unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (08/24/89)
seminars on decolonization as well as a number of public information
activities. The report also contains nine proposed mottos for the anniversary
By its Working Group report on the International Decade for the
Eradication of Colonialism (1990-2000), the Special Committee would recommend
that it hold further consultations in order to communicate members' views on
the Decade to the Secretary-General.
MARIA-CECILIA BERMUDEZ (Cuba), speaking in explanation of vote before the
voting, said that the United Nations should continue to give its attention to
the eradication of colonialism the world over. Some had said that it was not
appropriate to consider the question of Namibia in the Special Committee. But
the struggle against colonialism would not come to an end until there remained
not a single nation calling out for sovereignty. The Special Committee had
been created specifically to implement the provisions of the decolonization
Declaration. Not even the successful implementation of resolution 435 (1978)
for the independence of Namibia would relieve the Committee of its
responsibility to the Namibian people.
South Africa had not yet dismantled the Koevoet troops nor the South West
African Police (SWAPOL) commands, she said. That was interfering with the
electoral process. In addition, non-Namibians had been allowed to register to
vote. She was concerned that South Africa would not completely fulfil the
terms of the accord. The Committee should therefore consider in detail the
implementation of Security Council resolution 435 for the holding of free and
fair elections in Namibia. She supported the draft resolution on Namibia.
DAG MJAALAND (Norway) said although the legality and political expedience
of the Special Committee sending a visiting mission to Namibia was in doubt,
his country would nevertheless support the draft.
The draft resolution was approved without a vote.
Anniversary of the 1960 Declaration on Decolonization
WILFRID DESOUZA, the Committee Secretary, said the cost of the
commemoration's programmes and activities would come to $500,900. Of that
amount, $180,000 would be absorbed in the budget for the 1990-1991 biennium.
The Committee approved the report of its Working Group on the
commemoration of the anniversary with the understanding that its Chairman
would continue consultations on the motto for the anniversary's commemoration.
Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism
CARLYLE CORBIN, Chairman of the Caribbean Development and Co-operation
Committee (CDCC), said his organization's membership included a wide array of
countries in the region, including Non-Self-Governing Territories. The CDCC
had closely collaborated with regional and sub-regional organizations, Latin
American institutions and the United Nations system. It was mounting an
analysis of the relationship between Non-Self-Governing Territories and their
respective Administering Authorities. That study was relevant to the United
Nations plan of action for the Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism. Its
conclusions could be utilized by member States and territorial Governments in
the Organization's review of the decolonization process in the remaining 18
Non-Self-Governing Territories.
The report of its Working Group on the plan of action for the Decade for
the Eradication of Colonialism was approved without a vote.
The Chairman, TESFAYE TADESSE (Ethiopia), said that Committee members,
while supporting progress made towards Namibian independence, had expressed
concern about the difficulties encountered in the implementation of Security
Council resolution 435 on the independence of Namibia, and had stressed the
necessity of monitoring the situation in the Territory to ensure that the
forthcoming elections would be freely and fairly conducted. To that end, the
Committee had decided to dispatch a visiting mission to the Territory to
monitor closely the process leading to the November 1989 elections. He urged
the parties concerned to honour their commitments for the full and faithful
implementation of resolution 435.
It was imperative that the Committee continue to focus its attention on
the remaining Territories on its agenda. Such factors as territorial size,
geographical location, size of population and limited natural resources,
should not delay the decolonization process. The Committee's work was
facilitated when it received the full co-operation of the administering
Powers. Such co-operation was essential for the formulation of
recommendations and irreplaceable with regard to the sending of United Nations
visiting missions to the Territories. In that regard, he expressed the hope
that the recent appeal addressed to the British Government by the Committee
meet with a positive response.
He expressed concern about the military activities and arrangements in
colonial Territories which might be impeding the implementation of the
decolonization Declaration, and said that no foreign economic or other
interests should be permitted to stand in the way of the decolonization
process. There was also a need for the specialized agencies and other
organizations of the United Nations system to further extend their concrete
programmes of assistance to the colonial peoples. Regarding the General
Assembly's declaration of the period 1990-2000 as the International Decade for
the Eradication of Colonialism, he said that it was the Committee's duty to
formulate suggestions and proposals for a Plan of Action for that Decade.
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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