Security Council establishes UN mission for Western Sahara referendum.

The Security Council on 29 April formally established the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara to implement the SecretaryGeneral's plan for a settlement of the question of Western Sahara. The Mission will be known by its French acronym, MINURSO.

The plan provides for UN supervision of a cease-fire between Morocco and the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia elHamra y de Rio de Oro (POLISARIO). It also details how a referendum on the future of Western Sahara should be organized. The people of the Territory will choose between independence and integration with Morocco.

MINURSO will involve approximately 900 international civilian personnel, 300 police officers and a military component with a strength of about 1,695.

On 17 May, the General Assembly approved, in principle, an allocation of some $180 million to finance the Mission for the nine-month period approved by the Council. Member States were asked for voluntary contributions to finance a repatriation programme for Western Saharans, to be conducted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Johannes Manz, the SecretaryGeneral's Special Representative on Western Sahara, called the new operation "unique", one of the most challenging the UN had ever undertaken. This was the first time, he said, the Organization would have full responsibility for such a referendum.

In unanimously adopting resolution 690 (1991), the Council approved a 19 April report of the Secretary-General (S/22464 and Corr.1), which amplified a previous report (S/21360) outlining his plan to implement the settlement proposals as accepted by Morocco and POLISARIO on 30 August 1988.

The Council also decided that a transitional period would begin no later than 16 weeks after Assembly approval of the MINURSO budget-around mid-September, The referendum itself was expected to be held towards the end of january 1992.

The Mission's operational area comprises Western Sahara-more than 250,000 square kilometres in size-and locations to be designated in neighbouring countries, such as the Tindouf refugee camps, where numbers of Western Saharans are known to live.

'Abiding support'

In welcoming resolution 690, Algeria said the plan had its absolute and abiding support". A decisive stage had been reached "on the path towards a peaceful, just and final settlement of the question of Western Sahara", it stated. Algeria would ensure that the referendum process took place in an atmosphere of calm, confidence and respect for the peace plan. The settlement would promote peace and stability in the region.

Mauritania said the measures agreed on provided an opportunity for a just and lasting settlement of the "fratricidal conflict". It was prepared to cooperate with the Secretary-General for t he accomplishment of his mission.

On 25 May, Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar had a tete-a-tete meeting with King Hassan II of Morocco in Rabat, exchanging views, among other things, on the UN operation in Western Sahara.

On 26 May, the SecretaryGeneral met in Oran, Algeria, with Algerian President Chadli Bendjedid. On 31 May, he met in Lisbon with the current Chairman of the Organization of African Unity...