General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

21 November 1985

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                       A/RES/40/20
                                                       21 November 1985
                                                       87th plenary meeting
 
               Co-operation between the United Nations and the
               Organization of African Unity
 
     The General Assembly,
 
     Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on co-operation
between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity,
 
     Recalling its previous resolutions on the promotion of co-operation
between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity and the
practical measures taken for their implementation, in particular resolution
39/8 of 8 November 1984 and resolution 39/29 of 3 December 1984 on the
critical economic situation in Africa and the Declaration annexed thereto,
 
     Taking note of the relevant resolutions, decisions and declarations
adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at
its forty-second ordinary session and by the Assembly of Heads of State and
Government of that organization at its twenty-first ordinary session, which
were held at Addis Ababa from 10 to 17 July and from 18 to 20 July 1985,
respectively,
 
     Taking note also of the resolutions, decisions and declarations adopted
by the Organization of African Unity on the promotion of co-operation between
the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity,
 
     Noting further the Declaration on the Economic Situation in Africa and
Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery 1986-1990, annexed thereto,
adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Organization
of African Unity at its twenty-first session, which was devoted mainly to the
critical economic situation in Africa,
 
     Considering the important statement of the current Chairman of the
Organization of African Unity to the General Assembly on 21 October 1985,
particularly with regard to the critical economic situation in Africa as well
as other matters of concern to the two organizations,
 
     Gravely concerned about the serious and deteriorating economic situation
in Africa, in particular the effects of the prolonged drought, desertification
and the adverse effects of the international economic environment on the
African States,
 
     Recalling, in this connection, the Lagos Plan of Action for the
Implementation of the Monrovia Strategy for the Economic Development of
Africa, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the
Organization of African Unity at its second extraordinary session, held at
Lagos on 28 and 29 April 1980,
 
     Recognizing the need for closer co-operation between the Organization of
African Unity and all specialized agencies, organizations and bodies of the
United Nations system in realizing the goals and objectives set forth in the
Lagos Plan of Action,
 
     Gravely concerned at the deteriorating situation in southern Africa
arising from the continued domination of the peoples of the area by the
minority racist regime of South Africa and conscious of the need to provide
increased assistance to the peoples of the region and to their liberation
movements in their struggle against colonialism, racial discrimination and
apartheid,
 
     Conscious of its responsibilities to provide economic, material and
humanitarian assistance to independent States in southern Africa to help them
cope with the situation caused by the acts of aggression committed against
their territories by the apartheid regime of South Africa,
 
     Deeply concerned at the gravity of the situation of the refugees in
Africa and the urgent need for increased international assistance to help
African countries of asylum cope with the heavy social, economic and
administrative burden imposed on their fragile economies,
 
     Recognizing the important role which the various information units and
departments of the United Nations system can play in disseminating information
to bring about a greater awareness of the grave situation prevailing in
southern Africa as well as the social and economic problems and the needs of
African States and their regional and subregional institutions,
 
     Aware of the need for continuous liaison, consultations on matters of
common concern, exchange of information at the secretariat level and technical
co-operation on such matters as training and research between the Organization
of African Unity and the United Nations,
 
     1.   Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on co-operation
between the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity and commends
his efforts to strengthen such co-operation;
 
     2.   Notes with appreciation the increasing and continued participation
of the Organization of African Unity in the work of the United Nations and the
specialized agencies and its constructive contribution to that work;
 
     3.   Commends the continued efforts of the Organization of African Unity
to promote multilateral co-operation among African States and to find
solutions to African problems of vital importance to the international
community and notes with satisfaction the increased collaboration of various
organizations of the United Nations system in support of those efforts;
 
     4.   Reaffirms the determination of the United Nations to work closely
with the Organization of African Unity towards the establishment of the new
international economic order in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the
General Assembly and, in that regard, to take full account of the Lagos Plan
of Action for the Implementation of the Monrovia Strategy for the Economic
Development of Africa and Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery
1986-1990, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the
Organization of African Unity at its twenty-first session, in the
implementation of the International Development Strategy for the Third United
Nations Development Decade;
 
     5.   Calls upon all Member States and regional and international
organizations, in particular those of the United Nations system, to implement
fully General Assembly resolution 39/29 on the critical economic situation in
Africa and the Declaration annexed thereto;
 
     6.   Also calls upon all Member States, and regional and international
organizations, in particular those of the United Nations system, to give their
maximum support to Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery
1986-1990;
 
     7.   Requests the Secretary-General to draw the attention of the
specialized agencies and other organizations of the United Nations system to
the need to give increasingly wide publicity to all matters relating to the
social and economic development of Africa, in particular to General Assembly
resolution 39/29 on the critical economic situation in Africa and the
Declaration annexed thereto;
 
     8.   Expresses its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the timely
initiative he has taken to alert the international community to the critical
economic and social situation in Africa and welcomes the measures he has taken
to facilitate international co-operation and co-ordination to assist Africa,
in particular through the establishment of the Office for Emergency Operations
in Africa;
 
