A/73/PV.48 General Assembly

Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 — Session 73, Meeting 48 — New York — UN Document ↗

The meeting was called to order at 10.05 a.m.
Vote: A/RES/73/98 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (154)
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Vote: A/RES/73/97 Recorded Vote
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— Abstain (84)
✓ Yes (78)
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✓ Yes (149)
Vote: A/RES/73/94 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (159)
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— Abstain (3)
✓ Yes (172)
Vote: A/RES/73/95 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (156)
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✓ Yes (175)
Vote: A/RES/73/93 Recorded Vote
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✓ Yes (155)

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

The President [Spanish] #85861
The General Assembly will now consider the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) on agenda items 51 to 63, 123 and 137. I request the Rapporteur of the Committee, Mr. Luis Mauricio Arancibia Fernández of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, to introduce the reports of the Fourth Committee in one statement.
Mr. Arancibia Fernández BOL Plurinational State of Bolivia [Spanish] #85862
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 51 to 63, 123 and 137. Those reports, contained in documents A/73/470 to A/73/476, A/73/521, A/73/523 to A/73/526 and A/73/532 to A/73/534, 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 showing actions taken in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee, which is contained in A/C.4/73/INF/3. During the main part of the seventy-third session, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee held a total of 28 formal meetings, during the course of which it adopted 36 draft resolutions and four draft decisions, including its programmes of work for the seventy-third and seventy-fourth sessions. The first report, submitted under agenda item 51, entitled “University for Peace”, is contained in document A/73/470. The draft resolution submitted under this agenda item is contained in paragraph 8 of the report. The second report, submitted under agenda item 52, entitled “Effects of atomic radiation”, is contained in document A/73/521. In the draft resolution contained in paragraph 11 of the report, the General Assembly adopts, among other things, a procedure for possible further increases in the membership of the Scientific Committee. The General Assembly also welcomes the establishment of an ad hoc working group to assist the Scientific Committee in developing its future programme of work for the period 2020-2024. The third report, submitted under agenda item 53, entitled “International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space”, is contained in document A/73/471 and contains one draft resolution in paragraph 12. It is worth noting that there is a minor error in paragraph 23, which currently reads: “and notes with appreciation that the International Committee will hold its thirteenth meeting in Xi’an, China, from 4 to 9 November 2018”. It should read: “and notes with appreciation that the International Committee held its thirteenth meeting in Xi’an, China, from 4 to 9 November 2018”. In the draft decision contained in paragraph 13 of the report, the General Assembly appoints five Member States as members of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. In the draft resolution, the General Assembly requests the Committee to continue to consider, as a matter of priority, ways and means of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes and to report thereon to the Assembly at its seventy- fourth session. During its consideration of the item, the Fourth Committee held a number of meetings of the Working Group of the Whole, chaired by the delegation of Mexico. The fourth report, submitted under agenda item 54, entitled “United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”, is contained in document A/73/523. 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 (UNRWA) (A/73/13), as well as other relevant reports. The Committee adopted four draft resolutions related to various aspects of the work of UNRWA, as contained in paragraph 16 of the report. The fifth report, submitted under agenda item 55, 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/73/524. The Fourth Committee considered the fiftieth report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (see A/73/499), as well as other reports of the Secretary- General. The Fourth Committee proposes for adoption five draft resolutions, contained in paragraph 18 of its report. The sixth report, relating to agenda item 56, entitled “Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects”, is contained in document A/73/525. The Fourth Committee heard introductory statements by the Under- Secretaries-General for Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support. Many of the issues raised during the general debate held under this item will be further considered