHigh Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is fully operational in the region;

"4. Requests also the UNHCR to provide the Security Council withrecommendations for confidence-building measures and timelines for theirimplementation;

"5. Requests further the Secretary-General to submit to the Council arevised timetable and financial implications for the holding of thereferendum for the self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara inaccordance with the Settlement Plan and the agreements with the parties forits implementation;

"6. Decides to remain seized of the matter."