A/46/PV.48 General Assembly

If there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the report of the Second Committee which is before the Assembly today. It was 90 decided. The PRESIDEN’J’ (interpretation from Arabic): Statements will therefore be limited to explnnat-ions of vote. Th,) poritiane of dologationr regsrdlnq the reconnwndstion of the Second Comitreo hove beon asdo clear in the Coanittoe and are reflected in the relevant off lcial record@. May I remind members that, uuder paragraph 7 of decirion 341401, the Genorsl Aaaembly sgroed that "Whoa the name draft resolution ir conridered in a Main Conmnittee and in plenary meotinq, a delegation rhould, aa far aa possible, eaplain its vote only once, i.e., either in the Conmnittee or in plenary meeting unlers that delegation’s vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Conumittee." May I remind delegations that, also in accordance with General Assembly decision 341401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minute8 and should he made by delegations from their seats. Before we begin to take action on the reconnendation contained in the report of the Second Conwnittes, I should like to inform representatives that we shall proceed to take a decision in the lame manner aa vaa Cane in the Second Committee. The Assembly will now take a decision on the draft resolution contained in paragraph 7 of the report of the Second Comnittee (A/46/645/Add.l1 (Part All. The draft resolution is entitled “International Forum on Health - A Conditionality for Economic Development: Breaking the Cycle rf Poverty and Inequity”. The draft resolution wa8 adopted by the Second Conmnittee without a vote. May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to do the same? -draft resolution wsp adow (resolution 46117). Thnmw (interpretation from Arsbiclr The Assembly haa concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (1) of agenda item '17. ADOPTION OI' THE AGENDA AND ORGANIZATTOR Ot WORK: LETTER rROH THI! CIiAIRMhN OF THE COMMIT-TGR ON CONFERENCEG (A/46/374/A&Y.4) w&w- (interpretation from Arable): As members are awnre, the Aanembly, in paraqrsph 1 of its resolution 401243, decided that no subsidiary organ of the General A~aembly should he permitted to meet at IJnitecl Nations Headquarters durinq a regular session of the Assembly unless explicitly authorired by the Assembly. As indicated in the letter addressed to me by the Chairman of the Coxrnittee on Conferences. the Cotmnittse on Conferences has recommended that the General Assembly authorire the Truat Committee of the United Nations Fund for Namibia to meet at Headquarters during the forty-sixth soaafon of the General Assembly. May I take it that the General Assembly adopts the reconunendatioa of thr! Committee on Conferences? AGENDA XTEM 19 JMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECLARATION ON THt! GRARTING OF INDEPENDENCE TO COLONIAL COUNTRIES AHD PEOPLES (a) REPORT OP THE SPECIAL CGMMXTTER ON THE SITUATION WITH REGARD TO THE IkfPLEMENTATION OF TRE DECLARATION OH THE GRANTING OF INDEPENDENCE TO COLONIAL COUNTRIES AND PEOPLES (A/46/23: A/AC.l09/1056-A1AC.10911063, A/AC.10911064 and Corr.1. A/AC.l09/1065-A/AC.109/1067. A/AC.109/1068 and Corr. 1, A/AC.109/?069-A/AC.109/1071, A/hC.103/1073, A/AC.109/1074 and Corr.1. A/AC.109/1075-A1AC.10911076, A/AC.109/1079 and Corr.1, A/X.109/1062) (b) RRPOKTS O? THE SECRRTARY-CtNtRAL (A/46/569, A/46/593, A/46/634) Thrm (intsrpretat,ioa from Arabic)! Before calling on the f i rat aposker, I rhould like ta propose that tha list of speakers in the debate on thia item be cloned today at 12 noon. If there is no objection, I ahall consider that the Assembly adopts that proposal. ItBfm. m (interpretation from Arabic) t Once again. I should like to ray that as the list of speakera in the debate on thia item is to be closed today, I sak members to pay attention to the deadline and ask those rryreaentstiver uirhing to participate in the debate to inscribe their names on the apeaker’a llat aa soon aa poaaiblo. I now call on the Rapportour of the Special Committee, Mr. Mohamnad Najdat Shaheed of the Syrian Arab Republic. to introduce the Conanittee’s report. &a (Syrian Arab Republic), Rapporteur of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (Special Conunittee of 24): I have the honour to present to the General Assembly for its consideration the report of the Special Committee covering its work during 1991, which is contained in document A/46/23. The report, which relates, titer aim , to agenda item 19, is submitt.ed in accordance with paragraph 12 of General Assembly resolution 45134 of 20 November 1990 on the implementation of the Declaration, by which the Assembly requested the Special Committee to continue to seek suitable means for the immediate and full implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV) in all Territories that have not yet attained independence and to continue to pi.ry special to the rmall Territories, in particular through the dispatch of visiting airsions to those Territories whenever the Special cornnlttea deems it appropriate, and to reconoaend to the General Assembly the most suitable steps to be takoo to anable the populattons of those Territories to exercise their right to relf-determination an8 iaclepew¶ence. (~!~LP~~~~Q~LRQRRQK~QU~~ &?QCi~l.CQQ!lQ~tfQQ Qf 24) During the year, the Special Conmnittee was able to discharge the tasks thur entrusted to it by the Assembly and to submit appropriate reconmnendations on all the item8 referred to it for consideration and report, by meeting between February and August and by holding ertsnsive consultations throughout the year among its members. The Special Conunittee also conducted an Intensive review of ite own approach and methodology in order to organise its work. One of the most significant resulta of that review was the consolidation into a single resolution of 10 resolutions relating to American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Tokelau, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States Virqin Islands, contained in document A/46/23/Part VI. Howevo r , that very consolidated resolution adopted by consensus was unfortunately broken by none other than those who initially proposed it and pressed by various means for its adoption. In the light of the above change, the Special Cossnittee reviewed during the year the implementation of the Declaration relating to the remaining Territories and formulated a series of recommendations with a view to accelerating the pace of decolonisation and to facilitating the poltical, economic, social and educational advancement of the peoples in those Territories. The Special Cosanittee reiterates that it is the responsibility of the administering Powers to create such conditions in those Territories as will enable their peoples to exercise freely and without interference their inalienable right to self-determination and independence. The Special Committee reaffirms that it is ultimately for the people of those Territories to datermine their future political statue in accordance with the relevant provirionr of thm bited Imtionr Chartor sad the Declaration, and calls upon the sdminimterinq Powers to facilitate the proqranner of politics1 education to foeter an awareneal among the people of the poasibilitisa open to them in the exercise of their right to self-determination. In reaffirming that it ir the responsibility of the administering Powers to promote the economic and social development of the Territories, the Specie1 Committee recommend8 that priority should continue to he given to tfle strengthening and diversification of the economy of those Territories. Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide effective means of arcertaininq the situation in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, the Special Committee urges the edministering Powers to cooperate or continue to cooperate by facilitating the dispatch of such missions to the Territories under their administration. ID addition, the report also contains the Special Connnittee’s recommendations regarding the Trust Territory af the Pacific Islands and New Caledonia, and its decisions regarding Pitcairn and St. Helena. As regards the rule of the specialised agencies and other organisations of the United Nations system, the Special Committee requests those agencies and organirations to strengthen measures of support and formulate adequate programmes of asaistaace to the peoples concerned, bearing in mind that such assistance should not only meet their inwDediste needs but also create conditions for development after they have exercised their right to self-determination and independence. In thin connection, the attoation of the specialised agencies and the international institution8 sreociated with the United lationr is drawn t,, the conclurionr and recormnendatioror contained in the report of tha meeting of Governmental Erparta of 18laad Developing Countrier and Donor Count-:UD and Organisationa, hald in Naw York at Unitad Nation6 Haadquartera from 25 to 29 June 1990. Thaw agenciar and inrtitutionm ara urgad, in formulating thair arsirtance progr-6, to take due account of those conclusions and raconwnendationr, and to assist in achieving the objective set out by General Asrambly rerolution 43147 of 22 Novtamber 1989, calling for complete decoloniuation by the yaar 2000. The Conunittae urger the organisationr of the United Nations l yrtem to adhere to the Programne of Action contained in the Declaration (‘1~ Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa, in particular with regard to increared support for the opponents of apartheid. With regard to the economic and social conditions in those Tarritories, the Special Conunittee rubmits reconwnendations specifically relating to activities of foreign economic and other interests which are impading the implementation of the Declaration, and to military activities and arrangements by colonial Powers in Territories under their administration. In formulating its recommendations, special attention was paid to the situation in the small island Territories which suffer handicaps arising from the interplay of many factors, such as thetr size, remoteness, geographical dispersion and other factors. Aa reflected in its topoft, the Bpacial Comrnittoo carried out a number of other taaka l ntruatad to It by the Gonoral Aeeembly in various remolutlons, am well ar those sriring from it.6 own provioua daciaioam relating to the question of publicity to bo givoa to the work of the United Xatioar in the field of decolonisation. In that rmgard, the Cornmltteo again rollersten the importance of the United Nation8 effectinq the widest poaaiblo diasomination of information on decolooiration a8 an io8trumeDt for furthering the purpose6 and principles of the Charter and the Drclaration on the Crantlnq of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, and for mobilising world public opinion in support of the peoples of colonial Territories. Bearing in mind the important role being played by (ID increasing number of Don-governmental organisations in the decolonisation proceae. the Special Cormnittes once again encourages those organisations to continue to disseminate information OD the situation i18 the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories and on the position of the United Natiot3 with regard to deCOlOniZatiOD. During the year, the Conunittee took part in a Dumber of international conferences and meetings convened by intergovernmental organisations. In the light of the constructive results achieve? in that regard and in keeping with related decisions of the Assembly, the Committee decided to continue to maintrfn close contact with the organirations concerned and to participate in conferbnces, seminars and other special meetings dealing with deCOlOniZatiOD, arranged by those organisations, as well as by other United Nations bodies concerned. I should like to draw the attention of members to the proposals outlined in section J of chapter 1, entitled "Future work”. In that l octioa, it ir rtatmd w that, in accordance with the mandato l ntrurtod to it in thm rolevmnt Qmneral Amroably rorolutionr, and subjoct to any furthor dlroctivor which it rray recoivo frorr the Amrombly during itm proront rarmion, the Special Coanittoo intoado during 1992 to purrue ita l ffortm in l oekiag the boat ways and mano for the full inplomoatation of the Declaration in all Torritoriom that have not yet l xorcimod thair right to 8~lf-d@tO~inatiOn and indapondence. Ia particular, tho Coaittoo ~111 keep undo* roviow dovolomatm coacernla9 each Territory, am ~011 am the ccnnpliance by all States, in particular the admlnimter1ng Powerm, with the relevant decimionm and remolutionm of the United Iatioam. On the bamim of that reriew, the Comnittse will continue to mukit conclumionm and recandationm on the l pocific meaaurem aecemmary to achieve the objectivem mot out in the Declaration and the relevant provimioam of the Charter. The Gpecial Comittee will continue to make concrete l ugcjemtionm which could amrimt the Security Council in conmidering appropriate meamurom under the Charter with regard to developmentm in colonial Territoriem that are likely to threaten international peace and l ecurity. The Cornnittee hopes that the proposal contained in that mection will meet with the Aeaembly’m approval in order to enable it to proceed with the effective