SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION APPROVES DRAFT CALLING FOR COLONIALISM-FREE WORLD BY YEAR 2000

Press Release
GA/COL/2990

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON DECOLONIZATION APPROVES DRAFT CALLING FOR COLONIALISM-FREE WORLD BY YEAR 2000

Parties in New Caledonia Would Be Invited to Continue Peaceful Progress Towards Self-Determination, By Other Text Approved

The General Assembly would urge all parties involved in the process towards self-determination in the Non-Self Governing Territory of New Caledonia to continue their dialogue and build on the positive outcome of recent accords, by the terms of a draft resolution approved, without a vote, by the Special Committee on Decolonization this afternoon.

Under the draft, the Assembly would welcome significant developments, including the May signing of the Noumea Accord by the representatives of New Caledonia and the Government of France. The Assembly would note, in particular, provisions related to broader acknowledgement of the Kanak identity in the political and social organization of the Territory, as well as aspects on control of immigration and the protection of local employment.

Further by that draft, the Assembly would decide to continually monitor the unfolding process in New Caledonia. All parties would be invited to continue promoting peaceful progress towards an act of self-determination, in line with the letter and the spirit of recent agreements.

In another action, the Committee approved, also without a vote, a consolidated draft resolution on questions related to the Non-Self-Governing Territories of American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands and United States Virgin Islands.

Under the omnibus draft, the Assembly would urge Member States to contribute to United Nations efforts to usher in the twenty-first century in a world free of colonialism. It would also have the Assembly call upon States to fully support the Special Committee in its endeavours towards that goal.

The Committee also decided to postpone additional consideration of a draft report on the International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism.

The Committee meets again on 10 August at 3 p.m.

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