by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations at its 2019 session, the report of which will be considered by the Fourth Committee in a resumed session in the first half of 2019. The seventh report of the Committee, relating to item 57, entitled “Comprehensive review of special political missions”, is contained in document A/73/526. In the draft resolution contained in paragraph 9 of the report, the Assembly requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-fourth session a report on overall policy matters pertaining to special political missions, including efforts towards improving transparency, accountability, gender perspective and youth participation. The eighth report, submitted under agenda item 58, entitled “Questions relating to information”, is contained in document A/73/472. The Fourth Committee considered the report submitted by the Committee on Information (A/73/21) and the related report of the Secretary-General (A/73/288), and was briefed by the Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications about the efforts being made by the Department of Public Information to promote the United Nations message around the world. The Fourth Committee adopted draft resolution A, entitled “Information in the service of humanity”, and draft resolution B, entitled “United Nations public information policies and activities”. Both draft resolutions are contained in paragraph 9 of the report. With regard to the cluster of items on non-self- governing territories and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples — agenda items 59 to 63 — the Fourth Committee considered those five items together, holding a joint general debate on the cluster of items and hearing 114 petitioners on the various Non-Self- Governing Territories, as well as the President of French Polynesia, the President of the Government of New Caledonia and the Deputy Chief Minister of Gibraltar. Under those items, the General Assembly has before it the following five reports: the report submitted under agenda item 59, entitled “Information from Non-Self- Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations”, contained in document A/73/473; the report submitted under agenda item 60, entitled “Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self- Governing Territories”, contained in document A/73/474; the report submitted under agenda item 61, 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/73/475; the report submitted under agenda item 62, entitled “Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self- Governing Territories”, contained in document A/73/476; and the report submitted under agenda item 63, entitled “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples”, contained in document A/73/532. Under that item, the Fourth Committee adopted a number of draft resolutions and a draft decision on matters related to the implementation of the Declaration and the Non-Self- Governing Territories, as contained in paragraphs 45 and 46 of the report. With regard to item 123, “Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly”, the draft decision containing the proposed programme of work and timetable for the Fourth Committee for the Assembly’s seventy-fourth session is contained in document A/73/533. The Fourth Committee recommends the draft decision to the General Assembly for adoption. The need did not arise for the Committee to take up item 137, “Programme planning”, at this stage, as indicated in the report of the Committee contained in document A/73/534. I 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 (Fourth Committee) in its reports contained in documents A/73/470 to A/73/476, A/73/521, A/73/523 to A/73/526 and A/73/532 to A/73/534. Before concluding, I would like to recall the high level of cooperation that prevails in the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee). The Committee was able to fulfil the mandate entrusted to it by the Assembly and to effectively and constructively complete its work within the time allotted by the Assembly. I should like to express, on behalf of the Bureau of the Committee, our sincere appreciation to all delegations for their constructive participation during this session. I should like to pay particular tribute to the Chair of the Fourth Committee, His Excellency Mr. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., of Liberia, whose knowledge and experience, enhanced by his consummate diplomatic skills, enabled the Committee to consider in depth all the agenda items allocated to it. The other members of the Bureau, my personal friends Mr. Faisal Nasser Alhakbani of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Daniel Goldea of Hungary and Mr. Michael O’Toole of Ireland, with whom I had the pleasure of working, also contributed greatly to the successful conclusion of the work of the Committee. I should also like to place on record our appreciation for the able and effective assistance provided by the Department of Political Affairs and the Disarmament and Peace Affairs Branch of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management, which served as the secretariat of the Committee.