discharge of the task that remains to be completed. The Special Corrmittee recomneods that the General Amsenbly renew its appeal to the administering Powers concerned to take all aecerssry mtepr for the implementation of the Declaration and the relevant United Nation8 resolutions, in accordance with the freely expressed wishes of the peoples of the remaining Territories. In that connection, the Special Committee, benring in mind the useful results achieved as a consequence of the participation of some of the administering Powers in its work, recommends that the General Assembly again urge the administering Powers to cooperate or continue to cooperate with the Committee in the discharge of its mandate and, in particular, to participate actively in its work relating to the Territoriea under their respective administration. ?urther , bearing ID mind the affirmation by the General Aarembly that. direct participation of the loa-Self-Governing Territorirr in the work of the United Nation6 and the specialised agencies warn an effective means of promoting the progrerr of the peoples An thore Torritoriem, the Special Committee recommends that such participation be encouraged and Increased. The Goners1 Asrembly may alro wish to renew itr appeal to all States. specialired sgenciem and other organisations within the united Nations system to comply with the variour requemts sabrerood to them by the United Nation8 in its resolutions on the quoation of aOcOlODi%atiOD. In the preparation of the proposed progr-, the Acting Chairman of the Special Committee, Ambassador Rfcarao Alarcoo de Queeada of Cuba, held extensive consultstionr throughout the year with all concerned. The arduous work he carried out and the poritive contribution8 he made io this connection are deeply appreciated by all the members of the Special Conunittee. On behalf of the SpecitLl Uomnittee, I comnend the report to the attention of the General Aasembly. Before concluding, permit me to express to alI members of the Special Committee and, in particular, to our Acting Chairman, Ambassador Alarcon de Querada, the two Vice-ChairIMJD, Mr. Sverre J. Berqh Johanaen of Norway, and Mr. Alexander Slaby of Czechoslovakia, and the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Petitions, Information and Assistance, Ambassador Renagi Renagi Lohia of Papua New Guinea, and to the Chairman and Rapporteur of the Subcommittee on Small Territories, my brother, Mr. Ghazi Jomaa of Tunisia, and Mr. Jo86 Acosta-Prsgachan of Venezuela, respectively, my deep gratitude for the cooperation and aupport I have received from them, which has greatly f-acilitated my task as Rapporteur. Tha pR~~P~~ (interpretation from Arabic): I call on the Acting Chairman of the Special Cormnittee, His Prcellency Mr. Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada of Cuba. f41.-..&J.&tW~!_.d~- QWS.ARA ( CUba ) p Acting Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Special Cormnittee of 24 (interpretation from Spanish)! I am honoured to speak on agenda item 19 at the forty-sixth session of the General Assambly in my capacity as Acting Chairman of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. Allow me at the outset to welcome the Pederated Stator of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the United Nations this year. For the Special Committee of 24, which has devoted long hours iu past sessions to considering the colonial situation of those two nationa, it is a source of satisfaction to welcome them today to our midst as independent States and to express the hope that that independence and sovereignty may be strengthened over the years. We are similarly pleased to see the initiation of the settlement plan proposed by the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, following upon the adoption of the correspondiny resolutions by the Security Council. We hope that it will be possible to overcome the initial difficulties that have arisen for the full implementation of the plan and for the deployment of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), so that the Sablraoui people may, in complete freedom, make their own choice about their future political status in the referendum provided for as part of the plan. The caem# to which I how jurt roferrod - aa warn the cam for Wamibla in the recent past and for many other Territoriom in the IK)ro rmoto part - are clear evidence not only of the role the United Ilatlons, erpocially the Special Committee of 24, has played in the advance8 rado in the dacolonlaation process during recent decoder but alro of the vital inportanco of international pressure in moving that process forward, a proc.88 uhich ha8 con8tituted, and continues to constitute, ode of the central endeavour8 of our Organiration since its inception. While it ir a fact that the decolonisation work of the United Nations has contributed to changing the face of the Barth wo should not allow ourselves to fall prey to complacency. Much ha8 been done, but much remain8 to be done. Many nations have acceded to independence during recant decadea, but many others remain under colonial rule. HOXKO, the General Assembly decided, as recently as three years ago, to proclaim the decado of the 1990s as the United Nations Decade for the Elimination of Colonialism. There can be no doubt that the work now before us to eradicate colonial domination is substantially different in most cabes from that which we have undertaken in the past. It must necessarily be more subtle, and in order to be carried to success, it reguires that all of us, including the colonial Powers, not only display a large measure of good will but also exercise our imagination and creative capacity. The majority of Territories remaiaincJ under COlOnial rule are rmsll islands, with limited roaources, territory and population, romoto from the most important traL) routes and vulnerable to the violent forces of nature. In some cases, enclsver are established for bases and military installations which the colonial Powers consider strategic; in other cases, the economic or geopolitical interests of the administering Powers cause them to look with disfavour upon the initiation of a decolonisation process; in still others, in an attempt at cultural transformation - including at times cultural depredation - the colonial Powers have endeavoured to introduce their values, their language and their customs into the Territories they have colonised, with the aim of casting aside the indigenous traditions and characteristics of the inhabitants. All of the foregoing not only complicates the achievement of total decolonization to which this Organisation aspires in conformity with the Charter and the decisions of the Assembly but also makes the