A/RES/48/258 Page 2 Recalling the contributions over the decades of the United Nations, its Special Committee against Apartheid, Member States of the United Nations, regional and non-governmental organizations and the international community as a whole to the efforts leading to the end of apartheid, Also recalling Security Council resolution 919 (1994) of 25 May 1994, Noting with great satisfaction that South Africa, having resumed its rightful place in the international community, intends to participate in the work of the United Nations in accordance with the purposes and principles of Charter of the Organization, 1. Expresses its profound satisfaction at the entry into force of South Africa’s first non-racial and democratic constitution on 27 April 1994, the holding of one-person/one-vote elections from 26 to 29 April 1994, the convening of South Africa’s new parliament on 5 May 1994 and the installation on 10 May 1994 of its State President and the Government of National Unity; 2. Congratulates all South Africans and their political leaders on their success in bringing apartheid to an end and in laying, through broad-based negotiations, the foundations for a new, non-racial and democratic South Africa with equal and guaranteed rights for each and all; 3. Notes the importance of actions taken by the General Assembly and the Security Council, which have contributed significantly to the end of apartheid and the establishment of a democratic and united, non-racial South Africa; 4. Commends the Secretary-General for the successful implementation and conclusion of the mandates entrusted to him by relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, in particular Security Council resolutions 765 (1992) of 16 July 1992, 772 (1992) of 17 August 1992 and 894 (1994) of 14 January 1994, through the efforts of his Special Representative, and General Assembly resolution 48/159 A of 20 December 1993 relating to the United Nations Observer Mission in South Africa; 5. Also commends the Organization of African Unity, the Commonwealth and the European Union for their important contributions, inter alia, through their observer missions, as well as the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries, for their support to the process of peaceful change culminating in the elections; 6. Expresses its appreciation to the Special Committee against Apartheid for the important role it has played as a focal point for international action in support of the efforts to eliminate apartheid in South Africa and to establish a non-racial and democratic society in that country; 7. Welcomes South Africa back to the community of nations as represented in the General Assembly of the United Nations, and calls upon specialized agencies and related organizations of the United Nations system to take all necessary actions to re-establish full membership of South Africa; 8. Decides to consider, as an exceptional measure, that the arrears of South Africa that have accrued to date were due to conditions beyond its control and, accordingly, that the question of the applicability of Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations related to the loss of voting rights in the General Assembly in this respect will not arise; /...