A/71/PV.53 General Assembly

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2016 — Session 71, Meeting 53 — New York — UN Document ↗

The meeting was called to order at 3.10 p.m.
Vote: A/RES/71/92 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (166)
Vote: A/RES/71/97 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (165)
Vote: A/RES/71/93 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (167)
Vote: A/RES/71/99 Recorded Vote
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✗ No (1)
✓ Yes (163)
Vote: A/RES/71/95 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (91)
Vote: A/RES/71/102 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (176)
Vote: A/RES/71/104 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (125)
Vote: A/RES/71/103 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (177)
Vote: A/RES/71/91 Recorded Vote
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✗ No (1)
✓ Yes (167)
Vote: A/RES/71/94 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (165)
Vote: A/RES/71/122 Recorded Vote
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— Abstain (4)
✓ Yes (171)
Vote: A/RES/71/96 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (168)
Vote: A/RES/71/121 Recorded Vote
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— Abstain (2)
✓ Yes (174)
Vote: A/RES/71/98 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (162)

Reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee)

The President #79112
The General Assembly will consider the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) on agenda items 47 to 58, 121 and 135. I request the Rapporteur of the Committee, Mr. Awale Ali Kullane of Somalia,to introduce the reports of the Fourth Committee in one statement. Mr. Kullane (Somalia), Rapporteur of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee): I have the honour to introduce to the General Assembly the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) submitted under agenda items 47 to 58, 121 and 135. The reports, contained in documents A/71/491 to A/70/504, include the texts of draft resolutions and decisions recommended to the Assembly for adoption. For the convenience of delegations, a checklist has been prepared by the Secretariat containing actions taken in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, which is contained in document A/C.4/71/INF/3. During the main part of the seventy-first session of the General Assembly, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee held a total of 23 formal meetings, during the course of which it adopted 35 draft resolutions, 21 of which were adopted without a vote, and two draft decisions without a vote. The first report, submitted under agenda item 47, entitled “Effects of atomic radiation”, is contained in document A/71/491. In the draft resolution contained in paragraph 8 of the report, the General Assembly decides, inter alia, to reaffirm the decision to maintain the present functions and independent role of the Scientific Committee. The Assembly also requests the Secretary- General to provide the Assembly at its seventy-second session with a list of the Member States that have expressed their particular interest in membership in the Committee by September 2017 for consideration. The second report, submitted under agenda item 48, entitled “International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space”, is contained in document A/71/492 and contains one draft resolution in paragraph 9. During its consideration of the agenda item, the Fourth Committee held a number of meetings of the Working Group of the Whole, chaired by the delegation of Canada. In the draft resolution, the Assembly requests the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, the ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the Assembly at its seventy-second session. It also decides to convene a joint panel discussion of the First and the Fourth Committees on possible challenges to space security and sustainability. The third report, submitted under agenda item 49, entitled “United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”, is contained in document A/71/493. The Fourth Committee considered the report of the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (A/71/13), as well as other relevant reports. The Committee adopted four draft resolutions on various aspects of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, one of which asks the Secretary-General to facilitate broad discussion to explore ways and means to ensure that the Agency’s funding is predictable, sufficient and sustained, and to report the conclusion of the consultation to the General Assembly by March 2017 for its consideration. The four draft resolutions are contained in paragraph 18 of the report. The fourth report, submitted under agenda item 50, entitled “Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”, is contained in document A/71/494. The Fourth Committee considered the forty-eighth report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arab Inhabitants of the Occupied Territories (see A/71/352), as well as reports by the Secretary- General. The Fourth Committee proposes for adoption five draft resolutions contained in paragraph 20 of its report. The fifth report, relating to agenda item 51, entitled “Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects”, is contained in document A/71/495. The Fourth Committee heard comprehensive introductory statements by the Under-Secretaries-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support. Many of the issues raised during the comprehensive general debate held under this agenda item will be further considered by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations at its 2017 session, the report of which will be considered by the Fourth Committee in a resumed session in the first half of 2017. The sixth report of the Committee, submitted under item 52 of the agenda, entitled “Comprehensive review of special political missions”, is contained