organs entrusted with the eradication of colonial domination that much more important. We are not before a situation, as some have suggested, in which colonialism has virtually disappeared and, consequently, the Pourth Committee Iand the Special C,xnmittee of 24 no longer have any d-4 ~tr~ ; the point is not that we should forget those Territories remaining under colonial rule nor that we should give free rein to colonial Powers to shape the destiny of the peoples of those Territories according to their whim. All the decolonization bodies of the United Nations are today more important than ever. The situations they face are more complex than they were in the part rind thera can he no doubt that the efforts that must be made will be even greater. So long am there exists a mingle colonial Territory on Ilarth, those organa will not have fulfilled their mandate, for every colon~sl. territory - however small its rise, meagre itr reaourcea and aparse it8 population enjoys the aarne right before the international corrmunity fully to exercise its right to *elf-drterninatlon and independence without hindrance. Only when the lart of theme Torritoriom ham exercised thst right will we be entitled to say that the work of decolonisation has been completed and that the bodier entrusted with that task in the United nations have becofne obsolete. The Chsrter of the United ffstions, which should uerve aA our guide in this task, addresses iteelf clearly to those Members of our Organiratlon that administer colonial Territories and urges them to recognise the principle that the Interests of the inhabitants of these Territories are paramount. Hence, the role of the administering Powers and the cooperation they are called upon to extend to the Special Comnittee entrustad with the implementation of the Declaration are of fundamental importance. We congratulate those Powers which through their cooperation have contributed to the work of the Special Committee and we urge those others that still do not cooperate to do uo as SOOQ as possible. We believe that if they wish to me6 the disappearance of the Special Committee and the other decolontzstioo bodies of the United Nations, the best way to achieve that goal Ls not by trying to weaken or destroy them by procedural or rhetorical means or through a restructuring process but by working hand in hand with other Members of the United Netions for thP actual disappearance of the phenomenon that gave rise to them initially and that ramsins the solid basis for their continued existence - namely, colonialism. As part of its future prograrrme of work, the Special Convnittee intendo to continue striving to extend the system of dissemination of information both global ly and regionally. and to the extent possible to continue forging closer links with the inhabitants of colonial Territories. Thus, it foresees the continuation of its progranrse of seminars both at and outside Headquarters; theso seminar@ make it porsiblo to establish rolationr botwoon representatives of colonial Territories and Member States, specialised agencies and non-governmental organisations, giving rise to more fluid communication, as has been shown by the experience gained from the Vanuatu and Barbados seminars. Similarly, it will continue working with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations in order to facilitate the inclusion of progranunes relating to decolonisation in the work of that Department. The dispatch of visiting missions to colonial Territories is also of fundamental importance to the work of the Special Committee. We hope that the cooperation extended by some Powers to those missions will continue and will be expanded and that in future we may rely on the cooperation of the other Powers. If in fact the aim of those Powers is to guarantee the well-being of the inhabitants of the Territories, we hope that they will realize that the best way to achieve this is not by looking upon the Special Committee as an adversary but by working together with the Special Committee towards the achievement of a common goal. In that regard, we hope that the dispatch of visiting missions, which facilitates the WOK> of the Special Committee in making recommendations for action, will be expanded in the immediate future. (t4r. hlarcva do Quosadea hctkw Chairman, Special Cvnlttoo of 24) The efforts the Special Cormnittee has ma&a in the course of this year to enhance its efficiency are noteworthy, In this regard, it Croat.ed a Workinq Group which formulated a series of recotrxnendetions, which were sdopted by all member8 of the body, that not only simplified its structure but also ita decision-making proceaa. In the light of this revitalisation process, we believe that the Special Cormnittee is in a position to continue its work with renewed efficiency, golng moxe deeply Into its reconxnendations concerning each of the Territories, aa well as with regard to military activities and economic interests which are impeding the decolonisation process, the role of the specialised agencies and those aspects of apartheid and ita consequences that have constituted a traditional part of its uork. I should now like to make a few personal comments. During this year, in my capacity ad Acting Chairman of the Special Committee, I have been able to rely on the full cooperation of my colleagues in the Committee and the staff of the Secretariat assisting us in our work. I wish to express my appreciation to them, particu:Jrly to Mr. Bergh Johansen of Norway and Mr. Alexander Slaby of Czechoslovakia, our two Vice-Chairmen, and to Mr. Mohammad Najdat Shaheed of the Syrian Arab Republic, who has served as Rapporteur. Likewise, I sxtend my appreciation to the other members of the Bureau of the Special Committee. X also wish to express thanks for the role played by my collr*ague Ambassador Renaqi Lohia of Papua New Guinea, who was entrusted with the chairmanship of the Working Group on the revitalisation of our Special Committee. It has been an honour for me to work with them in situations that have sometimes been complex, and I have been able at every stage to rely on their cooperation and understanding. I am alno grntotul for the Intoroat rhown la our work by the Secretary-Oenersl, Ur. Javier Pore8 do Cuellar, and the Under-Secretary-Goner al for the Departxnent for Special Political Quertionr, Pe9ionsl Cooperation, Decolonisation and Trusteeship, Mr. Jamor Jonah. Allow me to pay a tribute through then to the staff of the Sacrotariat for their coortant cooperation throughout the year. Decolonisation has been one of the fundamental responsibilities of the united Nation8 since it8 establishment. and it remain6 80, aspecially because of the asristance it can provide to the colonial peoples in exercising their inalienable right to self-determination and independence. The adoption of resolution 43141 of 22 November 1988, through which the General Assembly proclaimed the United Nationa Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, gave practical erpre~~sion to the determination of the international conununity to put an end to this practice once and for all. It is our hope that nov, at the present session, on the basis of the decisions to that end taken by the Hovement of Non-Aligned Countries at its recent ministerial conference at hccra, Ghana, we shall at last be able to adopt a plan of action for the Decade. We hope that in that way the high priority the General Assembly has conferred on decolonization will be maintained, and that all the cooperation the Special Cofmnittee needs for the complete fulfilment of its functions will be provided.

