General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL  

4 December 1987

ORIGINAL:
ENGLISH

                                                       A/RES/42/79
                                                       92nd plenary meeting
                                                       4 December 1987
                        Question of New Caledonia
 
      The General Assembly,
 
      Having considered the question of New Caledonia,
 
      Having examined the relevant chapter of the report of the Special
 Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the
 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,
 
      Recalling its resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960 containing the
 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples,
 
      Recalling also its resolution 41/41 A of 2 December 1986 by which the
 Assembly considered that, in the light of the provisions of Chapter XI of the
 Charter of the United Nations and General Assembly resolutions 1514 (XV) and
 1541 (XV), New Caledonia was a Non-Self-Governing Territory within the meaning
 of the Charter,
 
      Noting the decision adopted by the Special Committee on the question of
 New Caledonia on 17 March 1987, as well as the resolution adopted by the
 Special Committee on 14 August 1987,
 
      Noting also the section relating to New Caledonia in the communique
 issued at the conclusion of the eighteenth South Pacific Forum, held at Apia
 on 29 and 30 May 1987, and in particular the call contained therein for a
 United Nations-sponsored referendum in the Territory consistent with the
 universally accepted principles and practices of self-determination and
 independence,
 
      Noting further the provisions concerning New Caledonia contained in the
 Political Declaration adopted by the Eighth Conference of Heads of State or
 Government of Non-Aligned Countries, held at Harare from 1 to
 6 September 1986,
 
      Conscious of the responsibility of the administering Power to ensure the
 full and speedy implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of
 Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples in respect of New Caledonia,
 
      Mindful that United Nations visiting missions provide an effective means
 of ascertaining the situation in the small Territories and considering that
 the possibility of sending a visiting mission to New Caledonia at an
 appropriate time should be kept under review,
 
      1.   Approves the chapter of the report of the Special Committee on the
 Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting
 of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples relating to New Caledonia;
 
      2.   Reaffirms the inalienable right of the people of New Caledonia to
 self-determination and independence in conformity with the Declaration on the
 Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples;
 
      3.   Reaffirms that an obligation exists on the part of the Government of
 France to transmit information on New Caledonia under Chapter XI of the
 Charter of the United Nations and requests that Government to transmit to the
 Secretary-General such information as is called for under Chapter XI and in
 the related decisions of the General Assembly;
 
      4.   Regrets that the Government of France has not responded to the
 request to submit such information and calls upon it to do so;
 
      5.   Considers that, consistent with the principles laid down in its
 resolution 1514 (XV), the peaceful transition of New Caledonia to
 self-determination and independence should be undertaken in a manner which
 guarantees the rights and interests of the people of New Caledonia;
 
      6.   Declares that progress towards a long-term political solution in
 New Caledonia requires a free and genuine act of self-determination consistent
 with United Nations principles and practices of self-determination and
 independence;
 
      7.   Emphasizes that such an act of self-determination, in which all
 options should be made available, should be preceded by a comprehensive
 programme of political education in which all options are impartially
 presented and consequences fully explained;
 
      8.   Calls upon the Government of France to resume dialogue with all
 sections of the population of New Caledonia in order to facilitate rapid
 progress towards
 such an act of self-determination in which all sections of the community
 participate;
 
      9.   Affirms the responsibility of the administering Power to promote
 economic and social development and calls upon the administering Power to
 institute programmes designed to benefit all the people throughout the
 Territory;
 
      10.  Requests the Special Committee to continue the examination of this
 question at its next session, including the possible dispatch of a visiting
 mission to New Caledonia at an appropriate time and in consultation with the
 administering Power, and to report thereon to the General Assembly at its
 forty-third session.