in document A/71/496. In accordance with the draft resolution contained in paragraph 8 of the report, the Assembly requests the Secretary-General to submit to it at its seventy-second session a report on overall policy matters pertaining to special political missions, including efforts towards improving experience and effectiveness, transparency, accountability, geographical representation, gender perspective and women’s equal participation. The seventh report, submitted under item 53 of the agenda, entitled “Questions relating to information”, is contained in document A/71/497. The Fourth Committee considered the report submitted to it by the Committee on Information contained in document A/71/21 and the related report of the Secretary-General contained in document A/71/227. The Committee was briefed by the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information concerning the measures taken by the Department of Public Information to disseminate the message of the United Nations around the world. The Committee also considered a written statement of the Joint Inspection Unit and heard a statement by the Senior Adviser on Information Management and Policy Coordination of the Secretariat of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination. The Fourth Committee adopted draft resolution A, entitled “Information in the service of humanity” without a vote. Operative paragraph 23 of draft resolution B, entitled “United Nations public information policies and activities” was adopted by a recorded vote, while the draft resolution as a whole was adopted without a vote. Both draft resolutions are contained in paragraph 14 of the report. With regard to the cluster of items on the non-self- governing territories and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples — agenda items 54 to 58 — the Fourth Committee considered those five items together. The Committee held a general debate on those issues and heard 102 petitioners on the various non-self- governing territories, as well as the President of French Polynesia, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar and the Vice President of the Government of New Caledonia. For the consideration of those items, the General Assembly has before it the following five reports. With regard to the report submitted under agenda item 54, entitled “Information from Non-Self- Governing Territories transmitted under paragraph Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations”, contained in document A/71/498; the report submitted under agenda item 55, entitled “Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories”, contained in document A/71/499; the report submitted under agenda item 56, entitled “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations”, contained in document A/71/500; and the report submitted under agenda item 57, entitled “Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories”, contained in document A/71/501, the corresponding draft resolutions are contained in paragraph 7 of each of the relevant reports. The report submitted under agenda item 58, entitled “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples” is contained in document A/71/502. Under that item, the Fourth Committee adopted seventeen draft resolutions and a draft decision on issues relating to the implementation of the Declaration and the Non-Self- Governing Territories, as contained in paragraphs 41 and 42 of the report. With regard to item 121, “Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly”, the report containing the proposed programme of work and timetable for the Fourth Committee for the Assembly’s seventy-second session is contained in document A/71/503. The Fourth Committee recommends the draft decision contained in paragraph 5 to the General Assembly for adoption. The need did not arise for the Fourth Committee to take up item 135, “Programme planning”, at this stage, as indicated in the report of the Fourth Committee contained in document A/71/504. Before concluding, I would like to recall the high level of cooperation prevailing in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee. The Committee was able to fulfill the mandate entrusted to it by the the General Assembly and completed its work effectively and constructively within the time allotted by the Assembly. On behalf of the Bureau of the Committee, I would like to express our sincere appreciation to all delegations for their constructive participation in this session. I should like to pay particular tribute to the Chair of the Fourth Committee, Mr. Vladimir Drobnjak of Croatia, whose knowledge and experience in multilateral forums, enhanced by his consummate diplomatic skills, enabled the Fourth Committee to consider in depth all the agenda items allocated to it. The other members of the Bureau of the Fourth Committee with whom I had the pleasure of working — Mr. Hossein Maleki of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Wouter Poels of Belgium and Mr. Juan Antonio Benard Estrada of Guatemala — also contributed greatly to the successful conclusion of the work of the Fourth Committee. I would also like to put on record our appreciation for the able and effective assistance provided by Ms. Christa Giles, the Secretary of the Committee, and her team from the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management. I now have the honour to submit to the General Assembly for its consideration and adoption the draft resolutions and draft decisions recommended by the Special Political and Decolonization Committee in its report in documents A/71/491 to A/71/504.
The President #79113
I thank the Rapporteur of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) for his introduction of the Committee’s reports. 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 reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, which are before the General Assembly today.

58.  Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/502)

Vote: 31/37 Consensus
It was so decided.