The Assemb1.y will now begin the general debate on this agenda item. &l-n (Syrian Arab Republic) (interpretation from Arabic)! It is true that the world aa 8 whole now lives in a period of profound change. However, the provisions of General Arsembly resolution 1514 (XV) have not. changed. The peopler of colonial countrisa who do not enjoy self-government and who look for a United Nations significant and effective role, do not doubt for one second that the international organisation has been and will always he the international forum that enforces the rightm of peoples t3 self-determination, freedom and an end to all forms and formulas of occupation, oppression and injustice. More than thirty years have pasred since the adoption of the historic General Assembly resolution 1514 (XV), which is viewed rightly as an important milestone in the history of the United Nations a8 it has led to great progress in discharging the difficult and painful task of decolonitation. Notwithstanding this achievement, there the fact remains that a large numb@; of territories still languishes under the yoke of colonial domination, and that the peoples of those territories are deprived of the possibility of exorcising their inalienable rights to self-determination and independence, as stipulated in the resolution. The changes in international relations have had no positive effect so far un the remaining colonial and Non-Self-Governing Territories. Despite these changes, some administering Powers are not cooperating with the Special Committee. In many cases, the information transmitted by those administering Powera to the Secretary-General in accordance with Article 73 of the Charter is out of date. For yeara, most of the administrative Powers have not been permitting the visiting missions to enter the Territories, and not all the administering Powers enable the representatives of the governments of the Territories and other representatives of the peoples of the colonial territories to oxpresa their views to the Special Comittse, and to other concerned bodies of the United Nationr. There is nothinq new in one streslinq the fact that, in order for the decolonisation procers to reach a euccssaful conclusion, it is necessary, AS has been reaffirmed repeatedly by the General Assembly, firrt of all, that the &ministering Powers and the representativor of thoee territories should participate in the activities of the relevant United Nations bodiea. Secondly, it is necessary to dispatch visiting miaaiona to thore territories to assess the situation properly and to ascertain at first hand the real aspirations of the peoples of those territorier. Thirdly, it is necessary to ensure the participation of the United Nations in the relf-determination processes when they take place in those territories, aa far as their future status is concerned. There is also nothing new in stating that the presence of foreign economic, military and other interests in the colonial countries and territories represents, above all, an obstacle that impedes implementation of the Declaration. It is a well-known fact that one of the major objectivea of colonialism is for the colonial Powers to reap economic, military and other benefits. It does not stand to reason that the activities that aim at reaping such benefits should be in the interest of the colonial peoples. The proof of t-his is that the economic structures in the colonial countries are predominantly aimed at extracting natural resources that serve the purposes of industry in the industrialized countries and their trading partners. If this was not the case, then what was the point of colonising those territories in the first place and keeping many of them under colonial domioalion to this day7 This is made abundantly clear by the fact that those, colonial countrioa and territories are - io moot caaea - under the hegemony of cspitsls which, sometimes, are thousands of kilometres away and which do not share any of the colonial countries’ cultural or ethnic characteristics. The colonial Powers have entrenched themaelvea in colonial territories by plundering those territories and exploiting them aa a cheap source of rau materials and manpower and, thereby, making huge profits for themselves. However, the matter is not limited to this aspect. It is a well-known fact that the military uses of those territories exceed - in most caaea - the economic benefits. In this connection, we reiterate our porition, which is that colonial territories should not be used for military activitier or purposes, and we repeat the appeal in relevant resolutions of the Cenrrral Assembly, that all military activities in the colonial territories should cease unconditionally and that all military bases and installation8 be withdrawn completely from those territories. We also call upon the colonial Powers not to uae th e territories which are under their domination in any manner that would be against the interests of their peoples - such as tests and the dumping of nuclear wastes. The United Uations ban adopted several rerolutionr which have condemned the economic, military and other activities of the colonial Porerr in those territories and called for putting an end to thoro activities, for the resources which are being plundered by the colonial Powerr belong to the peopler of those territorier. The Committee of 24 and the Special Committee Against Apartheid have establirhed a cooperative relstionrhip aimed at eliminating the last vestiges of colonialirn, apartheid and rat ism. Hence, it ia no rurprire that these two Conwnitteer stand together in their comnon endeavour to promote the cause of the people of South Africa, especially since that cause relater slso to that people’s right to self-determination. In exercising this right, the people of South Africa will be able to decide