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Decolonization Was United Nations \221Success Story,\222 but Renewe

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Decolonization Was United Nations \221Success Story,\222 but Renewe 9 October 2009 General Assembly GA/SPD/426 Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York Sixty-fourth General Assembly Fourth Committee 6th Meeting (PM) DECOLONIZATION WAS UNITED NATIONS ‘SUCCESS STORY’, BUT RENEWED MOMENTUM WAS NEEDED ON BEHALF OF 16 REMAINING NON-SELF-GOVERNING TERRITORIES, FOURTH COMMITTEE TOLD As the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its general debate on decolonization issues today, Member States stressed that, with the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism about to wrap up in 2010, there was a crucial need to generate new momentum and ensure that the 16 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories were able to exercise the right to self-determination. In a statement with elements echoed by a number of delegations, Gabon’s representative said that, while there was no “single solution” to decolonization, it remained vital to press ahead with the work under way and pay closer attention to the follow-up and application of the relevant resolutions on the issue. While each Non-Self-Governing Territory must be considered individually, it was important to encourage dialogue and ensure concrete outcomes for each case. While acknowledging that decolonization had been one of the success stories of the United Nations with some 750 million people having been given the opportunity to exercise their legitimate rights Ethiopia’s representative deplored the stalled process to effectively implement the Decolonization Declaration in the remaining territories. Stressing that the support and cooperation of administering Powers, legitimate representatives of Non-Self-Governing Territories, and Member States was vital to eradicating colonialism, he said it was regrettable that some administering Powers were still unwilling to cooperate with the Special Committee on Decolonization something he called a “flagrant violation of the right to self-determination”. Moreover, he underlined the need for the activities of the international community particularly the United Nations system to be enhanced in the Territories with a view to improving the socio-economic conditions of their inhabitants. In addition, the oversight function of the Special Committee, although often carried out against a backdrop of fierce resistance on the part of the administering Powers, needed to be bolstered in light of changing world circumstances, he stressed. Along those lines, the representative of Fiji said that additional international decades for the eradication of colonialism would mean little if the Committee did not find alternative ways to resolve difficulties associated with the decolonization process. A greater focus was also needed on the economic and social considerations of the Non-Self-Governing Territories, with the central priority for all stakeholders always being the interests of the people. Noting special challenges facing the decolonization process in general, and particularly with regard to the Malvinas, Western Sahara and certain cases in the Caribbean, he said they emanated, in part, from the lack of cooperation among stakeholders. Throughout the afternoon, delegates focused on the question of Western Sahara, with many praising Morocco for its efforts to achieve a lasting solution on the issue. Commending the Secretary-General and the work of his respective Special Envoys, the representative of Equatorial Guinea said Morocco’s proposed plan complied with the principle of self-determination embodied in the United Nations Charter. The initiative also constituted an objective basis for negotiations between the two parties, which the international community should remain committed to providing support, with a view to a continuation and revitalization of the talks. For his part, Morocco’s representative said that, when the United Nations concluded that the referendum stipulated in the “defunct” settlement plan of 1990 was not viable, and had rejected an 1 of 14 Algerian proposal for autonomy, Morocco had endeavoured to seek a “win-win solution”, which was favoured by the Security Council and the international community at large. His country’s regional autonomy initiative was a framework for a negotiated and final settlement, and it respected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Morocco. Morocco’s plan also allowed the population of the region to manage their domestic affairs through democratically elected bodies. That “serious and credible” process had generated a dynamic and was a turning point in the search for a political solution. “It was not time for vindication and controversy”, he said, but rather for “conciliation and renewed brotherhood”. Any resolution adopted by the Fourth Committee should avoid selective and piecemeal approaches, he continued. A resolution based on confrontation would inflict irreparable damage to the ongoing negotiation process. At the same time, the representative of Algeria said the African continent had welcomed the liberation of almost all of its formerly colonized peoples. Now, the people of Western Sahara, whose national aspirations were clear to all, should be offered the opportunity to exercise the right to self-determination. In that regard, the United Nations should discharge its duty of preserving peace in the region, as freedom in Western Sahara must be internationally guaranteed. He went on to say that his Government had worked from the very beginning in a spirit of clarity and cohesiveness, and in consistent way, to re-establish the legitimate rights of the people of Western Sahara. Calling for an intensification of efforts to hold a referendum, he said the issue was quite clear. The adoption of Security Council 1754 (2007) enjoyed general consensus, and it was, therefore, necessary to relaunch the dialogue, without preconditions, to end the impasse. That approach aimed at breathing new life into the situation, and was based on a fragile balance, with the proposals of both parties worthy of equal attention. At the close of the meeting, Committee Chairman Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of Qatar announced that a consensus resolution on the issue of Western Sahara had been drafted, and would be put to a vote of the Committee next week, on Tuesday or Wednesday. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Republic of Tanzania also addressed the Committee. Also speaking were the representatives of Namibia, who spoke on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Burkina Faso, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, India, Pakistan, Brazil, New Zealand, Lesotho, Spain, Bahrain, Papua New Guinea, Iran, Congo, Benin, Zambia, Comoros and Guinea. Speaking in exercise of the right of reply were the representatives of the United Kingdom, India, Argentina and Pakistan. The Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, 12 October, to resume consideration of the cluster of items on decolonization, and to take action on draft proposals submitted under those items. It will also take up the issue of the University for Peace, during which it would hold an interactive dialogue with the Rector of the University. Background The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this afternoon to continue its general debate on decolonization issues. (Reports before the Committee are summarized in Press Release GA/SPD/422 .) Statements KAIRE M. MBUENDE (Namibia ), speaking on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), expressed regret that despite all the calls for the full implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories remained on the Committee’s list, including Western Sahara, the last colony on the African Continent. He said the General Assembly had consistently recognized the inalienable right of the Saharawi people to self-determination and independence and had called for the exercise of that right in accordance with Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) (1960). The continuous occupation of Western Sahara constituted a challenge to the principles of the Charter and the Organization’s authority and credibility. The people of Western Sahara were struggling for self-determination based on the principles of decolonization, promotion of human rights and international law, he said. The African Union had also 2 of 14 maintained that the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara was not negotiable, while the 1975 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice stated that there were no links of territorial sovereignty between Morocco and Western Sahara prior to the Spanish colonization of the Territory. He went on to say that the Security Council had recently sought a solution through a referendum supervised by the United Nations. The African Union had also reiterated its commitment to resolving the question of Western Sahara through negotiation that would provide for self-determination of the people of the Territory. He expressed concern that the position of the parties had not changed since the fourth round of negotiations in March 2008. Direct negotiations between Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Rio de Oro (Frente Polisario) and Morocco were the only way to move the process forward. While he was encouraged by the decline in ceasefire violations, he was alarmed by recent statements from Morocco threatening human rights defenders who had visited the area, as well as by reports of human rights violations perpetrated on the Saharawi people.
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