63.  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/73/532)

Vote: 31/37 Consensus
The President [Spanish] #85863
I thank the Rapporteur of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee). The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. Therefore, 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 (Fourth Committee) that are before the Assembly today.

54.  United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/523)

Vote: 31/37 Recorded Vote
✓ 163   ✗ 2   13 abs.
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✓ Yes (163)

55.  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 Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/524)

Vote: 31/37 Recorded Vote
✓ 78   ✗ 10   84 abs.
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— Abstain (84)
✓ Yes (78)
It was so decided.
The President [Spanish] #85864
Before proceeding, I wish to consult delegations on how I intend to proceed to refer to the reports of the Committee. In order to save time, I will use only the term “the Committee”, on the understanding that the formal name of the Committee, the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), will be reflected in the official records. If I hear no objection, we shall proceed accordingly. May I remind delegations 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 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 General Assembly 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 Committee, I should like to advise delegations that we are going to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the 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 also hope that we will proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Committee. The results of the votes will be uploaded on the PaperSmart portal. Before proceeding further, I would like to draw the attention of delegations 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 51 to 63, 123 and 137”, which has been circulated, in English only, as document A/C.4/73/INF/3. The note has been distributed desk to desk in the General Assembly Hall as a reference guide for action on the draft resolutions and decisions recommended by the Committee in its reports. In that connection, delegations will find in column 4 of the note the numbers of the draft resolutions or decisions of the Committee, with the corresponding symbols of the reports for action in the plenary in column 2 of the same note. For reports containing multiple recommendations, the number of the draft resolution or decision is contained in column 3 of the note. Delegations are reminded that additional sponsors are no longer accepted once draft resolutions and decisions have been adopted by the Committee. Any clarification about sponsorship should be addressed to the secretariat of the Committee. I would also like to remind delegations that any corrections to their voting intentions after the voting has concluded should be made directly to the Secretariat. I would seek the cooperation of delegations in avoiding any interruptions to the proceedings in that regard.
Vote: 32/413 Consensus

51.  University for Peace Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/470)

The President [Spanish] #85865
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 8 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 73/90).
Vote: 32/413 Recorded Vote
✓ 155   ✗ 6   13 abs.
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✓ Yes (155)
Vote: 32/413 Recorded Vote
✓ 158   ✗ 6   14 abs.
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✓ Yes (158)
The President [Spanish] #85866
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 51?
Vote: 31/100 Consensus
It was so decided.

52.  Effects of atomic radiation Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/521)

The President [Spanish] #85867
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 11 of its report. A separate recorded vote has been requested on paragraph 21 (e) of the draft resolution.
A recorded vote was taken.
Vote: 31/100 Recorded Vote
✓ 159   ✗ 5   12 abs.
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✓ Yes (159)
Vote: 31/100 Recorded Vote
✓ 154   ✗ 6   15 abs.
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✓ Yes (154)
Vote: 32/95 Consensus
Paragraph 21 (e) was retained by 162 votes to 2, with 1 abstention.
The President [Spanish] #85868
The Committee adopted the draft resolution, as a whole, without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft resolution, as a whole, was adopted.
Vote: 31/169 Consensus
The President [Spanish] #85869
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 52?
Vote: 32/95 Recorded Vote
✓ 156   ✗ 6   14 abs.
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✓ Yes (156)
Vote: 32/95 Recorded Vote
✓ 152   ✗ 8   13 abs.
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✓ Yes (152)
It was so decided.
Mr. Korneliou (Cyprus), Vice-President, took the Chair.
Vote: 32/97 Consensus