freely its political future 81 provided for in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. All peoples have a basic inalienable right to self-determination. This was consecrated in the Declaration on decolonization in 1960. Moreover, the United Nations Charter provides in Article 1, paragraph 2 that second among the purposes and principles of thia international Organiration is respect for the principle of equal rights of peoples and the right of every people to self-determination. Failure by some States to respect the rights of peoples who struggle against colonialism, racism and apartheid can create dangerous hotbeds of tension in the world and make it possible to violate human rights and trample fundamental freedoms on a large scale, as is happening in the occupied Arab territories and South Africa. There is no doubt that whon this natural human right is denied, it meaua a return to the colonial era, when entire peoples and countries wmro deprived of this right and the colonial Powrs manipulated the geographies and dertiaiom of those pooplor et will. My country, Syria, ham l tood and continuer to atand by the colonisl peoples in their just rtruqgle for melt-determination and independence. Since the beginning, Syris ham boon a full-fledgod mombor of the Special Committee on the Status of the Implementation of the Doclarntion on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peopler. In thir capacity, it has contributed directly to the independence of nwnoroum States. As is evident from document A/46/517, Syria ia 0x10 of the 44 Stat.8 that offered the grantiag of scholarships to inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Tarritoriss, in response to General Assembly resolution 845 (IX) adopted in 1954. Ws shall persist in our efforts, side by aide with the entire international conrnunity, to conclude the decolonisation process. This will require the international cormnunity to intensify its efforts to assist non-self-governing and colonial countries to proceed in their march towards self-determination and independents. Thus we would be discharging that part of our task which we have not carried out yet. Hr. w (Viet Naml f The Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (resolution 1514 (XV)), adopted by the General Assembly on 14 December 1960, at its fifteenth session, has been one of the greatest achievements in the history of the Organisation. It signified the realisation by the world community of the legitimate rights to independence and freedom of millions and millions of people who at that time were still subjected to colonialist rule and of their right to live in (L-XvanLsnP.-N?) dignity. The adoptioo of that hirtoric document wa8 aloo a breakthrough in the decoloniration efforts of the United Mations and a cornerstone in the process of decolonisation, which afterward8 l rperioncod an unprecedented upsurge. Over a hundred former colonial nation8 regained independence and became Member8 of our Qrganiration. In no area ha8 the United Mationr recorded greator auccoae since coming into existonce than ia the area of decoloairatloa. At itr forty-third session, in 1988, the General Aarembly adopted resolutcon 43147, procleiming the 1990~ the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. This wae both timely and appropriate. Last yeerr in conwnemorstion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence tc Colonial Countries and Peoples, the General Assembly adopted resolution 45134, requesting the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples to continue to examine the full compliance by all States with resolution 1514 (XV) and the other relevant resolutions on the question of decolonitation. This was a very significant step taken by the United Nations towards ensuring the complete eradication of colonialism by the end of this century, aa envisaged in those resolutions. Throughout the pant 46 years, since the end of the Second World War, we have witnessed a powerful movement against colonialism and for national liberation sweeping over the entire world, ri..Ltna victory after victory through armed or peaceful means. The wonderful achievements of this movement are a clear manifestation of the irresistible and irreversible trend towards the independence and freedom of all nations, irrespective of their area, tk4rainA&.Iusalcma,.-Yl Barn) population or national reaourcom. Thm •UCCOSIIO~ of thin nslloaal llhorstlon movemoat have greatly contributed to the ro8toration and l nhancoment of the valuer of mankind and urhmrod in an or@ of peace, fremdoa and prorperity, an era from which colonialdst oppresrioo and exploitation have been banimhsd for ever. Nowevo r , today there are still 18 Non-Self-Governing Terrltoriea that have not yet had the opportunity to exercise their rights to self-datsrmination and independence. Colonialism has not yet boon abolished. Nowadays, under the close scrutiny of the poop10 of the world, colonialist domination and exploitation ard being cleverly dirguired in the subtlort of forms. As a re8ult, millions of people are still suffering under the colonial yoke in different forma and to varying degrees in their wry homelands. On the road to achieving decolonisation, as aet out in resolution 43147. the international community is still faced with many challenges. The decoloni8ation prOCO88 ha8 now entered a new and complex period in which more effective cooperation among countries and qreater effort8 by the United Nation8 are needed. The majority of the remaining Ron-Self-Governing Territories are remote islands small in aroa and population and poor in resources. The bal ante created over centuries in the use of the natural resources of these Territories is very fragile and 9aSily upset. We note with concern that the administering Powers continue to deny the colonial nature of the Territories under their administration. Indeed, many of their activities have not helped create the political and economic conditions necessary for the people in those Territories to speed up the process of self-determination. The indigenous people receive iaadeguate education. Their exclusion from the administrative and economic system8 is another way in which colonial Powers perpetuate their domination. Although not all foreign economic activities in the Territories have negative effects upon the indigenous people, most of those activities are by nature aa exploitation of raw materials and cheap human labour. This creates a situation of economic over-dependence of these Territories upon the administering Pobers. The most serious intrusion into the system of vital values of the Territories is the military activities of the administering Powers. Those Powers are using the