49.  United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/493)

Vote: 31/37 Recorded Vote
✓ 167   ✗ 1   9 abs.
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✗ No (1)
✓ Yes (167)

50.  Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories Report of the Special Committee Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/494)

Vote: 31/37 Recorded Vote
✓ 91   ✗ 11   73 abs.
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✓ Yes (91)
The President #79114
Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of vote. Before proceeding further, I wish to consult members about how I intend to proceed to refer to the reports of the Committee. In order to save time, and given that this afternoon the Assembly is taking up only the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), I will only mention the term “the Committee” on the understanding that the formal name of the Committee, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, will be reflected in the official records. As I hear no objection, we shall proceed accordingly. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Fourth Committee have been made clear in the Fourth Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. May I remind members that in accordance with paragraph 7 of decision 34/401, the General Assembly agreed that when the same draft resolution is considered in a Main Committee and in plenary meeting, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its vote only once, that is, either in the Committee or in the plenary meeting, unless that delegation’s vote in plenary meeting is different from its vote in the Committee. May I further remind delegations that, also in accordance with decision 34/401, explanations of vote are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the Fourth Committee, I should like to advise representatives that we are going to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Fourth Committee unless the secretariat is notified to the contrary in advance. That means that, where recorded votes were taken, we will do the same. I should also hope that we will proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Fourth Committee. I would like to draw the attention of members to a note by the Secretariat, entitled “Checklist of reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) to the General Assembly on agenda items 47 to 58, 121 to 135”, which has been circulated, in English only, as document A/C.4/71/ INF/3. The note has been distributed desk to desk in the General Assembly Hall as a reference guide for action on draft resolutions and decisions recommended by the Committee in its reports. In that connection, members will find, in column 4 of the note, the symbols of the draft resolutions and decisions of the Committee, with the corresponding symbols of the reports for action in the plenary meeting in column 2 of the same note. For reports containing multiple recommendations, the draft resolution or decision number is contained in column 3 of the note. For reports containing multiple recommendations, the draft resolution or decision number is contained in column 3 of the note. Furthermore, members are reminded that additional sponsors are no longer accepted now that the draft resolutions and decisions have been adopted by the Committee. Any clarification about sponsorship should be addressed to the Secretary of the Committee. I would also like to remind members that any corrections to the voting intention of delegations after the voting has concluded on a proposal should be made directly to the secretariat at the end of the meeting. I seek the cooperation of members in avoiding any interruptions to our proceedings in that regard.

47.  Effects of atomic radiation Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/491)

The President #79115
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fourth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Vote: 32/413 Consensus
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 71/89).
The President #79116
The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 47.