53.  International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/471)

The Acting President #85870
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 12 of its report, as orally revised, and a draft decision recommended by the Committee in paragraph 13 of the same report. The Assembly will first take action on the draft resolution, entitled “International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space”, as orally revised. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 73/91).
Vote: 31/169 Recorded Vote
✓ 149   ✗ 2   0 abs.
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✓ Yes (149)
The Acting President #85871
The Assembly will now take action on the draft decision, entitled “Increase in the membership of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Vote: 32/98 Consensus
The draft decision was adopted (decision 73/517).
The Acting President #85872
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.
Vote: 32/99 Consensus
The Acting President #85873
The Assembly has before it four draft resolutions recommended by the Committee in paragraph 16 of its report. We turn first to draft resolution I, entitled “Assistance to Palestine refugees”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of South Sudan informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution I was adopted by 163 votes to 2, with 13 abstentions (resolution 73/92).
Vote: 32/100 Consensus
The Acting President #85874
Draft resolution II is entitled “Persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegations of Lesotho and Nigeria informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution II was adopted by 155 votes to 6, with 13 abstentions (resolution 73/93).
Vote: 32/101 Consensus
The Acting President #85875
Draft resolution III is entitled “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegations of Nigeria and South Sudan informed the Secretariat that they had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution III was adopted by 159 votes to 5, with 12 abstentions (resolution 73/94).
Vote: 35/94 Consensus
The Acting President #85876
Draft resolution IV is entitled “Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of Nigeria informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution IV was adopted by 156 votes to 6, with 14 abstentions (resolution 73/95).
Vote: 33/173 Consensus
The Acting President #85877
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.
The Acting President #85878
The Assembly has before it five draft resolutions recommended by the Committee in paragraph 18 of its report. We shall now take a decision on draft resolutions I to V, one by one. After all the decisions have been taken, representatives will have an opportunity to explain their vote on any or all of the draft resolutions. We turn first to draft resolution I, 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. [Subsequently, the delegation of Nigeria informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
Vote: 39/192 Consensus
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution I was adopted by 78 votes to 10, with 84 abstentions (resolution 73/96).
The Acting President #85879
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 Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the other occupied Arab territories”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of Nigeria informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
Vote: 351/97 Consensus
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution II was adopted by 158 votes to 6, with 14 abstentions (resolution 73/97).
The Acting President #85880
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. [Subsequently, the delegation of Nigeria informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
Vote: 40/143 Consensus
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution III was adopted by 154 votes to 6, with 15 abstentions (resolution 73/98).
The Acting President #85881
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. [Subsequently, the delegation of Nigeria informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Vote: 40/144 Recorded Vote
✓ 172   ✗ 3   3 abs.
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— Abstain (3)
✓ Yes (172)
Draft resolution IV was adopted by 152 votes to 8, with 13 abstentions (resolution 73/99).
The Acting President #85882
Draft resolution V is entitled “The occupied Syrian Golan”. A recorded vote has been requested. with 22 abstentions (resolution 73/100). [Subsequently, the delegation of Nigeria informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution V was adopted by 149 votes to 2,
Vote: 37//6/ Recorded Vote
✓ 124   ✗ 8   46 abs.
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✓ Yes (124)
The Acting President #85883
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.  Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/525)

The Acting President #85884
May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Committee contained in document A/73/525? It was so decided (decision 73/518).
The Acting President #85885
The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 56.

57.  Comprehensive review of special political missions Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/526)

The Acting President #85886
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 9 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 73/101).
The Acting President #85887
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.

58.  Questions relating to information Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/472)

The Acting President #85888
The Assembly has before it two draft resolutions recommended by the Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. 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 73/102 A)
The Acting President #85889
Draft resolution B is entitled “United Nations public information policies and activities”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution B was adopted (resolution 73/102 B).

59.  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/73/473)

The Acting President #85890
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution was adopted by 178 votes to 2, with 3 abstentions (resolution 73/103).
The Acting President #85891
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 59?
It was so decided.

60.  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/73/474)

The Acting President #85892
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of Egypt informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution was adopted by 175 votes to 2, with 3 abstentions (resolution 73/104).
The Acting President #85893
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 60?
It was so decided.

61.  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/73/475)

The Acting President #85894
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. A recorded vote has been requested.
A recorded vote was taken.
The draft resolution was adopted by 126 votes to 2, with 55 abstentions (resolution 73/105).
The Acting President #85895
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 61?
It was so decided.

62.  Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/476)