Territories as military bases and/or testing grounds for new wespons which endanger the lives and health of the inhabitants and threaten the security and stability of the neighbouring countries. Moreover, Certain administering Powers show a lack of cooperation with the Special Committee on decolonisation by failing to submit information under Article 73 e of the Charter and refusing to allow the latter’s visiting missions to carry out their tasks. All the above-mentioned activities of tha adminietetring Powers impede the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories from exercising their right to self-determination. On the basis of the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter, in the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countriea and Peoples and in a number of resolutions of the General Assembly, factors related to territorial sire, geographical location, population or scant natural resources should in no way prevent thoae peoples from exercising their inalienable right to self-determination and indepsndancs. The choice must be made through the free expression of the will of the people. The administering Powers are obliged to create the necessary conditions to enable the peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories to gain economic and political independence through gradual political transformation, giving high L riority to their fair and unbiased education. Indigenous peoples should also be given the opportunity to assume greator responsibilities in the management of their own affairs. The administering Powers should halt forthwith their exploitation of human 1 abour , preservs the environment of the Territories and avoid the depletion of their natural resources. They must dismantle their military bases and commit themselves to not using the Territories for the deployment or testing of weapons of mast3 destruction or of any arms that may endanger the lives and health of people in the region. Administering Powers must closely cooperate with the Special Committee and actively comply with all demands of the United Nations. The Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Ham firmly holds the view that the inhuman and abhorrent system of apartheid in South Africa and (MC, Tchh XIUBID hsng, Vlst Nttm) the continued occupation of Palestinian and other Arab territories by fsrasl are undenlable manifoststinns of colonislism in its crudest form. Apartheid in South Africa originatss from colonialism, since it ensures the political domination and economic exploitation of ths native msjorlty by the elion minority. For over four decadon, the agenda item on apartheid has occupied the attention of the United Nations. Many resolutions adopted by the General Assembly have explicitly affirmed that the system of apartheid imposed on the South African people constitutes 8 gross violation of their fundamental rights and a crime against h-manity. On 14 December 1989, the Declaration on Apartheid and its Destructive Consequences in Southern Africa wns adopted by consensus, clearly expressing the strong will of the international community to abolish that evil. Since then, considerable progress towards that objective has been recorded. However, the foundations of apartheid in South Africa have not yet been completely eliminated. The South African people are still a long way from that final destination. It is still premature, therefore, to think that pressure on the Pretoria regime should be eased. The world conmuuity must remain vigilant until all the conditions stipulated in the United Nations Declaration on Apartheid are met and the South African people really achieve their fundamental rights. The people of Viet Nam fully support the convening of an international peace conference on the Middle East. We firmly believe that any settlement of the problems in that region must be based on Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973). Recognition of the legitimate national tighta of the Palestinian people. first and foremost their right to self-determination and the establishment of their own independent State, is a prerequisite for thP arhievement of decolonizntion in that part of the world. The question of Western Sahara in another decoloniaa~i~~n issue. It remain? to be resolved in such a way aIc to respect ;te inhabit.nnts’ inalienabl* riqht to aelf-determination. In this collnection, we fully supjx~rt the Secretary-General’s plan, now under way, towarda II defini1.ive solut ion to this issue. Viet Nam is also honoured t-o have bsen one of the aponsorn of draft resolution MC.41461L.2 on Wentsrn Sahara, which was recently adopted by consensus jn the Special Political Comnlttee. Since the signing of its Charter, and more particularly since the adoption i.. 1960 of the Declaration on the Grant.ing of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, the United Nations has made tremendous contributions to the magnificent achievements of the decolonization process. The Special Committee on decolonisation has played a very important role in keeping tha situation in colonial Territories under continuous scrutiny and in bringing about a concerted approach to decolonization in this international forum. The Committee has not only discharged the task of reporting on the implementation of the Declaration but also suggested effective measures to achieve its goal and mobilized international support for and assistance to the peoples still subjected to colonialism. We highly value and appreciate the important contributions of the United Nations and its Special Committee CJn decolonization for their untiring effor s to achieve the noble objective of decolonization. Our vorld has only eight years before the ushering in of the twenty-first century. But much work remains to be done before we can declare that colonialism has been forever abolished from our planet. To that end the United Nations should redouble its efforts, and its Member States - especially the administering Powers and other States concerned - should fully comply with this Organization’s relevant resolutions and Declaration. (-Tr~m..