Resolution 809 (1993)
of 2 March 1993

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its resolutions 621 (1988) of 20 September 1988, 658
(1990) of 27 June 1990, 690 (1991) of 29 April 1991 and 725 (1991)
of 31 December 1991,

Recalling that in conformity with the settlement plan regarding the
question of Western Sahara, 3 as adopted by resolutions 658 (1990) and
690 (1991), it was for the Secretary-General to determine the instructions for the review of the applications for participation in the referendum, and that in its resolution 725 (1991) the Council welcomed the
report of the Secretary-General of 19 December 1991, 4

Having considered the report of the Secretary-General of 26 January
1993 on the situation concerning Western Sahara, 5

Concerned by the difficulties and delays encountered in the
implementation of the settlement plan, and in particular the persistent
divergences between the two parties on the interpretation and application of the criteria for voter eligibility set out by the Secretary-General
in his report of 19 December 1991,

Determined that the settlement plan be implemented without further
delay in order to achieve a just and lasting solution,

Stressing the desirability of ensuring the full cooperation of both
parties for the implementation of the settlement plan,

1. Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 26 January 1993
on the situation conncerning Western Sahara;

2. Invites the Secretary-General and his Special Representative to
intensify their efforts, with the parties, in order to resolve the issues
identified in the report, in particular those relating to the interpretation
and application of the criteria for voter eligibility,

3. Invites the Secretary-General to make the necessary preparations
for the organization of the referendum of self-determination of the
people of Western Sahara and to consult accordingly with the parties
for the purpose of commencing voter registration on a prompt basis,
starting with the updated lists of the 1974 census,

4. Also invites the Secretary-General to report to the Council as soon
as possible and not later than May 1993 on the outcome of his efforts,
on the cooperation of the parties and on the prospects and modalities for
the holding of the referendum on a free and fair basis with a view that
this take place by the end of the current year at the latest, and requests
the Secretary-General to include in this report proposals for the
necessary adjustments to the present role and strength of the United
Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara;

5. Urges the two parties to cooperate fully with the Secretary-General in implementing the settlement plan regarding the question of
Western Sahara, which has been accepted by them and approved by the
Council in its resolutions 658 (1990) and 690 (1991), and in resolving
the issues identified in the report of the Secretary-General,’ in particular
those relating to the interpretation and application of the criteria for
voter eligibility;

6. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
Adopted unanimously at the 3179th meeting.



3 Ibid., Forty-fifth Year, Supplement for April, May and
June 1990, document S/21360, and ibid., Forty-sixth Year, Supplement for April, May and June 1991, document S/22464.
4 Ibid., Forty-sixth Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1991, document S/23299.
5 Ibid., Forty-eighth Year, Supplement for January, February and March 1993, document S/25170.
