United Nations A/RES/55/280 General Assembly Fifty-fifth session Agenda item 39 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [without reference to a Main Committee (A/55/L.90 and Add.1)] 55/280. United Nations Electoral Observer Mission for the general elections in Fiji in August 2001 The General Assembly, Noting the request of the caretaker Government of the Republic of the Fiji Islands to the Secretary-General for the participation of the United Nations in the observation of the general elections in Fiji, 1 Recalling its resolution 54/173 of 17 December 1999 on strengthening the role of the United Nations in enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections and the promotion of democratization, Noting with satisfaction that increasing numbers of Member States are using elections as a peaceful means of national decision-making and confidence-building, thereby contributing to greater national peace and stability, Taking note of the letter dated 31 October 2000 from the Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations, on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum, addressed to the Secretary-General, 2 which transmitted the communiqué of the thirty-first meeting of the Forum, held at Tarawa from 27 to 30 October 2000, and recognizing and endorsing the need to address the fundamental causes of political instability in the region, Taking into account the positive impact on the regional promotion of democracy, peace and well-being that a stable democracy in Fiji will provide, Taking note of the letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, External Trade and Sugar of the caretaker Government addressed to the President of the General Assembly, 3 which registers the commitment of the caretaker Government to return Fiji to a full constitutional democracy through free and fair elections and invites the United Nations to observe the elections, Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 4 which provides that everyone has the right to take part in the government of his or her country, directly 1 See A/55/1016, annex I. A/55/536. 3 A/55/1016, annex II. 4 Resolution 217 A (III). 2 00 57589 Distr.: General 7 August 2001