-LAQ~~YlLf~.Lm) The Yiotnameme people. rho thonmolvom muffored tremendoumly from t.he colonialist yoke for nearly a century, have through tholr valiant fight for 1 ndependence and f reedon: aade a worthy contribution to the process of decolonisation in tho world. Prom thlm podium ue would like once again to reaffirm our people’e mtrong determination conmlmtently and vigorously to support the peoples in Non-Solf-Goveraiag Terrltoriem am well am the people in South Africa, in the occupied Arab lands, in Uemtern Sahara and elsewhere, in their just struggle for self-determination and independence. Viet Ham stands ready to make any suitable contribution towarda the attainment of our common objective, that of writing the final chapter in the history of decolonization in this decade. IO this connection, I would like to inform you that the delegation of Viet N&n deems it a great honour to co-sponsor the draft resolution (A1461L.22) on the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, which will be submitted to this forum today. We firmly believe that this draft resolution, being fully in line with the United Nations Charter and the Declaration OD the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, will enjoy the strong support of all Member States of our community. Hr. SIU (Yugoslavia): In the past years, we have witnessed important achievementa in the field of decolonisation, in particular in the case of Namibia. The question of Western Sahara has entered a decisive stage and the United NatioDn is already actively engaged in the preparations for the referendum for self-determination by the people of Western Sahara. There have been encouraging developments with respect to the Halvinas Islands as well, and ve consider that negotiations between Argentina and the United Kingdom will result in a just solution. Admittedly, the United Nations and the international coruxunity will have l ome ray to 90 beforo achioviap the 9081 of univorrsl implommtatioa of the Declarstion on docolonimetion. The fact that the lirt of the remaining Ron-Bolf-Governing Torritoriea containa mainly amall ialsnda in the Pacific and the Caribbean door not make this obligation on the part of the United Ration8 any lera important. Tho experience we have gained reinforcea our conviction that the role of the United Rationa in the procean of decoloniration is of paramount importance. Time haa also proved that, 9ivon the political will and mutual cooperation of all concerned, colonial problems can be settled peacefully. As in other aroam of international life, dialogue and cooporation in the field of decolooiration is the proper avenue to pursue if we are to enaure that the peoples of the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories are enabled to express freely their will and enjoy the right to ralf-determination. In order to make our contribution more viable, we should seek to reach a consensun among ourselves on the resolutions and decisions taken by the United Nations General Assembly. In doing ao, we should make them binding on all and enaure their full implementation. Some results in that regard have already been achieved in the work of the Connittee of 24 and the Fourth Comnittee this year. However, more needs to be done, and both Committees should deal with these questions in a more innovative manner and in a spirit of cooperation. In that context, closer links and cooperation between the Conxnittee of 24 and the administering Povers are essential. Dn the Initiative of the Movement of Non-Aliyned Countries, the General Assembly has declared thr period 1990-2000 a6 the Internationsl Decade for the trndication of Colonialism. We are gratified to see that in his report (A/46/634) the Secretary-General has submitted the proposals for a plan of action for the implementation of the Decade aimed at usherlag in the twenty-firat century a world free from colonlslism. We commend the Secretary-General for hir efforts, which prove once agsin his peroonal dedication to the cauae of decolonisation. In that regard, I am honoured and privileged to present to the General Assembly, on behalf of many non.-aligned countries, draft resolution Al46lL.22 entitled *‘International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism” for consideration and adoption. We have just submitted the text to the Secretariat and we understand it will be publirrhed tomorrow. Since it has aome financial implications and will take some time to be proceaaed, the General Assembly will take action on this draft in due time. Non-aligned countries have worked tirelessly to make this initiative bear fruit. The Ninth Conference of Heads of State or Governments of Non-Aligned Countries set up a Working Group with the task of helping carry out a United Nations plan of action for the implementation of the Decade. The group focused its activities at this stage on assisting tha Secretary-General in preparing the plan of action and presented a number of ideas and suggestions that had bean adopted and endoraed by the Tenth Conference of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Non-Aligned Countriea at Accra, Ghana, in September 1991. From the beginning, non-aligned countries had in mind that the plan of action rhould bo foraulatmd La such a way as to enjoy the widest poreiblo support of all Btator Wmborr of the Unitad Uatioar, while preserving tire principles and positions of non-aligned couatrler regarding decolonisation. By adopting the draft rexolutioa bePore it, the General Asxambly would at the same time adopt the proposalr reflected in the annex to the Secretary-General’s report of 12 November 1991 (A/46/634) to serve as a plan of action for the Decade. It would also declare that the ultimate goal of the Decedo is the free exercise of the right to self-determination by the people of each and every remaining Non-Self-Governing Territory, which should be carried out freely axa without outside ptesaure, and with an appropriate role for the United Nations. On behalf of the sponsors of the draft resolution, I invite all Member States to support it. I would also like to urge all Member States, the whole United Nations system, other governmental and non-governmental otganizations, to actively support and participate in the implementation of the plan of action, thereby bringing the United Nations even closet to complete universality and ensuring that the anachronism of colonialism is relegated to history before the dawn of the twenty-first century. PROGRAMME OF WORK The PRESIDERI (interpretation from Arabic): We shall continue discussion on the item tomorrow morning. I have been informed that four draft resolutions have been submitted for action by the General Assembly under this item. In order to allow for sufficient time for the consideration of the relevant programme budget impiications, the Assembly will take action on these draft resolutions in approximately a fortniyht, at a time to be announced in yurthormore, the ropertr of the Fourth Conmitt.., Provioualy rcheduled for tomow w0 will a o be aonridmred in two WOOLI’ time. I rhould like to inform memberr that on Wednesday, 20 tJovomber in the afternoon, the Assembly will coaeidet agenda item 24, “The Situation in Cambodia** and, ar already announced, agenda item 18 (g), “Appointment of Memborr of the Joint Iorpection Unit”.