A/39/PV.87 General Assembly

107.  Offers by Member States of study and tl'aining facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories: report of the Secretary-General 1. Mr. INFANTE (Chile), Rapporteur ofthe Fourth Committee (interpretation from Spanish): I have the hon~~r to. pres~nt to the General Assembly for its conSloerattofi SiX reports of the Fourth Committee relating, respectively, to agenda items 18, 103, 104, 105 and 12, 106, and 107. As these reports are self- explanatory, I shall simply point out the key elements in some of the recommendations. 2. The report on agenda item 18 is contained in document A/39/696. Paragraphs 24 to 26 of part I of the report contain 10 draft resolutions, 3 draft consensuses and 1 draft decision, and paragraph 15 of part 11 contains one draft resolution. The recom- mendations of the Fourth Committee relate to the following Territories: the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Tokelau, Pitcairn, S1. Helena, American Samoa, Guam, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman islands, Montserrat, the Turks and Caicos Islands, the United States Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Gibraltar and Western Sahara. 3. Although most of these Territories are small in size and population, are geographically isolated, and have limited resources, the majority of the members of the Fourth Committee reiterated the view that s~al one-w~llchwas not re~amed by t~e ~mplementa- open the way to an era of co-operation based Olvfhe tiOn Committee, namely, duec.t neg~tlabons between confidence that is necessary for the building of the Morocco and the ~~alled Llberat!on Front. Gr~ater Maghreb in the interests C?fall State~fof the 24. That prerequlslt~ to.the hol4mg of a referen- region and for the benefit of their people~~ . dum for self.dt~termm.atlOn, w.hlch h~d already 33. It need hardly be recalled here that the Sahara brought.the OAU to",an Im~~.~~e,.m fact alms ~nly at conflict has so far been a stuIqbling block i~ t~e way hampenng the pr~\,;~ss(",b"'6~'u& ~n June. 1981 and of all the efforts made to ensure the,buddmg of frustrat~s t~e exerCise ollhe malIenable rt~t to self- Maghreb, something which Tunisia ferVently wishes determmatIon of the peoples of the Temtory. to see established as an interdependent~fcomplemen- 25. Concerned to create conditions likely to restore tary and unified entity. In that spirit Tunisia ap- peace to the region and to provide the peoples proved the actions undertaken by the OAU,particu- involved with the possibility offreely expressing their lady the decisions of the Conference of Heads of choice regarding their future, Morocco submitted State or Governmentat its eighteenth and nineteenth draft resolution AlC.4/39/L.14/Rev.l, which pro- ordinary sessions, since it is convinced that these posed, without any prerequisites, that the United could form a favourable framework allowing for Nations take all necessary steps to achieve a cease- progress in the right direction. In·the same spirit, it fire and to organize and carry out a referendum on joined in the consensus that emerged at the thirty- self-determination in the territory. eighth session of the General Assembly. 26. Unfortunately, those who do their best to 34. Moreover, in the hope of making progress thwart the efforts made to enable those peopies to towards a solution ofthe Sahara conflict, Tunisia has express their will freely reacted negatively to that spared no effort to bring the points of view closer imtiative by proposing amendments whose objective together and to create a climate propitious to dia- was to distort that draft resolution. logue and conciliation. In this regard, it had hoped 27. In so doing, they are' merely transferring to the that, as w~s the case last year, the Fourth Committee United Nations the contradictions inherent in the would achle,:e a consensus ~ased o~the t'Y0 te?ttsofa actions of those who ensured that the OAU was no draft resolution fhst s1;1bmltted to It, which, If. there longer able to carry out its mission. Refusing to back h~d been suffiCient time and a stronger will. for manoeuvres desi,ned to deprive the poptilationsof dla~ogue, could have led to the consensus so deeply the Sahara oftheu right to self-determination and to deSIred. divert the United Nations from its true mission, 35. With regard to the draft resolution 'ott Western Morocco withdrew its draft resolution Sahara contained in paragraph 15 of part 1I of AlC.4/39/L.14fRev.l. document Al39/696, the delegation ofTunisia would h honoudr of the parties concerned and with the even- ppeaartCI.eefisUlcosentctelernmeednt 0 the 4isPudte. fSitnhce thedtwto ande ness which must prevail in any solution. That are conVInce 0 e nee 0 ·is the consistent stand of my delegation, for we organize a referendum on self-determination, Gabon believe that it is our responsibility within the United earnestly hopes that the international community Nations both to find formulas to foster agreement will assIst them in bringing this about in the near among the peoples of the great United Nations future. family and to avoid anything which might cause 48. Both within and outside the United Nations it greater discord within that family. is more than ever the moment to seek a compromise 40. It is in that cOlltext that we take our decisions solution which would lead to the best possible about how to vote on the various regional and sub- settlement of the question of Western Sahara, which regional question:.. ""bich are the, subject of draft has lasted far too long. resolutions in this Organization. It is in this way that 49. In this context, Gabon, faithful to its policy of wc. show our interest in regional and sub-regional dialogue, tolerance and peace, will abstain in the vote unity. on the draft resolution on this subject. That absten- tion should be understood to reflect Gabon's contin- 41. That is why we had decided to vote in favour of uing concern for the promotion by peaceful means of draft resolutions A/C.4/39/L.13 and L.14/Rev.l on the search for a J'ust and lasting solution to this the question of Western Sahara submitted to the d I bl fl' Fourth Committee. Those' two texts reaffirmed the ep ora e con ICt. inaliel\able right ofpeoples to self-determination and SO. The PRESIDENT: The Assembly will now independence, which, in this case, could be exercised proceed to take decisions on the various recommen- after a cease-fire, permitting a peaceful, fair referen- dations ofthe Fourth Committee. We turn first to the dum with appropriate international machinery and 10 draft resolutions recommended for adoption in guarantees, freely accepted by the parties concerned paragraph 24 of{'art I ofthe leport [A/39/696]. Draft under the terms of those two draft resolutions. resolution I, entitled "Question of the Cocos (Keel- 42. As. draft reso.lution AlC.4/39/L.14/Rev.l was ing) Islands", was adopted by the Fourth Committee without objection. May I take it that the General unexpectedly withdrawn, the Committee had before Assembly also wishes to adopt it? it only one draft resolution on the question of .11 Western Sahara. My delegation voted in favour of DraJt resolution 1 was adopted (resolution 39/30). draft resolution A/C.4/39lL.13 in the Committee, 51. The PRESIDENT: Draft resolution 11 is enti- convinced that in the circumstances it would be tied "Question of A11)erican Samoa". The Fourth su~ported by nearly all the countries from that Committee adopted this draft resolution without region. However, the results show that more than a objection. May I take it that the General Assembly dozen African countries abstained or did not partici- wishes to do likewise?' pate in the voting; one'even voted against the draft Draft resolution 11 was adopted (resolution 39/31). resolution. . 52. The PRESIDENT: Draft resolution III is enti- 43. In those circumstances, and in order to do tied "Question or Guam". The Fourth Committee nothing which might affect the possibility of finding adopted this draft resolution without objection. May a peaceful solution based on the free consent of all I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the parties direct.:r concemedr a solution which likewise? . /