     9.   Commends the Office for Emergency Operations in Africa for its
efforts to sensitize the international community to the emergency situation in
Africa, to co-ordinate the efforts of the international community and to
monitor the situation in the affected African countries;
 
     10.  Expresses its appreciation to donor countries, the European Economic
Community and other intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations for
their participation in the round table and consultative groups and for their
response to the emergency food situation in Africa;
 
     11.  Expresses its appreciation also to the United Nations Development
Programme, the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Co-ordinator, the
World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for the assistance so far
rendered to the African States in dealing with the emergency situation as well
as with the critical economic problems that exist on the African continent;
 
     12.  Calls upon all Member States and organizations of the United Nations
system to increase their assistance to the African States affected by serious
economic problems, in particular problems of displaced persons resulting from
natural and other disasters, by implementing fully General Assembly resolution
39/29 and Africa's Priority Programme for Economic Recovery 1986-1990;
 
     13.  Invites the Secretary-General to continue his commendable efforts in
alerting and sensitizing the international community to the plight of African
countries, in mobilizing additional assistance to Africa, in co-ordinating the
activities of the United Nations system in Africa, and in monitoring the
situation and presenting periodic reports thereon;
 
     14.  Reiterates its appreciation to the Secretary-General for his
efforts, on behalf of the international community, to organize and mobilize
special programmes of economic assistance for African States experiencing
grave economic difficulties, as well as for the front-line States and other
independent States of southern Africa, to help them cope with the situation
caused by the acts of aggression committed against their territories by the
apartheid regime of South Africa;
 
     15.  Expresses its appreciation to the World Bank, the United Nations
Development Programme and other concerned international financial institutions
for their response to the critical economic situation in Africa as well as
their assistance in the organization of round table and donor conferences in
favour of the least developed countries of Africa, as well as in the
implementation of those special programmes of economic assistance;
 
     16.  Requests the Secretary-General to continue to keep the Organization
of African Unity informed periodically of the response of the international
community to those special programmes of economic assistance and to continue
to co-ordinate efforts with all similar programmes initiated by that
organization;
 
     17.  Calls upon the international community to provide generous
assistance on a long-term basis to all African States affected by the economic
crisis, particularly those suffering calamities such as drought and flood, in
accordance with General Assembly resolution 39/29 and Africa's Priority
Programme for Economic Recovery 1986-1990;
 
     18.  Reiterates the determination of the United Nations, in co-operation
with the Organization of African Unity, to intensify its efforts to eliminate
colonialism, racial discrimination and apartheid in southern Africa;
 
     19.  Requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary measures to
strengthen co-operation at the political, economic, cultural and
administrative levels between the United Nations and the Organization of
African Unity in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the General
Assembly, particularly with regard to the provision of assistance to the
victims of colonialism and apartheid in southern Africa, and in this
connection draws once again the attention of the international community to
the need to contribute to the Assistance Fund for the Struggle against
Colonialism and Apartheid established by the Organization of African Unity;
 
     20.  Urges the specialized agencies and other organizations concerned
within the United Nations system to continue to expand their co-operation with
the Organization of African Unity and, through it, their assistance to the
liberation movements recognized by that organization;
 
     21.  Reaffirms its willingness to co-operate with the Organization of
African Unity and its organs in the implementation of resolutions and
decisions of mutual concern;
 
     22.  Calls upon the competent organs, specialized agencies and other
organizations of the United Nations system to continue to ensure that their
personnel and recruitment policies provide for the just and equitable
representation of Africa at all levels at their respective headquarters and in
their regional and field operations;
 
     23.  Urges all Member States and regional and international
organizations, in particular those of the United Nations system, and
non-governmental organizations to provide material and economic assistance to
help African countries of asylum
cope with the heavy burden imposed on their limited resources and weak
infrastructures by the presence of large numbers of refugees;
 
     24.  Invites Member States and regional and international organizations,
in particular those of the United Nations system, and non-governmental
organizations to contribute generously and effectively to the implementation
of the Declaration and Programme of Action of the Second International
Conference on Assistance to Refugees in Africa;
 
     25.  Calls upon United Nations organs - in particular the Security
Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Special Committee on the
Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting
of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the Special Committee
against Apartheid and the United Nations Council for Namibia - to continue to
associate closely the Organization of African Unity with all their work
concerning Africa;
 
     26.  Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that adequate facilities
continue to be made available to facilitate continued liaison and
consultations on matters of common interest as well as for the provision of
technical assistance to the General Secretariat of the Organization of African
Unity, as required;
 
     27.  Also requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the
Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity, to arrange the date
and venue for the next meeting between representatives of the General
Secretariat of that organization and the secretariats of the United Nations
and other organizations of the United Nations system;
 
     28.  Further requests the Secretary-General to report to the General
Assembly at its forty-first session on the implementation of the present
resolution and on the development of co-operation between the Organization of
African Unity and the organizations concerned within the United Nations
system.