General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

21 January 1994

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                  A/RES/48/233
                                                  88th plenary meeting
                                                  21 January 1994
 
           Democratic and non-racial elections in South Africa
 
      The General Assembly,
 
      Recalling its resolution 48/159 A, adopted by consensus on 20 December
1993, as well as its resolution 48/230 of 23 December 1993,
 
      Recalling also Security Council resolutions 765 (1992) of 16 July 1992
and 772 (1992) of 17 August 1992,
 
      Welcoming the agreement reached within the framework of multi-party
negotiations to hold the first democratic elections in South Africa on 27
April 1994,
 
      Welcoming also the adoption by Parliament, on 22 December 1993, of the
Constitution for the Transitional Period as well as the Electoral Bill, and
encouraging the efforts of all parties, including ongoing talks among them,
aimed at the widest possible agreement on the arrangements for the transition
to a democratic order,
 
      Noting the request by the Transitional Executive Council to the United
Nations for the provision of a sufficient number of international observers to
monitor the electoral process, which also called upon the United Nations to
coordinate, in close cooperation with the Independent Electoral Commission,
the activities of the international observers provided by the Organization of
African Unity, the Commonwealth and the European Union, as well as those
provided by Governments,
 
      Noting with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General on the
question of South Africa,
 
      1.    Commends the Secretary-General for his prompt response to the
requests contained in paragraphs 18 and 19 of its resolution 48/159 A, and
welcomes the proposals contained in the report of the Secretary-General;
 
      2.    Takes note with satisfaction of Security Council resolution 894
(1994), adopted on 14 January 1994, by which the Council accepted the need to
respond urgently to the request by the Transitional Executive Council and
agreed with the proposals contained in the report of the Secretary-General
concerning the mandate and size of the United Nations Observer Mission in
South Africa, including the proposals for the coordination of the activities
of the international observers provided by the Organization of African Unity,
the Commonwealth and the European Union, as well as those provided by other
intergovernmental organizations or Governments;
 
      3.    Encourages Member States to respond positively to the request of
the Secretary-General for election observers;
 
      4.    Urges all parties in South Africa, including those which did not
participate fully in the multi-party talks, to respect agreements reached
during the negotiations, to adhere to democratic principles and to take part
in the elections;
 
      5.    Expresses its grave concern at the threat of the ongoing violence
to the process of peaceful change, and calls upon all parties to promote the
full participation of all South Africans in the democratic process in all
parts of South Africa by exercising restraint and by refraining from acts of
violence and intimidation;
 
      6.    Calls upon the South African authorities, including the
Independent Electoral Commission, under the supervision and guidance of the
Transitional Executive Council, to take the necessary measures to protect the
rights of all South Africans to organize and participate in peaceful public
manifestations and political rallies, to run for election and to participate
in the polls in all parts of South Africa, including the "homelands", free of
intimidation;
 
      7.    Calls upon all parties in South Africa to respect the safety and
security of the international observers and to facilitate the carrying out of
their mandate;
 
      8.    Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to set up a
special trust fund to finance the participation of additional observers from
African and other developing countries, and urges States to contribute
generously to this fund.