MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Decolonization with “active participation of the peoples”

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has reiterated the call for decolonisation of remaining listed territories, including Gibraltar, a process in full partnership with the administering powers as well as with the active participation of the peoples of the territories.

Addressing the Special Committee of 24 at the opening of the 2004 session he said that the past year had been an interesting and active one for the Special Committee. "There is still a lot to be done to fulfil the requirements of the United Nations Charter and General Assembly resolutions 1514 and 1541, which contain the Declaration on Decolonisation and the principles that should guide the decolonisation process" remarked Mr. Annan recalling that the sixteen non-self-governing territories remain on the Committee's list.

"During this past year, the Special Committee consulted with some of the administering Powers on a series of actions that would trigger a process of decolonisation in these territories within this decade. I welcome this development, and I hope it continues in full partnership with the administering Powers, as well as with the active participation of the peoples of the territories. The aim must be to promote their political, economic and social development and determine the final status of each territory within the framework of the three options envisaged in resolution 1541: free association, integration with another State, or independence."

Mr Annan said he was glad that, during 2003, the annual decolonisation seminar was, for the first time, held in one of the non-self-governing territories -? the Caribbean island of Anguilla. I compliment the Government of Anguilla, the administering Power -? the United Kingdom -? and the former Chairman of the Special Committee, Earl Stephen Huntley, on breaking this new ground.

Anachronism

"In the twenty-first century, colonialism is an anachronism. I therefore hope that, in the year ahead, all administering Powers will work with the Special Committee, and with the people in the territories under their administration, to find ways to further the decolonisation process. After all, decolonisation is a United Nations success story, but it is a story that is not yet finished. I stand ready to provide any support that I can to advance the work of the Committee, and I wish you every success in the year ahead."

In his opening statement, the newly elected Chairman, Mr. Aisi (Papua New Guinea), calling colonialism a relic of the past, said that, in order to assist the people in the Non-Self-Governing Territories, the Committee in recent years had begun concrete actions through an innovative work programme. However, momentum must not be lost, he said.

Reminding the Committee this was the fourth year of the Second International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism, Mr. Aisi said that, unless the Committee intensified its work, it would have to call for more decades. In order to avoid that, the Committee needed to accelerate the work and make it more dynamic and relevant. It must make its work more proactive and seek to constructively engage the administering Powers and the people of the Territories.

Papua New Guinea Seminar

The 2004 annual decolonisation seminar would take place in the Pacific region in his country, Papua New Guinea, said Mr. Aisi. Last year's seminar had created two important precedents. For the first time, the seminar had been held in a Non-Self-Governing Territory. Also for the first time, the United Kingdom had participated formally and had engaged directly in a dialogue with representatives of Territories it administered. He hoped that event represented a new trend in the work of the Special Committee.

He would count on the full cooperation and active participation of the administering Powers and looked forward to the constructive participation of the people of the Territories. That would assist them in determining their final status within the framework of the three options: free association, integration with another State or independence.

The 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories covered by the Committee are: American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands/Malvinas, Gibraltar, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, United States Virgin Islands, and Western Sahara.