Many candidates had exercised their right of appeal and there was opposition to the issue of admissibility which meant that the referendum on self-determination for the people of Western Sahara could not take place before 2002 or beyond. The Secretary-General Kofi Annan was to help the parties reconcile, though the Council noted that there would be difficulties in this process. In this regard the Secretary-General was requested to report to the Council before the end of MINURSO's current mandate on the prospects of implementing the Settlement Plan within a reasonable period of time.