The Acting President #85896
The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?
The draft resolution was adopted (resolution 73/106).
The Acting President #85897
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 62?
It was so decided.
The Acting President #85898
The Assembly has before it 17 draft resolutions recommended by the Committee in paragraph 45 of its report and a draft decision recommended by the Committee in paragraph 46 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 votes. 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 73/107).
The Acting President #85899
Draft resolution II is entitled “Question of American Samoa”. 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 73/108).
The Acting President #85900
Draft resolution III 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 III was adopted (resolution 73/109).
The Acting President #85901
Draft resolution IV 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 IV was adopted (resolution 73/119).
The Acting President #85902
Draft resolution V 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 V was adopted (resolution 73/110).
The Acting President #85903
Draft resolution VI 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 VI was adopted (resolution 73/111).
The Acting President #85904
Draft resolution VII 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 VII was adopted (resolution 73/112).
The Acting President #85905
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 73/113).
The Acting President #85906
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 73/114).
The Acting President #85907
Draft resolution X 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 X was adopted (resolution 73/115).
The Acting President #85908
Draft resolution XI 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 XI was adopted (resolution 73/116).
The Acting President #85909
Draft resolution XII 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 XII was adopted (resolution 73/117).
The Acting President #85910
Draft resolution XIII is entitled “Question of Tokelau”. The Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?
Draft resolution XIII was adopted (resolution 73/118).
The Acting President #85911
Draft resolution XIV 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 XIV was adopted (resolution 73/120).
The Acting President #85912
Draft resolution XV 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 XV was adopted (resolution 73/121).
The Acting President #85913
We now turn to draft resolution XVI, entitled “Dissemination of information on decolonization”. A recorded vote has been requested. [Subsequently, the delegation of Nigeria informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XVI was adopted by 172 votes to 3, with 3 abstentions (resolution 73/122).
The Acting President #85914
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. [Subsequently, the delegation of Nigeria informed the Secretariat that it had intended to vote in favour.]
A recorded vote was taken.
Draft resolution XVII was adopted by 124 votes to 8, with 46 abstentions (resolution 73/123).
The Acting President #85915
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 73/519).
The Acting President #85916
I now give the floor to the representative of Cuba, who wishes to speak in explanation of position on resolution 73/113.
Ms. Rodríguez Abascal CUB Cuba [Spanish] #85917
With regard to resolution 73/113, entitled “Question of Guam”, the delegation of Cuba joined the consensus because the resolution summarizes the work of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) — of which it is a member and Vice-Chair — on the non-autonomous territory of Guam, which still does not have the right of self- determination to decide whether it wishes to continue to be subordinated to the administering Power, the United States, or whether it prefers to break with its colonial ties and be an independent, sovereign country. Nevertheless, we wish to place on record the fact that the delegation of Cuba dissociates itself from the contents of the eighteenth and twenty-seventh preambular paragraphs. As adopted, the resolution — which reflects the amendments incorporated at the time of its adoption by the Fourth Committee — does not take into account the serious concerns expressed in United Nations decolonization forums by the representatives of Guam with regard to the ruling by a United States federal court on the non-acceptance by that country’s legal bodies of regulations recognizing the exclusivity of the native inhabitants of Guam and any American citizens living there with respect to their equal right to vote in a referendum. The ruling put a stop to the plebiscite. Similarly, the amendment made to the other paragraph completely removed the clear reference to the fact that the Chamorro Land Trust programme was put in place to facilitate the transfer of land to the original owners. Using the forum of the General Assembly while totally circumventing the decolonization forums and consequently disregarding the lack of a negotiating process between the two parties — representatives of the territory of Guam and the administering Power — is a regrettable attempt to flout the principle of multilateralism, which all the Members of the Organization must adhere to and defend. For those reasons, we reiterate that the Cuban delegation dissociates itself from the eighteenth and twenty-seventh preambular paragraphs.
The Acting President #85918
May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 63?
It was so decided.

123.  Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/533)

The Acting President #85919
The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Committee in paragraph 6 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-fourth 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 73/520).
The Acting President #85920
The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 123.

137.  Programme planning Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) (A/73/534)

The Acting President #85921
May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Committee? It was so decided (decision 73/521).
The Acting President on behalf of General Assembly #85922
The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 137. On behalf of the General Assembly, I would like to thank Mr. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., Permanent Representative of Liberia to the United Nations and Chair of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee), the members of the Bureau and representatives for a job well done. The General Assembly has thus concluded its consideration of all of the reports of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) before it at this meeting.
The meeting rose at 11.15 a.m.