International resolution

UN General Assembly Resolution 1497 (XV), 1960

The UN General Assembly urged Austria and Italy to resume negotiations over the unimplemented Gruber–De Gasperi Agreement, after years of unrest in South Tyrol.

What happened

Dissatisfaction with the implementation of the 1948 First Statute of Autonomy, accompanied by demonstrations and a bombing campaign chiefly by the Befreiungsausschuss Südtirol (BAS) that produced fatalities on both sides, led Austria to bring the South Tyrol question before the UN General Assembly in 1960.[1][2][3]

On 31 October 1960 the Assembly adopted Resolution 1497 (XV), urging Austria and Italy to resume negotiations to resolve all differences over the implementation of the 1946 Agreement; a further resolution, 1661 (XVI), followed on 28 November 1961.[4][5]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: A First Statute of Autonomy was adopted in 1948, but its provisions were widely seen as inadequately implemented, and dissatisfaction grew through the 1950s.

    • Alcock, Antony, A Primer on the Autonomy of South Tyrol: History, Law, Politics (World Autonomies / Eurac Research) link, The First Statute and its non-implementation. Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: Dissatisfaction with the 1948 Statute's implementation was accompanied by demonstrations and, from the late 1950s into the 1960s, a bombing campaign, chiefly by the Befreiungsausschuss Südtirol (BAS), which escalated to fatalities on both the South Tyrolean and Italian sides.

    • The "South Tyrol Problem" (BAS exhibition, Bozen (Von der Feuernacht zur Autonomie)) link, summary of the 1950s–60s campaign. Source record
    • Alcock, Antony, A Primer on the Autonomy of South Tyrol: History, Law, Politics (World Autonomies / Eurac Research) link, The escalation of the 1950s and 1960s. Source record
  3. 3.

    Claim: In 1960, Austria brought the South Tyrol question before the United Nations General Assembly.

    • United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly Resolution 1497 (XV): Status of the German-speaking element in the Province of Bolzano (Bozen) (United Nations, 31 October 1960) link, preamble. Source record
    • Alcock, Antony, A Primer on the Autonomy of South Tyrol: History, Law, Politics (World Autonomies / Eurac Research) link, The 1960 UN referral. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: On 31 October 1960 the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 1497 (XV), urging Austria and Italy to resume negotiations to find a solution to all differences relating to the implementation of the Gruber–De Gasperi Agreement of 5 September 1946.

    • United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly Resolution 1497 (XV): Status of the German-speaking element in the Province of Bolzano (Bozen) (United Nations, 31 October 1960) link, operative paragraphs. Source record
  5. 5.

    Claim: On 28 November 1961 the General Assembly adopted a further resolution, 1661 (XVI), again calling on Italy and Austria to continue their negotiations.

    • Alcock, Antony, A Primer on the Autonomy of South Tyrol: History, Law, Politics (World Autonomies / Eurac Research) link, The 1961 follow-up resolution. Source record

Source note

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