48.  International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/492)

The President #79117
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Fourth Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Vote: 32/413 Recorded Vote
✓ 166   ✗ 6   6 abs.
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✓ Yes (166)
Vote: 32/413 Recorded Vote
✓ 168   ✗ 6   6 abs.
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✓ Yes (168)
Vote: 31/100 Consensus
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 71/90).
The President #79118
The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of agenda item 48.
The President #79119
The Assembly has before it four draft resolutions recommended by the Fourth Committee in paragraph 18 of its report. We shall now take decisions on draft resolutions I to IV, one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will have the opportunity to explain their vote on any or all of the draft resolutions. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Assistance to Palestine refugees”. A recorded vote has been requested.
Vote: 32/95 Consensus
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution I was adopted by 167 votes to 1, with 9 abstentions (resolution 71/91).
Vote: 31/100 Recorded Vote
✓ 167   ✗ 6   5 abs.
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✓ Yes (167)
Vote: 31/100 Recorded Vote
✓ 165   ✗ 6   7 abs.
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✓ Yes (165)
[Subsequently, the delegations of Comoros and Mongolia informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]
Vote: 31/169 Consensus
The President #79120
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution II, entitled “Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution II was adopted by 166 votes to 6, with 6 abstentions (resolution 71/92).
Vote: 32/95 Recorded Vote
✓ 162   ✗ 7   8 abs.
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✓ Yes (162)
Vote: 32/97 Consensus
[Subsequently, the delegations of Comoros and Mongolia informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]
Vote: 32/95 Recorded Vote
✓ 165   ✗ 7   5 abs.
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✓ Yes (165)
The President #79121
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution III, entitled “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Vote: 32/98 Consensus
Draft resolution III was adopted by 167 votes to 6, with 5 abstentions (resolution 71/93).
[Subsequently, the delegations of Comoros and Mongolia informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]
Vote: 31/169 Recorded Vote
✓ 163   ✗ 1   15 abs.
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✗ No (1)
✓ Yes (163)
The President #79122
I shall now put to the vote draft resolution IV, entitled “Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues”. A recorded vote has been requested.
Vote: 32/99 Consensus
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution IV was adopted by 165 votes to 7, with 5 abstentions (resolution 71/94).
[Subsequently, the delegations of Comoros and Mongolia informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]
Vote: 32/100 Consensus
The President #79123
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 49?
It was so decided.
The President #79124
The Assembly has before it five draft resolutions recommended by the Committee in paragraph 20 of its report. The Assembly will now take decisions on draft resolutions I to V. After all decisions have been taken, representatives will have the opportunity to explain their vote. Draft resolution I is entitled “Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”. A recorded vote has been requested.
Vote: 32/101 Consensus
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution I was adopted by 91 votes to 11, with 73 abstentions (resolution 71/95).
[Subsequently, the delegations of Brazil, Comoros and Mongolia informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]
Vote: 35/94 Consensus
The President #79125
Draft resolution II is entitled “Applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestininan Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution II was adopted by 168 votes to 6, with 6 abstentions (resolution 71/96).
Vote: 33/173 Consensus
[Subsequently, the delegation of Comorosinformed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
The President #79126
Draft resolution III is entitled “Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the occupied Syrian Golan”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Vote: 39/192 Consensus
Draft resolution III was adopted by 165 votes to 6, with 7 abstentions (resolution 71/97).
The President #79127
Draft resolution IV is entitled “Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Vote: 351/97 Consensus
Draft resolution IV was adopted by 162 votes to 7, with 8 abstentions (resolution 71/98).
[Subsequently, the delegation of Ireland informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
The President #79128
Draft resolution V is entitled “The occupied Syrian Golan”. A recorded vote has been requested.
Vote: 40/143 Consensus
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution V was adopted by 163 votes to 1, with 15 abstentions (resolution 71/99).
The President #79129
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 50?
It was so decided.
Vote: 40/144 Recorded Vote
✓ 174   ✗ 3   2 abs.
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— Abstain (2)
✓ Yes (174)

51.  Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/495)

The President #79130
May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Committee contained in document A/71/495?
It was so decided.
The President #79131
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 51.

52.  Comprehensive review of special political missions Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/496)

The President #79132
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. The Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Vote: 37//6/ Recorded Vote
✓ 171   ✗ 5   4 abs.
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— Abstain (4)
✓ Yes (171)
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 71/100).
The President #79133
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 52?
It was so decided.

53.  Questions relating to information Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/497)

The President #79134
The Assembly has before it two draft resolutions recommended by the Committee in paragraph 14 of its report. The Assembly will now take decisions on draft resolutions A and B, one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will have the opportunity to explain their vote on either or both of the draft resolutions. Draft resolution A is entitled “Information in the service of humanity”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution A was adopted (resolution 71/101 A).
The President #79135
Draft resolution B is entitled “United Nations public information policies and activities”. I have been informed that the delegation that requested a separate vote on operative paragraph 23 of draft resolution B in the Committee is not requesting a vote in the plenary. We shall now consider draft resolution B. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution B was adopted (resolution 71/101 B).
The President #79136
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 53?
It was so decided.

54.  Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/498)

The President #79137
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. A recorded vote has been requested. none, with 5 abstentions (resolution 71/102).
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution was adopted by 176 votes to
[Subsequently, the delegation of Guinea informed
the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in
favour.]
The President #79138
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 54?
It was so decided.

55.  Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/499)

The President #79139
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution was adopted by 177 votes to 2, with 2 abstentions (resolution 71/103).
[Subsequently, the delegation of Guinea informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
The President #79140
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 55?
It was so decided.

