The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today approved over 22 draft resolutions and 1 decision, many of them recommendations from the Special Committee on Decolonization, even as the representative of the United States called for ending that body’s mandate and described some of its activities as a waste of resources.
Among the texts approved today was a resolution on "Addressing contemporary forms of colonialism" (document A/C.4/81/L.5). It was approved by a recorded vote of 85 in favour to 49 against, with 23 abstentions.
By its terms, the Assembly would recognize that colonialism persists in contemporary forms and practices in relations among States, and may be expressed through resort to unilateral economic, financial or trade measures not in accordance with international law and the Charter. The text also recognizes that such attempts may also be expressed through, among others, threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, interference in the internal affairs of States and restrictions on access to markets and services.
The representative of the Russian Federation, who introduced that text on behalf of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations, highlighted the evolution of colonial practices and said the text offers a positive alternative by encouraging strengthened international cooperation to reduce structural inequality.
However, several speakers today questioned the credibility of the Russian Federation in presenting this draft. The representative of Lichtenstein, who also spoke for Iceland and Norway, said that “implementing the principles on which the draft resolution is based in full would entail a significant policy shift by the drafter of this text”.
Ukraine’s delegate stressed that this proposal is “another attempt by Russia to present itself as a champion of decolonization”, while it pursues neocolonial policies and stressed that sanctions against the Russian Federation are a legitimate response to that country’s aggression.
The representative of the United States added that sanctions, export controls and sovereign trade decisions are lawful tools of statecraft and every nation has the right to choose its trading partners and respond to threats. She added that “for years, Havana used Venezuela's oil wealth to prop up its failed economy”, but her country arrested Venezuela’s dictator “and returned Venezuela to the Venezuelan people”.
“We are not surprised by the position taken by the Government of the United States, the main promoter of unilateral coercive measures and economic blockades,” Cuba’s delegate said.
At the beginning of the meeting, the representative of the United States also said the Special Committee on Decolonization “has outlived its original purpose”. While more than 80 former colonies have since joined the UN as Member States, that Committee “operates as though nothing has changed”, revisiting the same texts every year, she said. This, as well as “the Special Committee's yearly junkets to resorts in the Caribbean and South Pacific”, are a waste of UN time and resources, she stressed.
In 1953, the General Assembly removed Puerto Rico from the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories, but the Special Committee holds hearings on Puerto Rico every year, she noted. “The people of the remaining Territories deserve better than to be considered as props” in political campaigns, she said, calling for an end to the Special Committee's mandate.
Several of the texts adopted today are contained in chapter XIII of the Special Committee’s report (document A/81/23). Among them was a draft resolution on “Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations” (document A/AC.109/2026/L.3), which was adopted by a recorded vote of 160 in favour to 2 against (United States, Israel), with 3 abstentions (United Kingdom, France, Paraguay). By its terms, the Assembly would request administering Powers to transmit the fullest possible information on political and constitutional developments in the Territories concerned.
The representative of the United Kingdom said that whether a Territory has reached the requisite level of self-Government is ultimately for the Territory’s Government and the administering Power to decide.
Also adopted today was a text on “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 (document A/AC.109/2026/L.9). It was adopted by a recorded vote of 110 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 54 abstentions.
The draft resolution on “Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories” (document A/81/23) was adopted by a recorded vote of 163 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 2 abstentions (France, United Kingdom), while one on “Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories” (document A/C.4/81/L.2) was adopted by a recorded vote of 162 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 3 abstentions (France, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom).
By a recorded vote of 164 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom, United States) with 2 abstentions (Honduras, France), the Committee also approved the text on “Dissemination of information on decolonization” (document A/AC.109/2026/L.4). The representative of the United Kingdom said the obligation to publicize decolonization issues represents an unwarranted drain on UN resources.
The text concerning the “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples” (document A/81/23) was approved by a recorded vote of 120 in favour to 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom, United States) with 43 abstentions.
Also taking recorded votes today were draft resolutions concerning “Question of Western Sahara” (document A/C.4/81/L.4), as well as those on American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands and the United States Virgin Islands (document A/81/23).
The draft decision on Gibraltar (document A/C.4/81/L.3) was adopted by a recorded vote of 161 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with 2 abstentions (France, Honduras).
The United Kingdom, which administers 10 of the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories, abstained on the draft resolutions concerning the Territoriesm but voted in favour of the decision on Gibraltar. Its representative said that text was co-authored by Spain and her country, and “reflects the unique consensus approach to this matter” that the two countries have followed since 1975. She added that the Special Committee on Decolonization should recognize that “the relationship between the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories has been modernized”.