A/RES/56/282 United Nations General Assembly Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 18 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [without reference to a Main Committee (A/56/894)] 56/282. Question of East Timor The General Assembly, Reaffirming the right of peoples to self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, Recalling the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, contained in resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, as well as resolution 1541 (XV) of 15 December 1960 and all other United Nations resolutions relating to the question of East Timor, Recalling also the mandate of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Recalling further the Agreement of 5 May 1999 between the Governments of Indonesia and Portugal and the Secretary-General on the question of East Timor regarding the modalities for the popular consultation of the East Timorese through a direct ballot, 1 and taking note of its outcome and the process of transition, under the authority of the United Nations, towards independence, Taking note of the subsequent recommendation by the East Timor Constituent Assembly that 20 May 2002 be the date for the official transfer of the powers of sovereignty from the United Nations to the East Timor government institutions, Mindful of the statement by the President of the Security Council of 31 October 2001, 2 1. Recalls the important role played for many years by the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples in promoting the implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples in relation to East Timor; 2. Welcomes the progress and the achievements in East Timor, and commends the Secretary-General and the United Nations Transitional _______________ 1 2 01 49530 A/53/951-S/1999/513, annex II. S/PRST/2001/32. Distr.: General 8 May 2002