| Resolution 1803 (XVII)
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
Recalling its resolutions 523 (VI) of 12
January 1952 and 626 (VII) of 21 December 1952,
Bearing in mind its resolution 1314(XIII) of 12 December
1958, by which it established the Commission on Permanent Sovereignty over Natural
Resources and instructed it to conduct a full survey of the status of permanent
sovereignty over natural wealth and resources as a basic constituent of the right to
self-determination, with recommendations, where necessary, for its strengthening, and
decided further that, in the conduct of the full survey of the status of the permanent
sovereignty of peoples and nations over their natural wealth and resources, due regard
should be paid to the rights and duties of States under international law and to the
importance of encouraging international co-operation in the economic development of
developing countries,
Bearing in mind its resolution I S I 5 (XV) of 15 December
1960, in which it recommended that the sovereign right of every State to dispose of its
wealth and its natural resources should be respected,
Considering that any measure in this respect must be based
on the recognition of the inalienable right of all States freely to dispose of their
natural wealth and resources in accordance with their national interests, and on respect
for the economic independence of States,
Considering that nothing in paragraph 4 below in any way
prejudices the position of any Member State on any aspect of the question of the rights
and obligations of successor States and Governments in respect of property acquired before
the accession to complete sovereignty of countries formerly under colonial rule,
Noting that the subject of succession of States and
Governments is being examined as a matter of priority by the International Law Commission,
Considering that it is desirable to promote international
co-operation for the economic development of developing countries, and that economic and
financial agreements between the developed and the developing countries must be based on
the principles of equality and of the right of peoples and nations to self-determination,
Considering that the provision of economic and technical
assistance, loans and increased foreign investment must not be subject to conditions which
conflict with the interests of the recipient State,
Considering the benefits to be derived from exchanges of
technical and scientific information likely to promote the development and use of such
resources and wealth, and the important part which the United Nations and other
international organizations are called upon to play in that connection,
Attaching particular importance to the question of
promoting the economic development of developing countries and securing their economic
independence,
Noting that the creation and strengthening of the
inalienable sovereignty of States over their natural wealth and resources reinforces their
economic independence,
Desiring that there should be further consideration by the
United Nations of the subject of permanent sovereignty over natural resources in the
spirit of international co-operation in the field of economic development, particularly
that of the developing countries,
I
Declares that:
1. The right of peoples and nations to permanent
sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources must be exercised in the interest of
their national development and of the well-being of the people of the State concerned.
2. The exploration, development and disposition of such
resources, as well as the import of the foreign capital required for these purposes,
should be in conformity with the rules and conditions which the peoples and nations freely
consider to be necessary or desirable with regard to the authorization, restriction or
prohibition of such activities.
3. In cases where authorization is granted, the capital
imported and the earnings on that capital shall be governed by the terms thereof, by the
national legislation in force, and by international law. The profits derived must be
shared in the proportions freely agreed upon, in each case, between the investors and the
recipient State, due care being taken to ensure that there is no impairment, for any
reason, of that State's sovereignty over its natural wealth and resources.
4. Nationalization, expropriation or requisitioning shall
be based on grounds or reasons of public utility, security or the national interest which
are recognized as overriding purely individual or private interests, both domestic and
foreign. In such cases the owner shall be paid appropriate compensation, in accordance
with the rules in force in the State taking such measures in the exercise of its
sovereignty and in accordance with international law. In any case where the question of
compensation gives rise to a controversy, the national jurisdiction of the State taking
such measures shall be exhausted. However, upon agreement by sovereign States and other
parties concerned, settlement of the dispute should be made through arbitration or
international adjudication.
5. The free and beneficial exercise of the sovereignty of
peoples and nations over their natural resources must be furthered by the mutual respect
of States based on their sovereign equality.
6. International co-operation for the economic development
of developing countries, whether in the form of public or private capital investments,
exchange of goods and services, technical assistance, or exchange of scientific
information, shall be such as to further their independent national development and shall
be based upon respect for their sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources.
7. Violation of the rights of peoples and nations to
sovereignty over their natural wealth and resources is contrary to the spirit and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations and hinders the development of
international co-operation and the maintenance of peace.
8. Foreign investment agreements freely entered into by or
between sovereign States shall be observed in good faith; States and international
organizations shall strictly and conscientiously respect the sovereignty of peoples and
nations over their natural wealth and resources in accordance with the Charter and the
principles set forth in the present resolution.
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