56.  Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/500)

The President #79141
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution was adopted by 125 votes to none, with 55 abstentions (resolution 71/104).
[Subsequently, the delegation of Guinea informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
The President #79142
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 56?
It was so decided.

57.  Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Noon-Self-Governing Territories Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/501)

The President #79143
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 71/105).
The President #79144
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 57?
It was so decided.
The President #79145
The Assembly has before it 17 draft resolutions recommended by the Committee in paragraph 41 of its report and a draft decision recommended by the Committee in paragraph 42 of the same report. We will now take a decision on draft resolutions I to XVII and on the draft decision, one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will again have the opportunity to explain their vote or position on any or all of the draft resolutions. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Question of Western Sahara”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution I was adopted (resolution 71/106).
The President #79146
Draft resolution II is entitled “Question of Tokelau”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
Draft resolution II was adopted (resolution 71/107).
The President #79147
Draft resolution III is entitled “Question of American Samoa”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution III was adopted (resolution 71/108).
The President #79148
Draft resolution IV is entitled “Question of Anguilla”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution IV was adopted (resolution 71/109).
The President #79149
Draft resolution V is entitled “Question of Bermuda”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution V was adopted (resolution 71/110).
The President #79150
Draft resolution VI is entitled “Question of the British Virgin Islands”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution VI was adopted (resolution 71/111).
The President #79151
Draft resolution VII is entitled “Question of the Cayman Islands”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution VII was adopted (resolution 71/112).
The President #79152
Draft resolution VIII is entitled “Question of Guam”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution VIII was adopted (resolution 71/113).
The President #79153
Draft resolution IX is entitled “Question of Montserrat”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution IX was adopted (resolution 71/114).
The President #79154
Draft resolution X is entitled “Question of Pitcairn”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution X was adopted (resolution 71/115).
The President #79155
Draft resolution XI is entitled “Question of Saint Helena”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution XI was adopted (resolution 71/116).
The President #79156
Draft resolution XII is entitled “Question of the Turks and Caicos Islands”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution XII was adopted (resolution 71/117).
The President #79157
Draft resolution XIII is entitled “Question of the United States Virgin Islands”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution XIII was adopted (resolution 71/118).
The President #79158
Draft resolution XIV is entitled “Question of New Caledonia”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution XIV was adopted (resolution 71/119).
The President #79159
Draft resolution XV is entitled “Question of French Polynesia”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution XV was adopted (resolution 71/120).
The President #79160
Draft resolution XVI is entitled “Dissemination of information on decolonization”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XVI was adopted by 174 votes to 3, with 2 abstentions (resolution 71/121).
The President #79161
Draft resolution XVII is entitled “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples”. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XVII was adopted by 171 votes to 5, with 4 abstentions (resolution 71/122).
The President #79162
We will now take action on the draft decision entitled “Question of Gibraltar”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft decision was adopted (decision 71/521).
The President #79163
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 58?
It was so decided.

121.  Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/503)

The President #79164
The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Committee in paragraph 5 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision, entitled “Proposed programme of work and timetable of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) for the seventy-second session of the General Assembly”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft decision was adopted (decision 71/522).
The President #79165
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 121.

135.  Programme planning Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/71/504)

The President #79166
May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Fourth Committee contained in document A/71/504?
It was so decided.
The President on behalf of General Assembly #79167
The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 135. On behalf of the General Assembly, I would like to thank Mr. Vladimir Drobnjak, Permanent Representative of Croatia to the United Nations and Chair of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), the members of the Bureau and the Secretary of the Committee, as well as representatives, for a job well done. The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of all the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) before it at this meeting. Expression of condolences
The President on behalf of us all #79168
On behalf of us all, I would like to express condolences to the family of Mr. Maboneza Sana, former First Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations, who passed away in a tragic traffic accident on Thursday, 1 December. He was an active member of the delegation in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee). On behalf of all of us, I offer our sympathies to his family, the Government and the people of Rwanda, and all friends and colleagues who have suffered as a result of his passing.
The meeting rose at 4 p.m.