Ban Ki-moon calls for “creative solutions” from UN Decolonization Committee
Creative solutions are needed for the remaining Non self-governing territories if the United Nations is to fulfil its obligations in supporting the legitimate aspirations of the peoples of these territories, said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the opening of the 2010 session of the Special Committee of 24 on decolonization, G-24.
Ban Ki-moon insisted that a pragmatic and realistic approach taking into account the specific circumstances of each “is most likely to lead to concrete results”. The 2010 session of the G-24 coincides with the Second international decade of the eradication of colonialism and fiftieth anniversary of the declaration on independence for colonial countries and peoples.
UN Secretary General said that 2010 would be an important year for G-24, because it marked both the end of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism and the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
The message conveyed by B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Mr. Ban said the achievements of the Second international Decade (2001-2010) included a reduction in the number of United Nations-listed Non-Self-Governing Territories from 17 to 16 following Timor-Leste’s hard-won independence in 2002. The Special Committee had also assisted the people of Tokelau exercise their right to self-determination in two votes, he said, noting that it continued its annual deliberations, hearings, regional seminars and professional reporting, including on its website.
Heartened by the strengthened dialogue between the Special Committee and the administering Powers, he said it was crucial for those Powers to work with the people of the Territories under their administration to generate further momentum for self-determination.
“What we need now are creative solutions for the remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories,” he added. “If the United Nations is to fulfil its obligations in supporting the legitimate aspirations of the peoples of these Territories, a pragmatic and realistic approach -– taking into account the specific circumstances of each -– is most likely to lead to concrete results.”
In opening remarks Donatus Keith St. Aimee (Saint Lucia), the Special Committee’s newly elected Chairperson, noted that only one Non-Self-Governing Territory had been eliminated from the list during the Decade, emphasizing: “We need to do better than that.” There was a “crucial need” in its final year to generate new momentum so as to ensure that the 16 remaining Territories would be able to exercise their right to self-determination, on a case-by-case basis, through the follow-up to and application of the relevant United Nations resolutions.
There was a need to find creative ways to resolve the difficulties of the decolonization process while paying genuine attention to the socio-economic needs of the Territories’ peoples as well as their interests. The Special Committee must continue its work in a proactive, pragmatic, and innovative manner, he added, stressing also that the administering Powers must recognize their own responsibilities. Of special significance was the responsibility to disseminate information on the available self-determination options and the decolonization process to the remaining non-self-governing peoples, he said, noting that the example set by Tokelau and the Government of New Zealand could set a benchmark for all others to emulate.
He said regional seminars provided an excellent venue for enhancing education on and public awareness of decolonization, and welcomed an offer by the territorial Government of New Caledonia, in consultation with France, the administering Power, to host a regional seminar this year.
Taking unanimous action on a draft decision based on a letter from the Permanent Representative of Nicaragua to its Chairperson, the Special Committee recommended that the General Assembly appoint that country as a member, raising the body’s membership from 28 to 29.
In other business, the Special Committee elected, by acclamation, Pedro Núñez Mosquera (Cuba) and Rupert Davies (Sierra Leone) as Vice-Chairs, and Bashar Ja’afari (Syria) as Rapporteur. It also invited the delegations of Algeria, Argentina and Spain to participate in its deliberations as observers.
The Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (also known as the Committee of 24) is the focal point for the implementation of the Declaration on Decolonization. Its current 28 members are: Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Chile, China, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Fiji, Grenada, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Mali, Papua New Guinea, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone, Syria, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, United Republic of Tanzania and Venezuela.
Remaining on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories are: Gibraltar, New Caledonia, Western Sahara, American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands, Tokelau and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas).
The Special Committee heard brief statements by representatives of Cuba, Dominica, Venezuela, Indonesia, Syria, Congo, Ecuador, Bolivia, Grenada, Tunisia, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia and Nicaragua. The Special Committee will reconvene at a date and time to be announced.
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The whole concept “Non-self Governing territory”- is laughable as the all the above listed (western Sahara Omitted) have a very generous degree of autonomy.
Pathetic, C-24 is a usless waste of space and from a by gone era, they profess to believe in Self determination, yet they ignored it when it's expressed!
We could save more papers.
I said get rid of the C-24 not the UN, C-24 is a un-democratic and dictatorial mechanism based on relatively little fact and a philosophy of “blah, blah blah not listening”
Surely the only people with a right to decide the future of the remaining countries (illegally and un-democratically placed on this list drawn up by un-elected officials, who have never once set in the territories they decide upon!) are those who live their and those who administer them?
Not some anachronistic dictatorship of 24 overpaid talking devices who couldn't tell their colonialism from their colonic irregation even if it was a massive black cock that slapped them in the face.
never once have c-24 visited the territories they are to decide upon, where the hell is their democratic mandate to tell others what to do?
C-24 demands and bullies small nations into a corner so that the only way they can get of the list is to declare out right independence, even if it is to their economic detriment.
They don't even listen to the parties concerned, Take Tokelau the UN has tried to bully that place into full independence despite 3 UN sponsored referendums they still said no......C-24 solution, we obviously need another referendum!
C-24 is in long need of an abortion......
Is it any wonder that you are known as the holiest man in all patagonia for the amount of time people here (including your own countrymen) have ripped you a new one?
Thieves this thieves that, blah blah, when you return patagonia to it's original unmolested state pre 1860 we might consider talking to you.
The Argy claim on thievery is at best weak, at the worst hypocritically embarrasing!
And yes Arrogance does unfortunaley come part in parcel with a great country like ours :)
But hasn't Argentina always had a aversion to the old Arrogance gene itself?
180 years Jorge, 180 years, nobodies going anywhere! No longer a colony now, how can they be colonists when they were born there? I don't for the life of me know???
If only he had the backbone to say it to the face of President Plastic Face
As the Falkland Islanders wish to remain British, that'll be the matter sorted then?
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