Security Council resolution 601 (1987) [authorizing the Secretary-General to arrange a cease-fire between South Africa and SWAPO]
Symbol: S/RES/601(1987)
Date: 1987-10-30
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/42 [6] NAMIBIA QUESTION
Subjects: SWAPO|UN Transition Assistance Group|MILITARY OCCUPATION|NAMIBIA|SOUTH AFRICA|CEASEFIRES|SOUTH AFRICA|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|NAMIBIA|NAMIBIA QUESTION
Votes in favour: 14
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 1
Voting record:
country: ARGENTINA
vote: yes
country: BULGARIA
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: CONGO
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: ITALY
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: USSR
vote: yes
country: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: abstention
country: VENEZUELA
vote: yes
country: ZAMBIA
vote: yes

Resolution 601 (1987)
of 30 October 1987

The Security Council,

Having considered the reports of the Secretary-General of
31 March 52 and 27 October 1987, 53

Having heard the statement by the President of the United
Nations Council for Namibia, 54

Having also considered the statement by Mr. Theo-Ben
Gurirab, 54 Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the South West
Africa People’s Organization,

Recalling General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) of 14
December 1960 and 2145 (XXI) of 27 October 1966 as well
as resolution S-14/1 of 20 September 1986,

Recalling and reaffirming its resolutions 269 (1969), 276
(1970), 301 (1971), 385 (1976), 431 (1978), 432 (1978).
435 (1978), 439 (1978), 532 (1983). 539 (1983). and 566
(1985),

1. Strongly condemns racist South Africa for its continued illegal occupation of Namibia and its stubborn
refusal to comply with the resolutions and decisions of the
Security Council, in particular resolutions 385 (1976) and
435 (1978);

2. Reaffirms the legal and direct responsibility of the
United Nations over Namibia;

3. Affirms that all outstanding issues relevant to the
implementation of its resolution 435 (1978) have now been
resolved as stated in the Secretary-General's reports of 31
March and 27 October 1987;

4. Welcomes the expressed readiness of the South West
Africa People’s Organization to sign and observe a cease-fire agreement with South Africa, in order to pave the way
for the implementation of resolution 435 (1978);

5. Decides to authorize the Secretary-General to proceed to arrange a cease-fire between South Africa and the
South West Africa People’s Organization in order to
undertake the administrative and other practical steps
necessary for the emplacement of the United Nations
Transition Assistance Group;

6. Urges States Members of the United Nations to
render all the necessary practical assistance to the Secretary-General and his staff in the implementation of the present
resolution;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the
Security Council on the progress in the implementation of
the present resolution and to submit his report as soon as
possible;

8. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Adopted at the 2759th meeting by
14 votes to none, with 1 abstention (United States of America).

52 Official Records of the Security Council, Forty-second Year, Supplement for January, February and March 1987, document S/18767.
53 Ibid., Supplement for October. November and December 1987,
document S/19234.
54 Ibid., Forty-second Year, 2755th meeting.