United Nations Security Council Resolution 277

by the United Nations

Adopted by 14 votes to none, with one abstentions (Spain) by the Security Council at its 1535th meeting, on 18 March 1970

The Security Council,

Reaffirming its resolution 216 (1965) of November 1965, 217 (1965) of 20 November 1965, 221 (1966) of 9 April 1966, 232 (1966) of 16 December 1966 and 253 (1968) of 29 May 1968,

Reaffirming that, to the extent not superseded in the present resolution, the measures provided for in resolutions 217 (1965), 232 (1966) and 253 (1968), as well as those initiated by Member States in implementation of those resolutions, shall continue in effect,

Taking into account the reports of the Committee established in pursuance of Security Council resolution 253 (1968),

Noting with grave concern that:

(a) The measures so far taken have failed to bring the rebellion in Southern Rhodesia to an end,

(b) Some States, contrary to resolutions 232 (1966) and 253 (1968) of the Security Council and to their obligations under Article 25 of the Charter of the United Nations, have failed to prevent trade with the illegal regime of Southern Rhodesia,

(c) The Government of the Republic of South Africa and Portugal have continued to give assistance to the illegal regime of Southern Rhodesia, thus diminishing the effects of the measures decided upon by the Security Council,

(d) The situation in Southern Rhodesia continues to deteriorate as a result of the introduction by the illegal regime of new measures, including the purported assumption of republican status, aimed at repressing the African people in violation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960,

Recognizing the legitimacy of the struggle of the people's of Southern Rhodesia to secure the enjoyment of their rights as set forth in the Charter and in conformity with the objectives of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV),

Reaffirming that the present situation in Southern Rhodesia constitutes a threat to international peace and security,

Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter,

1. Condemns the illegal proclamation of republican status of the Territory by the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia;

2. Decides that Member States shall refrain from recognizing this illegal regime or from rendering any assistance to it;

3. Calls upon Member States to take appropriate measures, at the national level, to ensure that any act performed by officials and institutions of the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia shall not be accorded any recognition, official or otherwise, including judicial notice, by the competent organs of their State;

4. Reaffirms the primary responsibility of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to enable the people of Zimbabwe to exercise their right to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and in conformity with General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), and urges that Government to discharge fully its responsibility;

5. Condemns all measures of political repression, including arrests, detentions, trials and executions, which violate fundamental freedoms and rights of the people of Southern Rhodesia;

6. Condemns the policies of the Governments of South Africa and Portugal, which continue to maintain political, economic, military, and other relations with the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia in violations of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations;

7. Demands the immediate withdrawal of South African police and armed personnel from the Territory of Southern Rhodesia;

8. Calls upon Member States to take more stringent measures in order to prevent any circumvention by their nationals, organizations, companies and other institutions of their nationality, of the decisions taken by the Security Council in resolutions 232 (1966) and 253 (1968), all provisions of which shall fully remain in force;

9. Decides, in accordance with Article 41 of the Charter and in furthering the objective of ending the rebellion, that Member States shall:

(a) Immediately sever all diplomatic, consular, trade, military and other relations that they may have with the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia, and terminate any representation that they may maintain in the Territory;

(b) Immediately interrupt any existing means of transportation to and from Southern Rhodesia;

10. Requests the Government of the United Kingdom, as the administering Power, to rescind or withdraw any existing agreements on the basis of which foreign consular, trade and other representation may at present be maintained in or with Southern Rhodesia;

11. Requests Member States to take all possible further action under Article 41 of the Charter to deal with the situation in Southern Rhodesia, not excluding any of the measures provided in that Article;

12. Calls upon Member States to take appropriate action to suspend any membership or associate membership that the illegal regime of Southern Rhodesia has in the specialized agencies of the United Nations;

13. Urges member States of any international or regional organizations to suspend the membership of the illegal regime of Southern Rhodesia from their respective organizations and to refuse any request for membership from that regime;

14. Urges Member States to increase moral an material assistance to the people of Southern Rhodesia in their legitimate struggle to achieve freedom and independence;

15. Requests the specialized agencies and other international organizations concerned, in consultation with the Organizations of African Unity, to give aid and assistance to refugees from Southern Rhodesia and those who are suffering from oppression by the illegal regime of Southern Rhodesia;

16. Requests Member States, the United Nations, the specialized agencies and other international organizations in the United Nations system to make an urgent effort to increase their assistance to Zambia as a matter of priority with a view to helping it solve such special economic problems as it may be confronted with arising from the carrying out of the decisions of the Security Council on this question;

17. Calls upon Member States, in particular those with primary responsibility under the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security to assist effectively in the implementation of the measures called for by the present resolution;

18. Urges, having regard to the principle stated in Article 2 of the Charter, States not Members of the United Nations to act in accordance with the provisions of the present resolution;

19. Calls upon Member States to report to the Secretary-General by 1 June 1970 on the measures take to implement the present resolution;

20. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the progress of the implementation of the present resolution, the first report to be submitted no later than 1 July 1970;

21. Decides that the committee of the Security Council established in pursuance of resolution 253 (1968), in accordance with rule 28 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Council, shall be entrusted with responsibility of:

(a) Examining such report on the implementation of the present resolution as will be submitted by the Secretary-General;

(b) Seeking from Member States such further information regarding the effective implementation of the provisions laid down in the present resolution as it may consider necessary for the proper discharge of its duty to report to the Security Council;

(c) Studying ways and means by which Member States could carry out more effectively the decisions of the Security Council regarding sanctions against the illegal regime of Southern Rhodesia and making recommendations to the Council;

22. Requests the United Kingdom, as the administering Power, to continue to give maximum assistance to the Committee it may receive in order that the measures envisaged in the present resolution as well as resolution 232 (1966) and 253 (1968) may be rendered fully effective;

23. Calls upon Member States, as well as the specialized agencies, to supply such information as may be sought by the Committee in pursuance of the present resolution;

24. Decides to maintain this item on its agenda for further action as appropriate in the light of developments.