UN General Assembly
1974

155. Thus it is clear that history, geography and human habitation have made that region, formerly called "Spanish Mauritania", an integral part of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. My country's position on this problem derives, quite naturally, from these fundamental facts. 156. Thus it was that in 1957 and more precisely on S July 1957, i when we were able to free ourselves partially from colonial subjugation, three years before our independence the Mauritanian Head of State, then Vice President of the Council of Government, declared at Atar: