''I have th<:: honour to infonu you that your letter dated 21 June 1991 144 concerning the appointment of the Force Commander of the Military Unit of the United N~o~tions Mission for the Rderwdum in Western Sahara h~; been brought tu the aw:ntion of the members of the Security Council and that y<)ur proposal meets with their appr<)Val."
In a letter dated 8 July 1991 146 addressed to the President c,f tht; Security Council, the Se,:retary-General referred to his report of 18 June 1990 to the Security Council on the situation '~oncerning Western Sahara142 and stated that in accordance with paragraph 12 or that report. he had addressed identical letters on 24 May 1991 to Morocco and the Frente Popular para .la liberad6n de Saguia ei-Hamra y de Rio de Oro proposing a specific date and hour for the formal cease-fire to hegin. In letters dated 11 June 1991 and 10 hme 1991, respectively, Morocco and tbe Frente Popular had infonned the Secretary-General of their acceptance of his proposal that the formal cease-fire should begin at Ofim GMT on 6 September l';i91.
In a letter dated 3 September 1991w addressed to the President of the Security Council, the Secretary··General, in <.11::cordance with the United Nations plan for the referendum in We,stem Sahara as described in his report of 18 June 1990142 ;md amplified in his report of 19 April 1991,143 and with re1;olution 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991, transmitted to the President of the Security Council a note regarding the implementation of the cease-fire. TI1e Secretary-General stated that, concerned at recent developments along the international frontier, he had decided that United Nations efforts should be concentrated, at this stage. in the areas referred to in the note, that is Aguenit, Awsard, Bir Lahlot;, Mahbes, Meharrize, Mijek, Oum Dreyga, Smara, Tifariti. and Zug. In this context, he recalled that paragraph 20 of his report of 18 June 1990 stipulated that the establishment and functioning of the obseJVer group would be in accordance with the general princ1ples applicable to United Nations peace ..keeping operations.
Jn a letter dated 4 September 1991,148 the President of the Security Council informed the Secretary-CJeneral as follows:
"1 have the honour to intorm you that I have brought to the attention of the members of the Security Council your letter dated 3 September 1991147 concerning the situation in Western Sahara.
"'The members ofthe Council endorse your action and continue to ~;upport your efforts."
ln a letter dated 13 September 1991 149 addressed to the President of the Security Council, the Secretary-G-eneral referred to the United Nations plan for the referendum in Wc~tem Sahara as described in his report of 18 June 1990142 <md amplified in his report of 19 April 1991143 and resolution 69:J (19'"11) of 29 April 1991, and further to his letter dated 3 Scpterube:r 1991/47 he informed the President of the Council

that in the contt~xt of the deplo)'ment of military observers to verity the cease-fire and the cessation of hostilities in the areas referred to in that letter, he had decided to deploy about one hundred additional military obscJVers and the stall necessary for command and control functions, logistical support, com· n.unications, air transport and med1cal support.
In a letter dated 17 September 1991,'50 the President ofthc Security Council infonned the Secretary-General as follows:
"I have transmitted to the members of the St,curity Council your letter of 13 September 1991 149 concerning th~ United Nations plan for the referendum in Western Sahara.
"The members ofthe Council have asked me to thank you for the information contained in that letter and to mform you that they endorse your action."
At its 3025th meeting, on 31 December 1991, the Council discussed the item entitled "1be situation concerning Western Sahara: report of the Secretary-C'.,eneral (S/23299)".z1

Resolution 725 (1991) or 31 December 1991

The Security Council,

Reaffinning its resolutions 621 (1988) of 20 September 1988, 6Cj8 (1990) of 22 June 1990 and 690 (1991) of 29 April
1991,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General uf
19 December 1991 on the situation concerning Western Sahara,151

Noting with concern the difficulties and delays encountered in the implementation of the settlement plan regarding the question of Western Sahara, as adopted by resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991),

1. Approves the efforts of the Secretary-General for the

organization and the supervision, by the United Nations in

cooperation with the Organization of African Unity, of a

referendum for se1f-detennination of the people of Western

Sahara, and therefore welcomes the report of the Secretary-

General of 19 December 1991 on the situation concerning

Western Sahara; 1~ 1

-

2. Reiterates its support for further efforts by the Secre· tary-General for the organization and the supervision, by the United Nations in cooperation with the Organization ofAfrican Unity, of a referendum for self-detennination of the people of Western Sahara in confonnity with resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991), by which the Council adopted the settlement plan tl1r Western Sahara;

36

3. Calls upon the two parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General in the implementation ofthe ~ettlement plan, which has been accepted by them;

4. Invites the Secretary-General tosubmitafurtherreport to the Security Council as soon as possible, but in any event within two months of the date of passage of this resolution.
Adopti'd unanimously at th~ 3025/h
m<t'ling

LETTER DATED 17 MAY 1991 FROM THE CHARGE D'AF'FAIRES A.I. OF THE PERMANENT MISSION OF ANGOI.A TO THE UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAl,

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE UNITED NATIONS ANGOl.A VERIFICATION MISSION

Decision

Considering the request submitted to the Secretary-General by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of Angola in his letter dated 8 May 1991.m

At its 2991st meeting, on 30 May 199L the Council decided to invite the repreSt:ntaliw~s of Angola and Portugal to participate, without vote, in the dtscus.~ion of the item entitled:
"Letter dated 17 May 1991 from the Charge d'affaires a.i. ofthe Permanent Mission of Angola to the Umted Nattons addressed to the Secretary-Gene raJ (S/22609);'
"Report of the Secretary-General on the Umted Nat.ioHs Angola Verification Mtssion (S/22627 and Add.l)".7
Resolution 6% (1991)
or 30 May 1991
The Security Council,
Welcoming the decision of the Govemment of the People's Republic of Angola and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola to conclude the Peace Accords for Angola,

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 20 and 29 May 1991, 014
Taking into accuun! that the mandate of the United Nations Angola Verification Mission established by Council resolution 626 (1988) 0f 20 December 1988 expires on 22 July 1991,
1. Approves the report of the Secretary-General of 20 and 2.9 May 1991154 and the recommendations therein;
2. Decides accordingly to entrust a new mandate to the United Nations Angola Verification Mission (henceforth United Nations Angola Verification Mission IJ) as proposed by the Secretary-General in line with the Pear.e Accords for Angola, and requests the Secretary-General t·J take the necessary steps to this effect;
3. Also decides lo establish the United Nations Angola Veriftcation Mission U for a period of seventeen months from the date: of adoption of the present resolution in order to accomplish the objectives stated in the report of the Secretary· General;

Stressing the importance it attaclles to the signing of the Peace Accords and to the fulfilment by the parties in good faith of the obligations contained therein,
Stressing also the importance of ail States refraining from taking any actions which could undemtine the agreements mentioned above and contributing to their implementation, as well as respecting fully the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Angola.

4. Request!.· the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council immediately after the signature of the Peace Accmds and to keep the Council fully infom1ed of further developments.
Adopt~d unammously at tht :N9hr m«ting.
Decisions

Noting with sutisfaction the decision taken by the Govern-
ment of the People's Republic of Angola and the Government of the Republic of Cuba to complt:te the withdrawal, ahead of schedule, of all Cuban Lrcops from Angola by 25 May 1991,152

In a letter dated .13 June 1991 155 addressed to the President of the Security Council for the attention of the members of the Council, the Secretarv-Genera.l referred to resolution 696

37